…anyone who can sketch an idea on a napkin to create and perform stunning non-linear presentations with relations, zooming into details, and adjusting to the time left without the need to skip slides.

I was skeptical at first, but after seeing several sample presentations and receiving my beta invite, I had a chance to put together my first presentation using Prezi in about 30 minutes. I must admit that I am very impressed with this radically different approach to presentations. Prezi lives up to its claims and provides a simple and yet elegant workspace for creating as well as delivering presentations in real-time or sharing online for on-demand viewing.

I’d encourage anyone who gives presentations regularly to sign-up for a beta invite to Prezi and once you receive your invite, give Prezi a try.

While waiting for your beta invite, check-out the intro training video clips.

Mark my words…Prezi will completely transform the way presentations are given in the future. Prezi is that revolutionary!

Please take a second to click on the link below and vote.

http://www.bissell.com/MVP09/Week04/Vote4.aspx?ImageName=Apolo&FileName=5046.jpg

One vote per email address. Voting is from February 3-10.

Thanks so much. We would love to win money for our local animal shelter!!! Feel free to forward this on to anyone else who might vote.

CMU393: Children’s Presentations offers an overview of puppetry, storytelling, juggling and other visual methods used in children’s ministry. Practical emphasis is placed on choosing, preparing, and presenting content and concepts to children of various ages. Emphasis is placed on tying kid-tested methods to solid Biblical messages in order to delight children with the Gospel.

Some of the topics covered in this course include:

• Powerful Programs
• Method vs. Message
• Elements of a Successful Children’s Sermon
• Using Children as Volunteers
• Object Lessons
• Storytelling
• Snappy Ways to Teach Scripture
• Developing Costumed Characters
• Clowning
• Balloon Tying
• Magic with a Message

Be one of the first to enroll in the new Children’s Presentations course by signing-up today! Register and pay your course registration by February 25, 2009 to receive a $25 discount!

CMUO courses begin monthly, so you can sign-up and begin your journey toward expanding your children’s ministry skills anytime. No matter whether or not you have taken an online course through CMUO before, you can sign-up today to begin your online learning experience as soon as March 1st. Simply logon 24/7 to http://www.cmuo.com and find out more details. Current CMUO learners or those who have already applied and been accepted to CMUO can register for the new “Children’s Presentations” course at: http://www.cmuo.com/register

Free Workshop - What is a Children’s Sermon?

Want to catch a glimpse of what a CMUO instructional presentation is like? You can view a free training workshop entitled, “What is a Children’s Sermon?” at http://www.cmuo.com/workshops/childrensermon.

Additional FREE children’s ministry training workshops are available at http://www.cmuo.com/workshops.

Have a question about CMUO? Contact CMUO Learner support at: http://www.cmuo.com/support

We hope to see you “in class” soon!

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'97 National Ranger of the Year

I’ve been involved in Royal Rangers since the age of 7. I am a GMA recipient, former territorial scout, and National Royal Ranger of the Year.

I’ve served at the outpost, section, district, and regional staff levels as well as a field advisor for the National Office. I helped develop the Junior Camps and updated National Academy and NTC curriculum.

I’ll be speaking at both IL District Winter Camps. I look forward to seeing you there!

The next time you need a customized map, give Google’s “My Maps” feature a try!

Pecha Kucha is a presentation format (usually creative) in which information can be easily and informally shown. This presentation style started back in 2003 in Tokyo, Japan, by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham. Originally, this presentation form was created for young designers to meet, network, and show off their work.

The idea behind Pecha Kucha is to present information in a concise way. Each presenter is allowed to show 20 images, with 20 seconds per slide. The goal of the presentation is to keep interest high and information flowing. Pecha Kucha has sprung interest all around the world and currently occurs in over 157 cities.

Since there are no restrictions to the type of information presented in a Pecha Kucha style presentation this formula can be used in all types of learning formats. As several of my students have pointed out, there are numerous applications for how this type of abbreviated, engaging presentation format in any number of contexts.

Here’s a sample pecha kucha presentation to get a taste of what the impact is like…death to bullet points!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Full-time 12-month position responsible for developing and delivering programs and consultations on teaching, technology integration, and related areas for faculty, teaching staff and teaching assistants; providing training and support on the use of web course management system; preparing online and hard copy materials; working closely with various academic and support units at NIU to address their needs on instructional technologies; and participating in various activities of the Center.

Required: Master’s degree in instructional technology or related field, with knowledge of instructional design principles, pedagogical techniques, Web-based course management system and office productivity tools; experience in developing and delivering workshops in a university; ability to develop training materials and documentation, handle multiple tasks and function collaboratively and collegially in a team environment.

Preferred: Doctoral degree; experience in teaching in a higher education environment, offering training programs on web course management systems, ability to learn and show how to use new instructional technologies in teaching, and plan and coordinate programs.

Send: Letter of application, resume and three current letters of professional references related to this position to: Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Instructional Technologies Coordinator Search, NIU, DeKalb, IL 60115. Preference will be given to complete applications received by July 31, 2008, however, applications will be accepted until position is filled. AA/EEO Institution.

To download a complete position description, visit http://www.niu.edu/facdev/positions/instructechcoord.shtml

I spent June 13-20th with my brother-in-law Justin and father-in-law Terry riding across Colorado on our motorcycles. We loaded the motorcycles on my trailer and left Friday evening, June 13th after work and towed them 18 hours to Colorado Springs where we spent the night at Justin’s cousin, Travis & Britta’s house. From there, we drove on the bikes to Pagosa Springs to spend a couple of days with Justin’s family and in-laws before hitting the road and spending 3 more days on the road en route back to Colorado Springs and then finally home. In total, we put on 1,027 miles on the motorcycles and another nearly 2,000 miles in the Explorer towing the motorcycles to Colorado and back. All in all, we had a great trip and many fond memories that will no double be talking about for years to come.

All the photos from our trip are available here. For the slideshow, click here.

Anyone interested in the route we took, here are the maps for our routes that Justin planned out using Google Maps:

• Day 1 (Sun, June 15): Colorado Springs to Pagosa Springs
• Day 2 (Tue, June 17): Pagosa Springs to Hotchkiss
• Day 3 (Wed, June 18): Hotchkiss to Fairplay
• Day 4 (Thu, June 19): Fairplay to Colorado Springs

CommonCraft has released yet another witty video, this one focusing on the basics of social media: new technology that makes everyone a producer and tools that give everyone a chance to have a say.

You can find links to more great videos explaining new technologies in simple terms on theCommonCraft blog.