I just received my invitation to try-out Powtoon, a new site (still requires you to request an invite) that lets you create very dynamic-looking presentations. In just a few minutes of playing around with it, it seems to me that it makes it easy for someone to make the kind of PowerPoint-like presentation that only someone very, very experienced with PowerPoint would be able to do.
I could see myself using it for presentations I make for my blog or for when I do public-speaking. My concern with a tool like this for students is that they could get so focused using all the cool tools that they would spend more time on the presentation than the content, but I might be wrong.
Powtoon will certainly make it on the year-end “The Best..” list for Web 2.0 applications. I’m also adding it to The Best Ways To Create Online Slideshows.
Here’s a video on how it works:
Being mostly kid at heart, I am already sold on the cool tools! Thanks for sharing this, Larry. I do honestly believe though, that “cool tools” can be a motivator for kids, and that often learning does result.
Great point, Susan!
Hi Larry,
How long did it take from the time you requested an invite til the time you actually got one? Also, do they allow you to invite anyone (kinda like how Pinterest is set up)? If so, think you could send one my way? I’d be your best friend!
-Carl
Carl,
I’m not sure, but I think it took a couple of weeks. I don’t remember if I can invite anyone. I’ll check and, if I can, I’ll send you an invite.
Larry
Carl, I read about Powtoon here on Larry’s blog, put in my invite request, and received one a few days later. I played around with it yesterday and think it would be readily adaptable to an educational setting.
Oh was that all? I was afraid it would be a few weeks waiting time.
Larry, if you could send one that would be great but if not I think I can survive the wait. 😉
Woohoo! My invite came in!!