"Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important." - Bill Gates
The above quote resonates with me deeply. Lately, I have been researching a lot on how to make my classes more engaging, and so I decided to do some research on the presentation delivery platforms. After some field and desk research, I found that 90 percent of all presentations are based out of Powerpoint. It is the standard go-to tool when it comes to creating presentations.This made me dig deeper into the realm of presentations. I started wondering if it is really static or are there new presentation technologies bubbling on the horizon.
In my experience and countless observations, I have noted that "sometimes there is no second chance to make a first impression." Therefore, it becomes critical to address this issue. It seems to me that the next generation of online presentations is the call of the hour and there is great hunger for new presentation technologies worldwide both at academic and industry level.
Currently applications like Author Stream, Empressr, Emaze, Prezi, Pow Toons, Slide Rocket, Zoho Show are being touted as the future of presentation delivery platform. These next generation technologies all promise to create spectacular presentations that revolutionize content for our needs today and in the future. In addition they inspire users and allow them to have limitless creativity that can enhance the overall experience of delivering and receiving information.
I firmly believe that introduction of these cutting edge presentation delivery platforms by educators will have a positive impact on students of the world. Most of my classes have greatly benefited from this technology experiment, and will be favorably viewed by employers upon graduation.
Some of the cool features of 'Next Generation Presentation Platforms' are listed below:
•Automatic translation in various languages/ Animation, 2D, 3D, Voice over features
•Can be used at all levels of instruction (schools, colleges, work place)
•Cost effective
•Cutting edge designs & smooth operation procedure
•Efficiently runs on any browser
•Feedback oriented
•Global access due to cloud based software
•Stimulus giver to an inspiration seeker audience
•Multi devise usage and broadcast facility
However, there is a downside to these next generation platforms. They only work well with a high speed internet connection. For small cities in developing nations this may be a sort of challenge. Until, internet speed catches up fully in such cities, Powerpoint will still rule. Unless, these technologies decide to have a desktop version of their applications/software.
I would finally like to state that "New technology is common but new thinking is rare." Keeping that in mind, we must embrace these new technologies in our teaching methodology but also remember that technology can only be a wonderful aid but can hardly be a substitute to qualified teachers, mentors and rational parents.