LFS:Workshops/Presentation Software
Documents a Presentations
DropBox
DropBox is a file hosting service that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, and client software. Dropbox allows users to create a special folder on each of their computers, which Dropbox then synchronizes so that it appears to be the same folder (with the same contents) regardless of which computer is used to view it. Files placed in this folder also are accessible online and through mobile phone applications. DropBox is particularly useful if you work commonly with the same or similar documents on many different computers or phones.
Google Drive and its components
Google Drive is a storage space used through Google's Gmail to store and share documents. With Google Drive it is possible to download and keep shared documents as well as create and share your own unique documents. These documents are also called Google Docs.
Google Docs is a freeware web-based office suite offered by Google within its Google Drive service. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating with other users. Google Docs offers documents in the form of spread sheets, power point presentations, drawing tablets, forms, and plain blank documents.
Google presentation works really well on presentation projects that need collaborating with people from different areas. Making a Presentation Using Google Drive is super easy and even easier if you are familiar with power point. Every person the document is shared with has the ability to edit it and transform the document into the presentation they desire. Everyone can input their information, edit the style and formatting of the presentation and so on, straight from their own devices. There is also a lot of available Templates for the presentation which can help get you started as well as make your presentation more creative.
Wikis
Wikis are also a useful tool for collaboration. In either a public or private forum, people can collaborate on a single document in the wiki and come out with a single document that has been worked on by every individual. Wiki's are also great for presentations because they allow a lot of room for exploration by using Links so you can access many different sites that are pertinent to your presentation and have them already Hyperlinked.
For more information there is an [http://wiki.ubc.ca/LFS:Workshops/Intro_to_Wikis Intro to Wikis
Prezi
Prezi is a zooming presentation software that has a lot of room for creative, unique, and entertaining presentations. If used correctly and well it can make the presentation experience more enjoyable for both you and your audience. Making a Prezi is easy because it has all the basic tools you need for creating a quality presentation including text boxes, media and video inputs. But on top of that it allows you to create pictures and visually interesting presentations that can be zoomed in and out of creating an active and interesting site.
An example of a quality Prezi presentation
Communications
Skype
Skype is a free communication application that is downloadable on many different devices. Skype gives users the ability to have face-to-face conversations with friends, family and coworkers from all over the world at no starting cost. The service also includes an instant messaging service as well for ultimate communicative abilities. A user has the ability to link up their Skype to their e-mail or Facebook as well so as to obtain maximum amount of contacts. Skype is a huge step in the 21st century in terms of mainstream online face-to-face communication which is perfect for collaborating on projects or discussions as well as just contacting friends and family members.
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is an instant messaging and video chat platform developed by Google, which launched on May 15, 2013 during the keynote of its I/O development conference. It replaces three messaging products that Google had implemented concurrently within its services, including Talk, Google+ Messenger, and Hangouts, a video chat system present within Google+. Google has also stated that Hangouts is designed to be "the future" of its telephony product, Google Voice, and integrated some of the capabilities of Google Voice into Hangouts.
Other Services Available
TinyChat is an online chat website that allows users to communicate through instant messaging, voice chat, and video chat. It offers thousands of chat rooms and the ability for users to create their own virtual chat room on any topic or category
Blue Jeans is a professional and independent communicative program that offers unanimous and easily accessible communication
Project Management
Basecamp is an efficient and widely trusted project management site that allows companies to collaborate on all sorts of projects including creating flagship stores as well as develop individual attainments through collaboration.
Surveying
A Doodle is a connective and interactive online calendar that can be used to organize scheduling. Doodle can connect with as many calendars as you wish including google, iCloud and iCal. Doodle allows you to maintain a personal calendar as well as use some of their capabilities to organize meeting times and schedule events. If you have a group of people who need to meet together but you're having troubles organizing a time you can send them all a Doodle with suggested times. Each person can then check off their availability and you can easily access the Doodle to cross reference the best day for the most people.
SurveyMonkey is a service that allows users to create, distribute and analyze their own survey.
Google Forms is another component of the Google Drive which allows you to create quick and efficient forms that can be shared for collaboration, sent to participants for response, and then sent to a spreadsheet for easy analysis. The program gives you options for themes and titles for a creative and unique look as well as let you create a survey from scratch using a multitude of response options including multiple choice, text, grid, checkboxes and so on.