Presentations with Dimension Part 2: Making Images Zoom in Prezi

Rachel Remembers, David Valentine 2010 from The Girl Who Broke the Time Barrier series.

Making images appear to fly is easy. But to make the effect convincing you need to be aware of a few rules about moving in and out of  GIF, JPEG or PNG images.  Keep in mind that Prezi simulates dimensionality by dynamically resizing your image file to fit the screen no matter how deep (small) you shrink it into the canvas. Prezi will in effect expand it to fill out to your point of view. You need to strike a balance between small length/width and large pixel depth; or "dpi - dots per inch".

If you put identical length/width images say, 4"x6" on an 8.5"x11" canvas that is itself 300dpi, one 4"x6" image however is only 72 dpi while the other 4"x6" image is the same pixel depth as the 8.5"x11" canvas, 300 dpi. When you place the two images side by side the 72 dpi image appears the size of a postage stamp in comparison. Why?

The 72 dpi image is almost 4x smaller than its twin. And since the canvas is 300 dpi the 4"x6" 300 dpi image looks normal. So what does all this mean for zooming in Prezi?

When you are zooming out on an image with relatively low pixel depth its integrity will distort. (See Example 1 below.)

 

Example 1:  Notice the stair-stepped edges of this low dpi image.

The image begins to lose its sharpness and gets fuzzy with stair steps around the edges. .A  300 dpi image can withstand expanded detail without noticeable distortion at even double the size. But that also means its a fatter image that can take longer to upload. The trick is to keep the image small in length/width dimensions. say no more than 5"x7",  but higher in pixel depth, say 150 to 200 dpi. Overall your images should be no bigger than 1.5 megabytes to preserve image integrity and smooth playback for zooming. Still with me?

The other thing Prezi does is present all images right side up by default. You can take advantage of this fact by using the Wheel Icon to position your image off center for zooming or spinning into the scene. The Wheel Icon's outer notched circle (Example 2) turns the image clockwise or counterclockwise in increments roughly equivalent to the notches on the circumference of the wheel.

Example 2: The Wheel Icon controls image orientation and size 

Sizing the image is controlled by the "+" or "-" symbols; and image placement around the canvas is accomplished with the hand symbol at the center of the Wheel Icon

Let's say you want to create the effect of the "Rachel" image spinning out of the depths to fill the screen right side up.  Instead of shrinking the image with the Wheel Icon, use it to turn the image 180 degrees. Use the Canvas Controls ( Example 3 below) to zoom in to the maximum depth of the canvas. The image will automatically shrink. Use the Wheel Icon  once again to place the upside down image off left of center.

 Example 3: (at the right side of the canvas) 

Use the "Paths" option of the circle bubble menu (screen top left in Example 3) and select the "Rachel" image as the next image in the sequence locking in its position on the canvas. Move your mouse to the bottom right of the screen and the "Forward/Reverse" SHOW controls appear. Click  "Reverse" to back up to the previous image location in the presentation. Click the "Forward" button to run the show. The current image flips up and off to the right. while the "Rachel" image zoom/spins up from the left.to come to a gradual halt, full size in the center of the screen. I used the same technique to spin into view the my You Tube video on 19th century Sublime American landscape paintings. 

The major difference between Prezi and Power Point is Prezi uses non linear motion to enhance relationships between text, images and videos, while Power Point does the same in a linear hierarchical manner. Both have their place. I happen to think Prezi is more fun.

David Valentine

A.T.E. Ball #4: Presentations with Dimension, Part 1

I think it is safe to say that practically everyone working in the classroom knows how to construct a Power Point. You create text. You import supporting images,sounds or video. Finally, you organize them over a compatible color background! So how come so many Power Points are bland and boring?
One reason could be that most folks think text in a Power Point is the substance where you present your ideas, and graphics are decoration. But, if you consider your presentation as a series of ideas connected through text, images, video, and motion then you are more likely to immerse them in an engaging visual experience, a Prezi.
Prezi.com is a web based application that lets you easily create dynamic relationships between concepts using visual asset in intelligent motion. That means any video, web page, photo, design, document, slide or graph can be orchestrated together into a coherent presentation that appears to travel in space and time.
Recently, I created a slide survey of my 25 years in computer-aided art-making entitled, "A Brief History of My Digital Artwork". Initially, it was going to be a Power Point. But upon reflection, I decided to make it a Prezi. It also occurred to me that it might be fun to deconstruct a section of my Prezi for this blog, and go
behind the scenes to see how everything worked. I’ll start things off with a brief introduction to the Prezi interface and then, we’ll watch "A Brief History of My Digital Artwork".
      Let’s start at the Prezi.com welcome page. First thing you might notice is no log in requirement. Visitors are encouraged to create a Prezi from scratch, or steal elements from the Prezi library without creating an account. More on that later.

 Example 1

In Example1, I circled areas for your investigation: At the top of the screen, the Learn tab has three short video tutorials, some cheat sheet summaries, and a tips and tricks section. To the right, I circled the Desktop icon which opens into another useful tutorial about Prezi workspace organization.
On the left, I circled the New Prezi icon for those who want to jump right in and splash about. The 3rd arrow points to a tutorial on how to covert Power Points to a Prezi.

 

Example 2 

Example 2 is "A Brief History of My Digital Artwork’s" start position in Edit View.

Above the workspace is a reorganization of the “File” menu. You can “Save” your work; make unlimited “Undos” and “Redos”; create a meeting for several people to simultaneously work on a Prezi; and “Print”, get “Help” or “Exit”. On the left of the workspace is the “work menu” with its circular function tabs: “Insert” lets you upload content. “Frame” organizes the content into manageable groups. “Path” creates navigation paths between the groups. “Colors” lets you color your background with solids, gradients or patterns. “Show” plays your Prezi. And “Write” allows you to add text. The “Zebra Menu” is your all-in-one text editor. You can revise, zoom and rotate text. The (+) plus icon opens a set of options including font selection. The “Zoom Scale” on the right side of the workspace helps you simulate depth by zooming into a group during navigation. The “Home” icon at the top of the set brings you back to the start position. Okay, so those are the basic tools and concepts. Let’s see it all in action with “A Brief History of My Digital Artwork”, and I’ll look for you in part 2 of Presentation with Dimension. Enjoy!

A Brief History of My Digital Artwork - David Valentine on Prezi

Collaborate, Communicate and Create with Twiddla.com & SKYPE

Recently, my wife and I had to face the fact that our daughter's 8th grade math skills were not keeping pace with the increasing complexities of her Algebra coursework. Clearly, the services of a tutor were needed. But who and where?  Fortunately, we had a family friend, an excellent retired math teacher who was willing to lend her services once a week for free.  The rub was she lived a time zone away in Arizona.  We could certainly use SKYPE to handle video conferencing between the parties. But we also needed a good, preferably free, Web 2.0 collaboration app for displaying math solutions in real time.

     As it happened, there is a free Web collaboration app with a shared realtime whiteboard. The app is a web site called, Twiddla.com.

To get started with Twiddla simply click the button that says, "Go, start a new meeting". And you're in! There's no login, no special usernames or passwords to memorize or forget. You simply share ideas, or upload and edit MS Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or PDF).  To make things easier, Twiddla has a set of shape tools and drawing pens to facilitate on the fly charts that you can use without affecting the document.  Twiddla also let's you upload images. It has a built-in Chat feature and Internet audio so that everyone can talk over each other just as if they were face to face.

         "Wow!" you're probably thinking, "How can they afford to do all of this for free?" You're right. They can't. As you might have guessed the (free) guest account version of Twiddla does not have access to all of the app's full features. Guest account cannot save their session work. Simultaneous audio is greyed out.  EtherPad, the online word processing tool is inactive. Screen capture? Nope. Tech Support? C'mon!  For these and all of Twiddla's robust features  you need a paying account (After all, this is a business). And to be fair the fee structure is quite reasonable. $14.00 a month unlocks all of Twiddla's goodies for large or small groups. Suddenly not sounding like such a good deal?  Hold on!
Twiddla wants to curry the favor of educators who, after all have frequent meetings with their colleagues, parents, other interested parties. For these wonderful folks, the full featured version of Twiddla is FREE!

And full featured it is. (The example interface is on the left).  Import options to the whiteboard are accessed from the top screen toolbar. They include: websites, fully editable MS Office documents plain text, and images. The tool bar also sports a menu of shape tools, drawing /erasing tools, color palettes, and good 'ol keyboard entries. The bottom screen has tabs filled with useful math formulas, widgets and coding opportunities.

As an educator or student you can get all of these robust features without charge.  Start by emailing info@twiddla.com to get things rolling.

         Now my daughter does distance tutoring through Twiddla.com. And as I indicated at the outset, we use SKYPE on a second monitor for face to face video conferencing. Smart, easy to use, real time collaboration can be achieved elegantly with Twiddla.com.  Things might be looking up for educators after all!

Cloud Collaborations: ed.VoiceThread.com

Amazing things are happening in the Cloud! I don’t mean those picturesque puffs of moisture floating in the sky. I’m talking about the network of computer servers spread around the globe facilitating everything from stock trades to movie downloads. Tech companies use the Cloud to create applications that are OS neutral and contain built in text mark up, drawing and audio visual tools. No downloading; no CD installs, no hard drives at all. Just a solid Internet connection and you’re ready to create, collaborate or play. Cloud applications work entirely through unseen Internet servers, accessible through a web address (http://www...), and a web browser like Firefox, Safari, Chrome or Internet Explorer. The browser acts as a portal to the application that we can use to create, manipulate and distribute content. Let’s say you are attending a Cloud based video conference. You open your laptop; click on the conference address in your web browser and go to the site. Then, login, attach your headset or microphone and start working with your colleagues down the hall or Down Under.

Okay, you say, that’s great for businesses or independent schools with deep pockets,but what about my budget cuts constrained school?  

Example 1

Inexpensive or free collaborative Cloud computing is available here and now, and I’d like to share my experiences with one application designed to promote idea exchanges in the boardroom or  classroom, face to face or across the globe

 Ed.voicethread.com (or simply VoiceThread), is a web based/application that allows you to create slides shows from documents, graphics, images and videos that viewers can comment and record into the slide show with a keyboard, their voice, a phone, or a webcam.

You can familiarize yourself with the VoiceThread’s interface and tools by clicking the Browse tab (Example 1). It opens up a plethora of user examples to get you started. The Create tab is the essence of simplicity. Click on the button and a pop-up box prompts you to begin uploading your content from your computer. VoiceThread turns them into contiguous slides on which you can record commentary. Then distribute your VoiceThread by embedding it in an email, or blog, or website to invite comment. Viewers can record their comments as they view your content, and you can view those comments to create new content based on their responses. Sound cool?

In 2009, I used VoiceThread to add an online component to a demonstration art lesson I modeled in partial fulfillment of the Music Center’s Teaching Artist Apprentice Program. I designed a lesson plan for a 55 minute class on the Elements of Form and Design in landscape painting. My content adhered to California’s 4^th grade visual arts standards. But my background story came from the19^th century American Sublime Landscape Movement. Its key features were belief in the primacy of Nature over human enterprise, and a fondness for overstatement at the service of natural depictions of the land; a concept I thought 4^th graders could take to heart.

The demonstration combined storytelling with drawing exercises in a fairly conventional manner At the end of the lesson I encouraged my committee to login to my VoiceThread account and comment on the slide show summary lesson,  I wanted to demonstrate how VoiceThread’s comment features could aid assessment of student comprehension of a lesson, and benefit the instructor with feedback on the materials presentation.  The thread opened with a reproduction of a Sublime painting and a question, “What is a landscape?” (Example 2).

Example 2

After defining a landscape, I went onto show how all landscape paintings contain the same basic elements of line and form (Example 3) hidden under layers of color. Viewers could comment at any time during the audio exposition. 

Example 3

The comment feature is activated by clicking Comment above the Play button at the bottom of the slide screen. The slide show will pause as a pop up menu presents various modes of comment e.g. voice recording, keyboard input, phone or webcam video.

One thing I did not anticipate from the review committee was an absence of any response to the VoiceThread. No one volunteered a comment. Later, I found out that those who did logon forgot to comment because the slide show was so impressive.

            VoiceThread is not free. It’s is a subscription service, but its fee structure is very affordable and flexible based upon the demands of the user For an annual fee of $60.00 a teacher can have accounts for each student to her exclusive VoiceThread web address; administrative / management controls over student content; tech support, unlimited threads; and discretion over public access to class threads on the web site.

That’s it!  No technology purchases, no software downloads, no program installations, and a virtual flat learning curve. All you need to create your own VoiceThread is your imagination, your experience and a sense of adventure.

 

Google Search For Nerd-Do-Wells

By David Valentine, BFA, ISTE (International Society of Technology Educators)

When I did my first Google search I was so impressed with how much information I could gather that I failed to consider how useful those links were to the goals of my search, or whether I needed to go through one hundred and fifty thousand of them. Since then I’ve learned that I can control the scope and intent of my searches by using powerful features built into Google Search like keystrokes, and command line keywords.

Here is an introduction to power user techniques that will make your searches more accurate and provide teachable moments for your students..

Keystrokes That Hit the Mark

Ø       When you place a tilde (~) in front of any word, Google will find the definition and synonyms associated with the word.

Ø       Placing a plus “+” in front of a word forces Google to search only for that particular word, and to ignore any variations of it. Example: (+kneel) will generate definitions of kneel but will not expand to include words like kneeler.

Ø       Inversely, a minus “-“  in front of a word tells Google to ignore synonyms or homonyms of that word. For example, dope –person yields sites about drugs, not slang variations for a stupid person.

Ø       You don’t need and to link words together such as pencils and paper; pencils (space) paper will do.

 Quotation marks can produce terrific targeted results when you use them wisely. Here are a few to remember:

Ø       You can link names, phrases and places as multiple keywords by containing them within sets of quotation marks  Example: “John Wayne” ”movie westerns” “Monument Valley” will yield an anthology of John Wayne movie sites where the location Monument Valley, Utah was prominently featured.

Ø       Another powerful keystroke that works within quotes is the asterisk (*). You can substitute a word in a phrase or title by using an asterisk. Google sees the asterisk as a “wild card” character. It will interpret the complete string of characters as if it were an intelligible phrase. Example: “Four * and seven * ago” will yield the full text of the Gettysburg Address, and related sites about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

Ø       A rule of thumb about quotation marks and capital letters or articles of speech. Google ignores any capital letters not contained within quotes.

Ø       Put OR (uppercase), between words or phrases in quotation marks to create related ideas into one search. Example, “The British Invasion” “1964” OR “1980” will yield sites on British domination of popular music during the 1960’s and the1980’s.

Command Line Keywords

The term “command line” harkens back to the days when keyboard commands rather than mouse clicks were the norm in personal computing. Even though we live in a world of graphical interfaces, a keyword command of one or two syllables can produce startling results.  And when you combine them with your keywords you can orchestrate search results that will take your breath away. Here are a few to remember.

Ø       INTITLE followed by a colon and a descriptive keyword or compound phrase (with spaces) produces a list of sites using your keyword in the title. Example, intitle:japanese robots.  Similarly, INTEXT followed by a colon and your keyword (no spaces) produces site descriptions with your keyword in the text body.

Ø       LINK: (colon) followed by the complete URL (no spaces) reveals a list of recent, active sites linked to your keyword. On the other hand, type the URL with spaces and you get a higher number of sites containing text that use your keyword.

Ø       SITE: (colon), the complete URL, or domain name, or country code (no spaces) followed by a space, then the keyword will produce sites specifically about the keyword from within the URL, domain or country code. For instance site:dvscmedia.com fine art reveals curriculum vitae about yours truly and the fine art links in my web site. Another example: site:gov environment produces a list of environmental sites related to various agencies of the federal government.

Ø       FILETYPE This command is really cool!  You can create lists of specific sites containing documents, spreadsheets, pdfs, power points, images or any file type by using an extension, and a defining keyword.  The syntax is filetype: followed by a colon (no space) an extension such as, .doc, xls, ppt, pdf, jpg, etcetera and a defining keyword or phrase. Let’s say I want to find all the existing power points on the art of Jean Michel Basquiat. The search string would look like this: filetype:ppt “Jean Michel Basquiat” .  Jean Michel Basquiat is a proper name, so I enclosed it in quotation marks. The search yields seven pages of power points on Basquiat and his art in English and several other languages. Type: filetype:ppt “Jean Michel Basquiat”-foreign languages and see how the results change. There is so much more to discover which we'll have to save until next time. Meanwhile, practice using keywords and command keystrokes to keep your searches precise and relevant. Knowledge is power!

Digital Drawing and Moviemaking with Kerpoof.com

David Valentine, BFA, ISTE (International Society of Technology Educators)

The Web is alive with classroom tools designed to use browser based applications.  Several are increasingly showing up as " all-in-one" multimedia programs that combine drawing, text, clip art, and authoring into a single easy to use web app. To this growing club add a little known web application that is standards based, resources rich, and a lot of fun to use.  They call it, Kerpoof!   Oh, did I mention it's FREE? (More on that later.)
    Jean Cocteau, the Surrealist artist and filmmaker famously said, "Art clarifies Science." Kerpoof certainly lends credence to that claim.
Kerpoof's designers and programmers have gone to great lengths to craft an app that can really help K-5 students design and execute thoughtful, creative projects that can "clarify" coursework assignments.
Kerfpoof uses an icon based interface that acts like a gateway to it's architecture of interactive tools. The program's tutorials are simple, step by step teaching modules that are easy to use, and reinforce learning with animated examples of each tool in action.
    The teacher resources are chock full of grade level specific lesson plans, indoor/outdoor support activities, and fully illustrated hand outs that lay the foundation for all of Kerpoof's digital projects
     A short list of it's modules include: drawing, card-making, story book authoring/illustrating and moviemaking. Moviemaking is  particularly clever and well designed. Begin by choosing a theme icon to reflect your movie narrative. Then, the screen divides into a stage area on the left, and a layered timeline on the right. Below the stage are sets of smart object icons: scenes, characters and special effects with built in actions that to which you assign time durations and drag onto the stage. As you add scene elements the timeline graphically illustrates each asset when it appears and how long it lasts. You can assign action loops, new scenes, transitions, new characters, and dialogue bubbles with a combination of mouse clicks and keyboard entries.  Each scene is fully editable. When you are finished you hit the play button and watch your narrative come alive.
Now, the fine print.
Although Kerpoof basic is a free app, its full feature sets are normally only available through a monthly subscription fee.  However, the designers of Kerpoof are very serious about It as a primetime education tool. So, teachers and education staff members can open full featured Kerpoof accounts for themselves, and their students absolutely FREE!!  The main caveat is your projects must by nature remain as educational content and not for commercial use. Please read the Terms and Agreement for more information. You register as an educator's account by using your school district email e.g. (my name@my school district .....) as your username, or (if you have a regular email account) use it as your username, and Kerpoof will subsequently ask for verification of your educator's status.  With an educator's account you can assign login privileges, monitor student content, save projects online, and let student teams collaborate in real time on individual classroom computers!

    Go to Kerpoof.com! Check out the gallery of student projects; and browse the lesson plans based on your grade level before trying out a component tutorial.  You'll get ideas, and then, you might get hooked!