Google Slides

HOW-TO & FAQs

I will eventually integrate some of these items into the Slideshow, above.

Q: Images that I use for backgrounds (so students can write on them) are fuzzy.

A: Save images as .png for clearer images. Or add images into the Master Slides instead of individual slide backgrounds.

Q: How can I insert a folder of photos into Google Slides quickly?

A: Use an add-on called Photo Slideshow from Awesome Gapps and import from Google Drive.

Q: What are good add-ons for Google Slides?

A: Recommended by me and New EdTech Classroom (see video below for details and ) - The Noun Project; Unsplash (for copyright-free images); PearDeck (for interactivity); Extensis Fonts (adds more font options - but be sure to check out More Fonts under the basic font selector); Flat Icon (for a variety of icons, some paid); Slides Translator (fairly accurate translation); Easy Accents (add accents for languages); hypatia (math equations, similar to Equatio which doesn't work for slides); Slido (for interactivity, asking poll and quiz questions); Nearpod for Google Slides (interactivity and content). Slip in Slide for adding slides to a presentation after it has been shared on Google Classroom.

Q: I've already assigned Slides to my Students! How do I add new ones?

A: Another well-recommended extension is Slip-in-Slide which lets you add slides after they have already been pushed out to students. John Sowash has recorded a how-to at https://youtu.be/jm7Wa9DOXS4. There's also a useful video by MrsPTarleton at https://youtu.be/j0Ycag-NrGA that requires students to add them to their own versions. You can also check out Slidemania's how-to at https://slidesmania.com/how-to-push-slides-to-your-students-files/

Q: How do I get rid of the navigation bar on a presentation?

A: Just discovered this great tip from Paula of Slidesmania.com (wonderful site!). When sharing a link, click on Share, select Everyone with the link can view and copy the link. Now replace /edit to the end of the URL with /preview?rm=minimal so that you don't see the navigation at the bottom.

Q: How can I annotate slides while presenting in Google Meet?

A: Present in Edit mode. Then press CTRL and Windows (or CMD on a Macs. Zoom out if you need to. The slide will take up most of the screen and you can write on it. See below for some videos.

A: Use a screen annotation extension like Web Pain or Epic Pen or Annotate: Web Annotation or Page Marker or Watercolor or Page Marker to write on the screen. Take a screenshot when done if you want to save it.

Other suggestions include One by Wacom; converting a slide to PDF and using Kami; uploading slides to Jamboard as images and writing over them; Pear Deck extension.

For Mac: using an iPad and Apple Pencil with airserver; Notability app on iPad with stylus; use Keynote or iBooks.

Q: How can I share Google Slides with my students without them changing it?

A: There are multiple ways. https://youtu.be/Osjbm45S2nw

1. Download PDF document; Go to File > Download > PDF Document (don't use animations)

2. Download PNG or JPEG image file; Go to File > Download > JPEG / PNG

3. File > Publish to the Web; edit the settings, either as link or embed. Copy the link to share. They will see the Presentation view of the slideshow and won't be able to make changes. You can update your file and students can refresh to see changes. Click File > Unpublish to stop students from viewing. This way you don't have to worry about sharing permissions.

• Another reason is that if students are on an iPad, they may not have the Google Slides app but publishing to the web means they can open it in a web link. You can also annotate it with extensions such as Web Paint.

• A third reason is that you can use it to make Stop Motion Animated videos.

• If you frequently update a Google Slide show, you can publish it and then embed on a website like Google Sites. When you update the slide, it will automatically update.

• Certain programs like Flippity require the embedded version.

4. Get shareable link; Click the Share button. Either add students or copy the link. You can change the permission settings as well as what students can do (View, Comment, or Edit).

5. Use Google Classroom to specify view, edit, and make a copy for each student.

Resources

SlideShot for Google Slides - Takes screen shots and then creates a presentation. Great for a portfolio or in-work progress. https://alicekeeler.com/2016/12/08/chrome-extension-slideshot/

Choose our Own Aventure: https://alicekeeler.com/2016/12/08/chrome-extension-slideshot/

Joe Sisco has developed resources for teachers - https://bit.ly/2Pebosk . He has linked a useful presentation on Using the Master Slide.

Good list of features that you might now be using: https://www.risevision.com/blog/20-google-slide-features-you-might-not-use...but-should

Matt Miller of Ditch that Textbook has some really helpful resources at https://ditchthattextbook.com/google-slides-interactive-notebooks-20-activities-to-fill-them/

Richard Byrne demonstrates how to make interactive charts and diagrams in Google Slides: https://youtu.be/m22az_IzQ4c