Google Slides is a favorite teaching tool for many educators, both in person and online. With a huge selection of free features and options, this powerhouse allows teachers to create dynamic, interactive presentations that really engage their students. Whether you’re new to Google Slides or looking to up your game, these resources will help you make the most of it.
Today’s blog post is for anyone who needs some assistance with the technology side of Google Slides, specifically teachers looking to utilize this tool. We will show you some helpful information, like how to add sound to your slides or even how to make them interactive for students.
GOOGLE SLIDES BASICS
Google Slides is similar to the well-known Microsoft program, PowerPoint. The neat thing about Google Slides is that it’s very user-friendly and has many simple features that make it a cinch to create slides for your classroom. So let’s dive in! Here is how to create a new Slideshow:
Step 1: Navigate to www.slides.google.com.
Step 2: In the upper left corner of the screen, select Blank. This will open a new Slideshow.
Step 3: Name your Slideshow by clicking in the upper left corner of the screen where it says “Untitled Presentation” and type what you would like the name of your slideshow to be.
Step 4: Explore! There are many features on Google Slides, and the best way to learn the basics is to explore.
RESIZING YOUR SLIDES
Google Slides offers a highly intuitive interface that makes creating an impressive presentation simple. One example of this is that, when you open a new presentation, Google Slides opens a 16:9 widescreen deck template that fits most laptop screens, tablets, and projectors. But what if you want a different look? What if you wanted to create, for example, an Instagram template? How can you change slide sizes in Google Slides?
HOW TO: Change the size of your slides
Step 1: Open google slides
Step 2: Click on “file” at the top of your screen
Step 3: Click on “page setup”
Step 4: Choose a preset dimension or choose custom
Step 5: If you choose custom, another box will pop up, you then enter your desired dimensions and unit of measurement.
ADDING SOUND TO YOUR SLIDES
Here’s a cool feature! Google recently added the ability to include sound files in a Google Slideshow, and this is so exciting! This will make learning so much more fun for students when they can pick up on audio cues and listen to real time sound effects in the slides. There are 2 different types of audio you may want to insert into your slides: narration or music.
HOW TO: Insert Narration
Step 1: Open Online Voice Recorder
Step 2: Record your narration
Step 3: Open google slides
Step 4: Choose the slide you want to insert the narration on
Step 5: Click on “Insert” at the top of your screen
Step 6: Scroll down and select “audio”
Step 7: Select the recording of your narration
Step 8: Click the “Select” button
You now have a narration!! It’s that easy
HOW TO: Insert Music
Step 1: Open Free Music
Step 2: Select a genre of music
Step 3: Choose a song and download it by pressing the arrow on the right
Step 4: Open google drive
Step 5: Drag and drop your downloaded song into your google drive
Step 6: Open google slides
Step 7: Click on “Insert” at the top of your screen
Step 8: Scroll down and select “audio”
Step 7: Select the downloaded music
Step 8: Click the “Select” button
GOOD TO KNOW
When you have added your sound to your slide show, you will most likely want to share your presentation with others. To do that, you go to the Share button in the upper right corner of Google Slides and get a shareable link. Share the link as you normally would. Here is the big trick with adding sound to a Google Slideshow: The sound file link must also be shared. This is kind of a big deal. If the sound file is not shared, there will be no sound.
HOW TO: Share the sound file
Step 1: Open Google Drive
Step 2: Select the sound you have inserted into your slides
Step 3: Click on the 3 dots in the upper right corner
Step 4: Click “Share”
Step 5: Where it says “get link” make sure it says that “anyone with the link” can listen
Step 6: Copy that link
Step 7: Click done and share with desired people
INSERT VIDEOS INTO YOUR SLIDES
The nice thing about embedding a video directly in your Google Slides presentation is that you (or your students) don’t have to worry about clicking over to another window or website. Instead, you can simply set the video to play automatically (or once the Play button is clicked). You can use YouTube videos, videos from other sites, or those you’ve created yourself.
HOW TO: Insert video from Google Drive into slideshow
Step 1: Open Google Slides
Step 2: Click “Insert” at the top of your screen
Step 3: Click on “Video”
Step 4: Click on Google Drive and select the video you want to embed
Step 5: Click “Select”
And you’re done!!
Step 1: Open the slide in which the video is on
Step 2: Right click on the video
Step 3: Click on “Video Options”
Step 4: Choose a start time and end time on the sidebar that pops up
What else would you like to learn about Google Slides? There are many features and we love talking about them!