Emaze

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Emaze is a web-based tool for creating presentations. To begin, users must first register with the website. Once logged in, users can tap the “Create New” button to start making a presentation. Next, users must select the type of presentation they wish to make and a template for it, and they can preview templates before choosing one. (If users wish to create a blank presentation, they can do so by choosing that option when selecting a template.) Emaze then loads the template, and users can modify its content by selecting the different elements (e.g., text, and images) and making the changes.

To further customize the presentation, users can add their own images, text, media, and widgets with the buttons located at the top of the screen. The “Image” option allows users to upload their own images or search online for images to add to their presentation. The “Text” option lets users write and stylize their own text for the presentation. The “Media” option lets users input videos hosted on other websites (e.g., YouTube) directly into their presentation. The “Widgets” option allows users to connect their own social media channels to the presentation. Also, the “Add” button on the top left of the screen lets users insert additional slides to their presentation (depending on the template selected) and import PowerPoint slides directly into their Emaze presentation. At any time, users can tap the “View” button to play their presentation.

When finished, users must tap the “Save” button and title their presentation. They can click the “Download” button to view their presentation in the Emaze viewer (a separate, free download is required), in a zipped HTML file, as a video file, or PDF. In addition, users can tap the “Share” button to send the presentation out over the user’s social media channels, via email, by a link, or embedding it within another website or presentation.

After users create a presentation, they can go to the dashboard by clicking the “Emazae” icon on the top left of the screen. From their dashboard, they can tap the “Home” button to view and use featured templates, the “My” button to view presentations they made and to begin making a new one, the “Shared” button to view presentations that they have shared with other users, and the “Explore” button to view presentations made by other users.

Instructional Ideas for Using Emaze

1. When making a presentation, students and/or teachers can use Emaze to create a visual aid to enhance their presentation. That way, as they provide information orally, their audience will also be able to view information.
2. To develop their ability for producing presentations, teachers can assign a student or small groups of students a topic. Next, students will have to choose a template for their topic based on the choices provided by this website and customize it for their topic. When finished, students can post a link to their presentation to a class website, and their classmates can post comments in response that express what they liked about the presentation and ideas for improving it. The students who made the presentation can then read the comments and revise their presentations based on them.
3. After students gain familiarity with Emaze, they can compare it to other presentation software like Prezi, PowerPoint, Smore, Bitable, Visme, and Animatron. Students can then create a presentation using the software they prefer to discuss the strengths and shortcomings of each piece of software.
4. Instead of or in addition to writing a traditional paper, students can make a presentation using this website and share it with their classmates by presenting it to the whole class, in small groups, or by posting it online.
5. When planning a presentation, students can view the ones already created by other users and housed under the “Explore” tab on the dashboard. With a partner, students can identify presentation characteristics they liked, did not like, and ways to use some of the characteristics they liked into their presentation.

Screenshots of Emaze