Chapter 1. Understanding the Prezi Frame of Mind

Although it is certainly possible to use Prezi in a similar way to other presentation tools, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Prezi opens up new ways of presenting that simply aren't possible with the other tools. While teaching others how to use Prezi, we have discovered that the biggest learning curve is not usually the technical aspect of how to use the tool itself, but rather how to understand and start thinking in what we call the Prezi frame of mind. Many of us have become so accustomed to the slides made prominent by PowerPoint that it's difficult to think outside of the box—literally outside of the box that makes up the slide. Prezi opens up our presentational possibilities in new and exciting ways. Just as important as learning how to use the technical aspect of Prezi is learning how to think Prezi. As we work through the technical elements, we will also reinforce how these elements can help us think differently about how to present.

In this first chapter, we will get an overview of what these different types of presentations look like, covering the following topics:

• Thinking about nonlinear presentations
• Planning your Prezi
• Mind mapping
• Deciding the BIG picture
• Common Prezi mistakes