Add Some Flair to Your Year-End Report: Digital Presentation Tools

Before computers and the Internet, school librarians had to type their reports on either a manual or electric typewriter. Fast forward to today, and there are so many different ways to make a digital presentation. You can utilize a design program such as InDesign, then save as a PDF, as done here by ALA. Or, you can take it up a notch and create an infographic or digital presentation. (Click the tab for "Infographices" at the top of this page for tools and information on creating your infographic.) If you are doing something unique for your report, please share below. Here is a small list if you want to think out of the box and bypass Microsoft Word or Powerpoint.

36 Best Tools For Data Visualization- if you are planning on making an infographic or slide presentation, you are bound to find something here.

Animoto-as an educator, you can obtain a FREE pro account, which allows HD videos up to 20 minutes in length, with over 2,000 music tracks to choose from.

Easel.ly- "create and share visual ideas online"

Emaze- simple interface and templates

Empressr

Glogster EDU- reports can be presented in poster style, with added graphics, music, text, photos and more

Kizoa- free slide show and collage maker

Powtoon- "bringing awesomeness to your presentations"; use their cartoon characters to make a great presentation for you

Prezi- "make your presentations zoom"

SchoolTube- make your own video and it won't be blocked in your school!

School Library Reports- Jennifer LaGarde (Library Girl) has shared eight different school library reports, so you can see different programs used to create them

16 Free Alternatives to Microsoft PowerPoint: Create and Store Online!

 I have never been a fan of PowerPoint. My school computer is a Windows Dell and at home I have all Macs. Microsoft's version for the PC is a better interface than the Macintosh. Coincidence? Hardly. Microsoft has succeeded in gaining the lion's share of the computer market, but Apple has had an incredible showing the last several years. I will always be a Mac girl. All right, I seem to have gotten off point. When students are working on presentations for class, it is always easy for them to lose track of where they last saved it, and that's why using the cloud works out best. EXAMPLE: Due date for the school project is after the school vacation and one kid chimes in "But our family is going to the Bahamas for spring break!" No problem, dear. Do you have access to the Internet at your hotel? (They answer "yes") Then you'll be able to get to your project on the website. Here are 16 free presentation programs which store your projects in the cloud:

9Slides

280 Slides- Beta ended on this program in December 2011; nice, simple interface

Ease- part of GNOME desktop

Empressr

Google Docs Presentation- not my favorite, but it does the job 

KOffice- online open source software includes KPresenter; works on Windows, Mac and Linux.

Kizoa- free slideshow and collage maker

Knovio

Libre Office Impress-the presentation part of this free office suite

NeoOffice- made for Mac computers; includes a  presentation module; download required; also available for Android smartphones.

Powtoon- "bringing awesomeness to your presentations"; use their cartoon characters to make a great presentation for you

Prezi- "make your presentations zoom"

PreZentit- "Create, share and show your presentations online"

Sliderocket- my students love the program for its ease; teachers love it because students can't lose their work because it resides on their site

ThinkFree- office suite like MS office

Zoho Show