> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • Student-Success Resource Center
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
Profhacker Logo

ProfHacker

Teaching, tech, and productivity.

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

Challenging the Presentation Paradigm: Bee Docs Timeline

By  Ethan Watrall
August 27, 2009


A couple of weeks ago, Prof. Hacker kicked off a series called “Challenging the Presentation Paradigm” with a look at Prezi. This week, we’re going to look at Bee Docs Timeline as an alternative (or a supplement) to presenting lecture content with a more traditional, linear slide program (such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote).

Bee Docs Timeline (http://www.beedocs.com) comes from Bee Docs, a 2 person boutique software developer based in Seattle. As its name suggests, Bee Docs Timeline allows you to create visually compelling (and somewhat interactive) timelines. You can give your timeline a custom look (background, font, colors, etc.) or choose from one of the pre-designed templates (there are only 7, but they all look decent)

Content for your timeline can come from a bunch of different sources. The easiest (and most flexible) way is to manually enter each item on the timeline (each item can include a title, a date range, an image, a text description, and a link to external content – a webpage) The app also features built in support for importing data from a variety of 3rd party apps. GTD apps like Things, The Hit List, and OmniFocus are all supported – allowing you to create timelines from your own personal to-do lists. You can also import data from other 3rd party apps like iCal, iPhoto, and iTunes. Imagine creating a timeline of your photographs or tracks within a playlist – you get the idea.

When it comes to actually displaying the timeline you’ve created, you can present from the app itself (in full screen). Arrow keys or the Apple remote let you move backwards and forwards though events in your timeline. You can also zoom in and out of your timeline – choosing to show specific details, or the overall scope of the timeline. You can also export to video (for Apple TV, iPods/iPhones, and as 1080p HD Quicktime), print (via PDF), and static images. An added feature of Bee Docs Timline is the ability to import your timelines into Apple Keynote, and integrate them into an existing presentation.

Bee Docs Timeline features two presentation”modes”: 2D and 3D. The 2D mode lets you present your timeline in profile. The 3D version gives you the ability to present your timeline in a kind of perspective-based 3D.

Bee Docs Timeline 3D Presentation Mode

Bee Docs Timeline 3D Presentation Mode

You may have noticed that there has been a lot of talk about Apple Keynote and the Apple remote. Yup, that’s right, Bee Docs Timeline is Mac OSX only. Sorry Windows people, you are out of luck. The other big issue is that, as of yet, Bee Docs Timeline doesn’t export to Flash. This is a drawback, as being able to export as Flash and stick your timeline in a webpage is important. The app exports to Quicktime video, which is good (for online deployment). However, with Flash, you get files that are smaller than anything you could get with Quicktime video. With Flash, you also open the door for incredibly rich interactivity (imagine being able to create something like the BBC British History Timeline in Bee Docs Timeline)

The bottom line is that those looking for a fully featured presentation app should really look elsewhere. Bee Docs Timeline isn’t Prezi, PowerPoint, or Keynote – nor does it really intend to be. However, those looking for an interesting (and visually compelling) way of presenting information chronologically, in a way that reveals connections and clarifies relationships might want to take a closer look at Bee Docs Timeline.

Bee Docs Timeline 2D Presentation Mode

Bee Docs Timeline 2D Presentation Mode

The irony is certainly not lost on me that in a discussion about changing the way in which we can ditch linear presentation models, I’m talking about an app that creates content that is pretty linear. However, Bee Docs Timeline creates stuff that has a definite wow factor – and whether we like it or not, visual design has pedagogical value. Compelling design can get you engagement and immersion – and that’s a good thing for lectures and student learning.

So, what do you think? Is Bee Docs Timeline something you’d try out? What about the larger question of compelling visual design having pedagogical value?

We're sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network.

Please allow access to our site, and then refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, please contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com


A couple of weeks ago, Prof. Hacker kicked off a series called “Challenging the Presentation Paradigm” with a look at Prezi. This week, we’re going to look at Bee Docs Timeline as an alternative (or a supplement) to presenting lecture content with a more traditional, linear slide program (such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote).

Bee Docs Timeline (http://www.beedocs.com) comes from Bee Docs, a 2 person boutique software developer based in Seattle. As its name suggests, Bee Docs Timeline allows you to create visually compelling (and somewhat interactive) timelines. You can give your timeline a custom look (background, font, colors, etc.) or choose from one of the pre-designed templates (there are only 7, but they all look decent)

Content for your timeline can come from a bunch of different sources. The easiest (and most flexible) way is to manually enter each item on the timeline (each item can include a title, a date range, an image, a text description, and a link to external content – a webpage) The app also features built in support for importing data from a variety of 3rd party apps. GTD apps like Things, The Hit List, and OmniFocus are all supported – allowing you to create timelines from your own personal to-do lists. You can also import data from other 3rd party apps like iCal, iPhoto, and iTunes. Imagine creating a timeline of your photographs or tracks within a playlist – you get the idea.

When it comes to actually displaying the timeline you’ve created, you can present from the app itself (in full screen). Arrow keys or the Apple remote let you move backwards and forwards though events in your timeline. You can also zoom in and out of your timeline – choosing to show specific details, or the overall scope of the timeline. You can also export to video (for Apple TV, iPods/iPhones, and as 1080p HD Quicktime), print (via PDF), and static images. An added feature of Bee Docs Timline is the ability to import your timelines into Apple Keynote, and integrate them into an existing presentation.

Bee Docs Timeline features two presentation”modes”: 2D and 3D. The 2D mode lets you present your timeline in profile. The 3D version gives you the ability to present your timeline in a kind of perspective-based 3D.

Bee Docs Timeline 3D Presentation Mode

Bee Docs Timeline 3D Presentation Mode

You may have noticed that there has been a lot of talk about Apple Keynote and the Apple remote. Yup, that’s right, Bee Docs Timeline is Mac OSX only. Sorry Windows people, you are out of luck. The other big issue is that, as of yet, Bee Docs Timeline doesn’t export to Flash. This is a drawback, as being able to export as Flash and stick your timeline in a webpage is important. The app exports to Quicktime video, which is good (for online deployment). However, with Flash, you get files that are smaller than anything you could get with Quicktime video. With Flash, you also open the door for incredibly rich interactivity (imagine being able to create something like the BBC British History Timeline in Bee Docs Timeline)

The bottom line is that those looking for a fully featured presentation app should really look elsewhere. Bee Docs Timeline isn’t Prezi, PowerPoint, or Keynote – nor does it really intend to be. However, those looking for an interesting (and visually compelling) way of presenting information chronologically, in a way that reveals connections and clarifies relationships might want to take a closer look at Bee Docs Timeline.

Bee Docs Timeline 2D Presentation Mode

Bee Docs Timeline 2D Presentation Mode

The irony is certainly not lost on me that in a discussion about changing the way in which we can ditch linear presentation models, I’m talking about an app that creates content that is pretty linear. However, Bee Docs Timeline creates stuff that has a definite wow factor – and whether we like it or not, visual design has pedagogical value. Compelling design can get you engagement and immersion – and that’s a good thing for lectures and student learning.

So, what do you think? Is Bee Docs Timeline something you’d try out? What about the larger question of compelling visual design having pedagogical value?

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Explore Content
    • Latest News
    • Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Professional Development
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Chronicle Intelligence
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    Explore Content
    • Latest News
    • Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Professional Development
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Chronicle Intelligence
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
  • Know The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Write for Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • Our Reporting Process
    • Advertise With Us
    • Brand Studio
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Accessibility Statement
    Know The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Write for Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • Our Reporting Process
    • Advertise With Us
    • Brand Studio
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Account and Access
    • Manage Your Account
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    Account and Access
    • Manage Your Account
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
  • Get Support
    • Contact Us
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • User Agreement
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Get Support
    • Contact Us
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • User Agreement
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin