Prezi and the Economy

One of the most exciting tools for educators I learned about this year is Prezi, a presentation tool that zooms all around a matrix that you create.  Basically you design something like a poster or layout, then you create frames and links that allow you to jump all around in any direction.  It's a lot less linear and one-up than PowerPoint.  Or at least it can be, because you can see several elements of the presentation at once, and then zoom around to whichever one you want.  Of course, if your purpose warrants it, you can always run your Prezi linear fashion, so viewers see things in the order you want them to see them.  But the big difference with Prezi is the feel.  Elements swoop, zoom, and spin - it's a lot less static than Powerpoint, and makes even Powerpoint's animations seem kind of stodgy and lame.

But why read about it, when you can see?  Check out this award-winning Prezi by Jonathan Chan:

Raise the Rate on Prezi

Chan is a recent graduate of an Economics program who won $50,000 for his idea, which he submitted to an online contest* using Prezi.  I like this example for two reasons:  It's a skillful use of Prezi - visually elegant - and its streamlined content is also elegantly conceived.  So together, it's a seamless mesh of form and content.    And it has me convinced that raising interest rates and counting savings toward consumer credit scores is the way to go.  

*FYI - Pension giant TIAA-CREF's "Raise the Rate" contest solicited ideas to help raise the rate of consumer savings.