Newsletter No. 4
If you think that learning or working without using the Internet is almost impossible nowadays, we agree with you. That is why this issue of our newsletter gives some useful web addresses:
www.prezi.com www.merci-facteur.com. www.flikr.com. www.freemusicarchieve.com www.pinterest.com www.mindmapfree.com www.freerice.com
Prezi Prezi is a presentation tool that helps us organize and share ideas. We can access the application at http://prezi.com/. To use the application we need to create an account and we can choose a free account. To make a presentation we can start from scratch (Start blank prezi) or we can choose one of the templates provided by application (Use template).
We can add to presentation different contents: text, frames, pictures, forms and videos, we can import contents from PDF files, video or PowerPoint (view Insert menu).
After adding an element, text, image or anything else, we click on it and a menu appears that helps us transforming them, as follows: Click and drag on Hand to Move the object. Click on + or – to Resize the object or click and drag on the squares in the corners. Click and drag on the circle in the corner to Rotate the object. Click on Delete to erase the object. Click on Edit Text to initiate edit mode for the selected object.
For spectacular results you can alternate large and small objects (text). After adding more items to the presentation using the Edit Path we can determine the order of presentation elements. The presentation is automatically saved. After exit the presentation, the buttons at the bottom of the image will be used to edit the presentation - Edit, Download the presentation (so it can be viewed offline), or create a copy of the presentation (Save a copy). Very useful is the Share button that helps us to give other users access to the presentation. Users can be added only to view the presentation or to edit, depending on the role assigned by us. Embed button provides a code that is used to include the presentation in a website or blog.
Merci-facteur Merci-facteur is a presentation tool that helps us to prepare our cards, any kind of cards (Christmas, Easter, Birthday, Wedding….and so on), personalizing them with images and the texts we want to insert. We can access: www.mercifacteur.com. It is a French website but it is easy to understand how and what to do!!! After the access click “créez vos cartes illustrées”, there you can then choose the colour, an image from your desktop or from the website, write a text and put your signature!!! If you like, you can send your card directly from your computer to the receiver. There is something to pay, of course, if you want to sent your card. If you do not want to send it, you can print it and send it through the post office! It is cheaper and more traditional.
Enjoy yourselves, there are many other things you can do!!!
When we prepare a presentation or something that is going to be published on the Internet, we often need some pictures and music to make our work more attractive. However, it may cause a small problem, especially when we download photos which weren't taken by us. To avoid the risk of stealing someone's property we can use www.flikr.com.
To start downloading safe photos you just need to sign up and confirm your account. It's as simple as that.
When it comes to music, we can use www.freemusicarchieve.com.
To download the type of music you need you just have to write it in the search box and a second later you see a list of offered pieces of music. When you choose your favourite one, you click the sign of an arrow and it's almost done.
When you are supposed to prepare a Christmas decoration, school play scenography or maybe you're looking for some interesting examples of brain-friendly notes, it's always a good idea to check www.pinterest.com. After singing up you'll get an access to incredibly vast range of different resources. It's definetly worth testing.
If you like mind maps you should try www.mindmapfree.com As soon as you open the website the program is already waiting for you. After writing the central word you can see a red dot. When you click it, a new branch is created and you can write your next assoctiation. And the next one. At the beginning you can also use some help provided by the page.
Another website we'd like to recommend is www.freerice.com. The main idea is very simple - for every correct answer you donate 10 grains of rice for people who suffer from hunger. You can learn not only English there. When you click the SUBJECT button, you'll find Maths, Geography, Chemistry and many others.
HAVE FUN!