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Tara Ricci

From KNILT

Return to: ETAP 623 Fall 2017 Section 5420 | Integration and Application of Prezi in the Secondary Classroom


About Me

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” –Nelson Mandela

The 2017-2018 year marks my third year as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher in Manhattan, where I focus on fashion design. The unique environment at this post-secondary school allows me to impart the skills necessary for success in the global apparel industry to students interested in fashion. In this position, I educate and inform based off of experience [and knowledge] accrued from working at design companies, such as Milly and Ralph Lauren.

To parallel how my students are always learning, I believe that successful, strong educators strive to continue learning as well. My students motivate me to become a better educator. As a result, I began working towards a M.S. at the State University of Albany in CDIT. I am confident that graduate studies will provide me with the tools to take instruction and learning to the next level!

I am ambitious, hard-working, honest, direct and outspoken.

I enjoy challenges, learning new things, going new places and trying out things beyond my comfort zone.



My Topic/ Purpose

General Overview and Introduction

"Prezi is presentation software that uses motion, zoom, and spatial relationships to bring your ideas to life..."

This digital platform affords the user the opportunity to generate exciting and highly engaging presentations.

Scope of Learning Objectives

Learners will be able to:

  • become familiar with the Prezi platform and application features
  • identify the benefits of implementing the platform into the classroom
  • explore how to navigate the platform
  • list the steps to successfully create a Prezi
  • create a Prezi to be implemented for instructional purposes

Needs Assessment

1.) Instructional Opportunity:

Instruction and how content is delivered linearly affects the quality of learning and retention of knowledge. Often, instruction incorporates the use of visual aids to convey ideas. These visual aids include images, pictures, colors, graphs, maps and charts to effortlessly communicate with others and organize information. While this strategy is considered effective when supplemented with other approaches, it lends its hand to more “passive” learning. It is during “passive” learning opportunities that students have the heightened likelihood to easily “tune” out from content because of the way in which it is being communicated.

Powerpoint, the usual tool used by teachers to supplement content visually, is valuable, however, it falls short of active learning and high engagement. The implementation of Powerpoint into the lesson can amplify passive learning and lead to: low engagement, lack of interest in content, diminished motivation, etc. Prezi is a viable, fun and exciting solution to classrooms that may have low engagement resulting from content delivered via Powerpoint.

Prezi is a presentation software platform that affords the user the opportunity to create highly engaging and visually captivating presentations. Through this platform, an educator can easily bolster classroom engagement through the interactive progression of the presentation that excitingly leads students through the path of discovery. Furthermore, Prezi’s interactive canvas encourages students to explore concepts and the connections between them in an innovative and technologically accessible way.


2.) What is to be Learned:

Learners will become familiar with how to use and navigate the platform. Upon familiarity and exploration, the learner will be able to implement the tool into instruction in order to render highly engaging and inclusive instruction.


3.) The Learners

Learners include educators, administrators and other professionals in the field of education seeking knowledge about how to create visually remarkable and interactive presentations via Prezi in the classroom, formal meetings, etc.

Learner Analysis: Learners within this course include educators and administrators teaching children in grades K-12. Additionally, they will possess varying degrees of familiarity with technology-related tools for instruction and technological abilities.


4.) Context for Instruction

Participants will learn content within this mini-course online, in his or her preferred location. Delivery of content will require the use of a computer and stable internet connection. Resources will be varied, highly relevant and useful for learners to further understand how to effectively use Prezi.


5.) Exploring the Instructional Problem and Solution

Learners will continuously explore the effects of supplemental technology-related instructional tools on the quality of learning (passive vs. active). Through surveys, assessments and activities, learners will become more aware of opportunities to increase engagement and active learning through the use of Prezi.


6.) Goals of this Mini-Course

The purpose of this mini-course is to:

  • Compare/ contrast the cost-benefits of Powerpoint vs. Prezi
  • Learn how to increase motivation, fun, excitement and engagement towards information/content
  • Learn how to use/navigate/ incorporate Prezi into instruction as a supplemental tool
  • Ultimately increase opportunities for active learning instead of passive as facilitated through Powerpoint

Analysis of the Learner and Context

Performance Objectives

Course-Level Objectives

  • Learners will recall various common presentation platforms used for instructional purposes
  • Learners will compare and contrast the instructional characteristics of Powerpoint and Prezi
  • Learners will identify the features of the Prezi platform and how they lend to its functionality
  • Learners will analyze the benefits and costs of implementing Prezi as an instructional tool
  • Learners will assess the quality of engagement and learning resulting from use of Prezi in instruction
  • Learners will design a Prezi presentation for a specific instructional purpose; include how its qualities (features) contribute to its utility (interactive distribution of information)

Task Analysis

Unit 1: Self-Reflection and Experiences Using Supplemental Technology for Instruction

Lesson 1 Objectives:

  • Learners will complete a survey (formative pre-test) about using digital technologies and programs [focusing on Powerpoint and Prezi] used to aid in facilitating instruction. Note: survey will focus on establishing baseline for existing knowledge, comfort level in using the programs and learner’s prior experience with the application’s effects on student learning.

Lesson 2 Objectives:

  • Learners will reflect on their individual experiences when applying supplemental technology in the classroom.


Unit 2: Popular Assistive Technologies in Education- Prezi and Powerpoint

Lesson 1 Objectives:

  • Learners will explore the Powerpoint and Prezi digital platforms and evaluate their instructional characteristics (organization, engagement, persuasiveness and effectiveness). Note: evaluation potentially to be administered as a rating survey


Unit 3: Design and Application of Prezi Presentation as Instructional Support Aid

Lesson 1 Objectives:

  • Learners will complete a digital graphic organizer on K-W-L (Know, Want to know, or Learned) regarding generating and using Prezi presentations.

Lesson 2 Objectives:

  • Learners will design an academic lesson that incorporates the use of Prezi. Work is to be posted to digital platform so that others can have access. Note: self-assessment rubric to be provided at the end of this lesson for reflection

Lesson 3 Objectives:

  • Learners will critique and provide constructive feedback to peers for created Prezi presentations. Note: peer- assessment rubric to be provided at the end of this lesson
  • Learners will revise and update their presentations based on the feedback provided.


Essential Prerequisites:

  • Learners must have access to internet with reliable broadband connectivity.
  • Learners must have basic knowledge of computer skills.

Supportive Prerequisites:

  • Learners should have some previous formal teaching experience.
  • Learners should be motivated and possess discipline in completing independent, self-paced work.

Curriculum Map

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Extended Resources

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