Using Prezi in the Classroom

There are many websites out there that you can use in the classroom. Some sound good at first glance, but upon trying them out you find they do not meet your expectations. Every once in while you find a site that works well. Prezi is such a site. It is free to use, does not have a steep learning curve, and scales for different levels. 

Decide what you want students to do with Prezi. Do you want them to create a presentation on Huckleberry Finn, or an analysis of the narrative process. 

Look at the standards for your district. The district I teach in is changing over to the common core standards. This might be a good place for you to start if you are not using standards. 

You will want to show students a few examples of what Prezi can do. I have used this Prezi on narrative elements as a basic example. You can search the site for examples that match what you want your students to do or show them an example you made. There are also videos available on YouTube. Another method is to make a Prezi in class with the students. I would recommend all these methods. This would give students a good foundation in how to make a Prezi.

If you are unfamiliar with Prezi watch the below video.

After students have made a few simple Prezis, you can assign them more complex projects. Here are a few I have made; the English language arts table of elements and the English language arts circle of elements.

You could have students...
...create a story board for a book they read.
...organize information they have just learned.
...show the connections between various stories. 
...create a presentation.

Any images from Prezi belong to Prezi. I do not own them. I am using them for instructive purposes. Any images from the Common Core standards belong to the Common Core standards. I am only using them for instructive purposes.