It is important that teachers utilize the use of various helpful resources that are available to them. Examples would be research journals, publications, and professional organizations. I recently joined a professional organization called the Association for Childhood Education International, or ACEI. This organization prints a journal called Childhood Education. The mission statement of this organization is “to promote and support the optimal education and development of children worldwide, and to influence the professional growth of educators and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children in a changing society.” This organization focuses mainly on primary age children. They have a very international focus with many international conferences during the year. I think that it will be helpful to have access to the various journals that are available to members of ACEI.
Although I decided to join ACEI, I also did a little bit of research on the organization National Association for the Education of Young Children, or NAEYC. I also researched the organization American Montessori Society. For my class presentation on guiding behavior and appropriate punishment, I found articles from each of the professional organization journals. I also used other resources that I found helpful. I learned much about punishment and how ineffective it can be in the classroom. I also learned a lot about guidance and what that looks like in the classroom. It is so important that teachers disciple their students in appropriate ways.
Once I had my information gathered, it was time to figure out the best way to organize the information to present it to the class. When it comes to presenting information to a group, I have always used the tool Power Point. I find Power Point to be very user-friendly and an effective way to present information to others. However, I understand that Power Point should be used to guide a conversation. It is highly ineffective when someone gets up and simply reads large amounts of text from a Power Point. I recently had the opportunity to learn about another way to present information to a group, and that is the Web2.0 tool Prezi. Prezi is a website that is free to join. I will say that I did not find it very user-friendly. It was hard for me to navigate what I was to do with my information to put it into Prezi. Prezi is different in the sense that it does not have slides like Power Point. Instead, it is a moving presentation that moves in the way that it is guided to move by the user. Once I started getting the hang of Prezi, it was a little user-friendlier. However, I still find Power Point easier to use. This could be partly because I am used to making Power Points, and this was my first experience with Prezi.
I am glad that I learned about Prezi and the most effective ways to use the tool. This could be very helpful for the future. What about you? Have you ever used Prezi in your classroom? Feel free to leave comments below. I’d love to hear your ideas!
The finished product of my first Prezi can be viewed below!
Although I decided to join ACEI, I also did a little bit of research on the organization National Association for the Education of Young Children, or NAEYC. I also researched the organization American Montessori Society. For my class presentation on guiding behavior and appropriate punishment, I found articles from each of the professional organization journals. I also used other resources that I found helpful. I learned much about punishment and how ineffective it can be in the classroom. I also learned a lot about guidance and what that looks like in the classroom. It is so important that teachers disciple their students in appropriate ways.
Once I had my information gathered, it was time to figure out the best way to organize the information to present it to the class. When it comes to presenting information to a group, I have always used the tool Power Point. I find Power Point to be very user-friendly and an effective way to present information to others. However, I understand that Power Point should be used to guide a conversation. It is highly ineffective when someone gets up and simply reads large amounts of text from a Power Point. I recently had the opportunity to learn about another way to present information to a group, and that is the Web2.0 tool Prezi. Prezi is a website that is free to join. I will say that I did not find it very user-friendly. It was hard for me to navigate what I was to do with my information to put it into Prezi. Prezi is different in the sense that it does not have slides like Power Point. Instead, it is a moving presentation that moves in the way that it is guided to move by the user. Once I started getting the hang of Prezi, it was a little user-friendlier. However, I still find Power Point easier to use. This could be partly because I am used to making Power Points, and this was my first experience with Prezi.
I am glad that I learned about Prezi and the most effective ways to use the tool. This could be very helpful for the future. What about you? Have you ever used Prezi in your classroom? Feel free to leave comments below. I’d love to hear your ideas!
The finished product of my first Prezi can be viewed below!
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