Google Slides – Tips & Tricks

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!

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