So many choices out there for presentation and digital storytelling tools.  I remember about seven years ago being amazed by using Photo Story, and there have been wonderful advancements in presentation software since then.  It is so easy to become complacent with just using PowerPoint that you don't take the time to look and see what else is out there.  After looking through many choices, I narrowed it down to a few favorites: Blendspace, Emaze, and Slidely.

Blendspace would be a fantastic tool for a lesson or giving a presentation.  What I found to be quite interesting is the fact that you can incorporate videos, text, and images by simply dragging and dropping them right on the program.  You can label each element as you go.  Usually, when I want to show a series of videos and text, I spend time trying to remember where this document is saved and then waiting for the link to load.  I really liked how everything was in one, interactive place.  This would be a possibility for our group presentation.  We could upload the pictures and videos taken during our construction of the circuit.

Emaze is another tool that was my favorite.  This is a much more dynamic program than PowerPoint, designed full of interactive elements.  You can incorporate PowerPoints into this program which would be helpful as well as including music, sounds, and so on.  I could easily see this as an option for a presentation.  It is much more lively than other programs and is a way to document group work in a more lively way.  You can also include voice commands to play, pause, next, etc.

Slidely is one of the easiest presentation tools I have used.  You simply import the pictures, download music, and presto!  I could even use my photos from Facebook with a click of the mouse.  You choose which photos to use and the order the photos will appear.  Instead of searching for music, all you have to do is type in a song and the program finds it for you.  How much easier could it be?  I see this option as being the quickest to create a presentation and would be very easy to use for our group project.

I know I always worry when using technology with my students.  How long will this take?  Will they understand how to use the program?  Should we just go old school and do a poster board or collage?  Many of these programs would take no time at all to create a presentation once the students have researched the information and chosen their pictures.  I will incorporate these tools in my classroom as well as the library.  Beginning of the year orientations in the library or a refresher course on library resources would be great uses of any of these programs.