10 Creative Presentation Alternatives

Presentations are a common way for students to share their knowledge, but have you considered the many different websites out there that allow students to creatively present their information in new ways?  Think about giving one of these options a try next time you want your students to share what they have learned.

1.  Meograph- Dubbed "four dimensional storytelling," Meograph allows users to integrate timelines, Google Maps, links, and videos to create one interactive story.

2.  Jellycam- This is a simple, free stop-motion animation creator that creates videos using a webcam or uploaded images.  A soundtrack can also be added to your video.

3.  Powtoon- If you are familiar with Common Craft's simple video tutorials and have always thought of making your own, Powtoon is the tool for you.  This easy-to-use tool allows users to make simple animated presentations by choosing from one of their several options.

4.    Go Animate- Create animated videos to be saved and embedded online.  Users design everything from the characters to the background and add voice through a microphone or typing in text.  View some examples from our students.

5.  Easel.ly Infographics- Infographics are a fantastic way to visually present information.  Easel.ly is a great tool for easily creating your own Infographic on a topic of research.  What is an infographic?  It is a visual representation of information or data.  Your students can use Easel.ly to mix text with images to create a professional looking visual of their knowledge.  Take a look at this infographic example below.

6.  Biteslide Online Scrapbooks- Students can make their very own digital scrapbooks using Biteslide by adding their information, images, videos, and Biteslide's fun additional tools.  Embed, download, and share student work.

7.  Knovio- Want to update your flat PowerPoint presentations?  Knovio is the answer.  Using a webcam or microphone, you can add video and narration to a PowerPoint slideshow.  Simply upload the PowerPoint file, record, and share with others online.

8.  Jux- Create really cool, professional looking products such as Top 10 countdowns, slideshows, articles, or videos by adding information and images.  Modify using Jux's effects and templates.

9.  Popcorn Maker- Modify videos that you find on the web by adding in Google Maps, text, or web links to the videos to view while they play.  Think about the many ways in which students can add their thoughts or information to a YouTube or other videos.  What about adding a Google Map to a video that highlights an important location or linking to a web article that further explains a topic?  There are many different options for creativity.  Videos created with Popcorn Maker can be embedded into a blog or a website for others to view.

10.  Comics- Comics are a great way to get kids thinking about information and sharing it creatively.  The free comic creator Make Beliefs Comix is easy to use, requiring no login.  Bitstrips for Schools is a more advanced comic creator, but it is not free.  (It does have a 30 day free trial!)  View some examples of comics our students created about Internet Safety using Bitstrips for Schools.

Beeclip EDU- Create Online Scrapbooks and More

While searching for an alternative to the no-longer free Glogster EDU, I discovered Beeclip EDU.  Beeclip EDU is a simple platform that gives users the option to create an online scrapbook, collage, photo album, portfolio, or poster by adding photos and videos.  The EDU version is free to teachers, but it only allows for the addition of up to 30 student accounts and one project.  (Teachers can upgrade to the paid version for more features or to purchase additional accounts).  Once work is complete, students have a private environment to view other student projects and insert their comments.  Multiple students can work on the same project simultaneously by adding additional editors.  Work can be embedded, downloaded, and printed once completed.

While this is a nice, free alternative to Glogster, Beeclip's interactive features are limited.  For example, students cannot draw directly onto their scrapbook, search for clip art, add music, or even change the size of the text.  They can, however, add YouTube videos, borders to photos, and text bubbles.  If you are looking for a very simple way to create digital scrapbooks or posters, Beeclip EDU is worth a look.

ifaketext: Create your own fake text messages

ifaketext is a fun website.  Users enter the text from an imaginary conversation happening via text messages.  Once completed, ifaketext creates a screenshot which can be shared through a link or by embedding it in a website. (See my example below).  I imagine how much fun students would have creating conversations between book characters, historical figures, or practicing vocabulary. What other creative uses for this can you imagine?   

You Are Your Words: Visually Represent Writing

I love it when students take a piece of writing and use technology to share it in unique ways.  You Are Your Words is a fun way for students to express their ideas by combining their words with a visual representation.  Created by the American Heritage Dictionary, You Are Your Words invites users to upload a self-portrait and add descriptive text.  With the click of a button, students have a beautiful self-portrait with a picture and word overlay.   Not only is this a great tool for self-expression, but imagine they other ways that students could use this to visually represent their writing.

Engage Teens in Writing with Figment

I am excited about the potential Figment has to really engage students in writing. By signing up for a free Figment educator account, you can give your students a space to connect to other teen writers and professional authors.  Students complete their writing in their own private space and publish it to the Figment database once completed.  What I love is the potential Figment has for online collaboration and instant feedback.  Let's say your student has a moment of writer's block.  Through Figment your student has a community of writers waiting to give him or her some ideas.  Want to connect your student writers to professionals?  They can also do that through Figment.  Are you looking for examples of different types of student writing?  You can search Figment for many different examples. 

I wish Figment was around when I was teen. Even though I loved to write, I would have been even more inspired by this site.  Figment provides a great tool to motivate students to write through instant feedback and connection with teen writers from around the world.  View the video below to learn more about Figment educator accounts.

Clever Photo Prompts for Writing

The Photo Prompts blog is a clever concept, containing a collection of photo prompts to inspire students' writing across a variety of subjects.  Prompts are organized by subject, including language arts, math, science, social studies, and technology.   Many of the prompts ask students to consider social issues or describe how their lives are affected by an issue.  The screenshot below provides an example.  What a great way to incorporate writing across the curriculum.