Google Slides - Creating, Editing and Embedding Presentations
In this session I introduce Google Slides. It's a tool like PowerPoint, but with all the advantages for sharing and collaboration you're familiar with from other tools in Drive.
As I explain in the video, this can be a tool for you and the students. I hope we see many more presentations assigned in Google Slides this year instead of just PowerPoint!
Watch at least the first four sections of the video below. That will take about six and a half minutes. (The embedding section after that is optional, but knowing how to use those features can add a professional look to your online content. )
After you watch the video, see the information below for a suggested activity to practice with Google Slides.
The video has these sections:
As I explain in the video, this can be a tool for you and the students. I hope we see many more presentations assigned in Google Slides this year instead of just PowerPoint!
Watch at least the first four sections of the video below. That will take about six and a half minutes. (The embedding section after that is optional, but knowing how to use those features can add a professional look to your online content. )
After you watch the video, see the information below for a suggested activity to practice with Google Slides.
The video has these sections:
- Why use Google Slides instead of PowerPoint? - 0:45
- Converting existing PowerPoint files to Google Docs format - 2:00
- Sharing a Slides presentation - 4:16
- Creating and editing presentations with Slide (including adding Comments) - 4:45
- How to embed your presentations in Edmodo or a website - 6:27
Practice Presentation Assignment
So you can explore Google Slides on your own, follow these steps to make a simple presentation. My example is embedded below. If you can't see my example presentation it's because you're not signed into your Google Drive account. Sign in first and then refresh this page.
- Create a new presentation in Google Drive.
- Choose a theme for the presentation (if the themes open automatically when the editor loads).
- Rename the presentation Summer PD 2014 Presentation.
- On the first slide, type Summer PD 2014 in the main text box.
- Type the date in the smaller (subtitle) text box.
- Add a new slide by clicking the + button near the upper left of the screen, (just below the File menu).
- Type a title on that slide like "Favorite activities so far" or something similar.
- In the text area, make a bulleted list of a few things you've done this summer. Feel free to make things up if your break has been dull so far!
- Add one picture to that slide that is associated with an activity you listed. You can either copy and paste it from another site (like I did) or you can go to the Insert menu and bring it in from a file on your computer.
- Add a new slide, but this time click the small down arrow next to the + button. Select the Title and Two Columns Layout.
- Fill out the two columns with some entertainment you've been enjoying. My example was movies and music, but choose whatever you want. List a few items in each category.
- Now add one more slide using that down arrow by the + button. This time choose the Caption Layout.
- On this slide, write a caption about a class or project you are looking forward to working with in the new school year.
- Add one or two pictures to the slide that are related to that class. Again, you can find the pictures online or you can upload something you have on your computer.
- Share the file with me like you shared the document from Session 2 OR if you're up for a challenge...
- Optional: Embed your presentation in a website and email the link to me. If you don't have a website, Weebly is my recommended tool for creating simple websites that look great.
My example presentation
Examples of Linking to and Embedding Presentations
Just so you can look at your options for links or embedding, here are three examples similar to the ones I showed in the optional section of the video above.
If you upload a PowerPoint to Drive and do NOT convert it, this is what it might look like on your website:
Click here to access the PowerPoint file. As a student, you will be able to view it, but you can't edit it on this page. You can download it.
If you do convert the presentation, but then just add a link to you website, this is how it might look:
Click here to access the Google Slides presentation. As a student you only have permission to view it.
And here is the embedded Google Slides version of the converted PowerPoint file. (If this isn't displaying it's because you're not signed into your Google Apps account.):
If you upload a PowerPoint to Drive and do NOT convert it, this is what it might look like on your website:
Click here to access the PowerPoint file. As a student, you will be able to view it, but you can't edit it on this page. You can download it.
If you do convert the presentation, but then just add a link to you website, this is how it might look:
Click here to access the Google Slides presentation. As a student you only have permission to view it.
And here is the embedded Google Slides version of the converted PowerPoint file. (If this isn't displaying it's because you're not signed into your Google Apps account.):