Using Google Slides in the Classroom


by Cassandra Lee

Northern Arizona University



The first thing you need in your slide presentation is a slide design.  Look at the tool bar at the top of the page and click on "theme."  Choose a color theme for your slides.


Click on "layout" to choose the format for each slide.  You can also click on "transitions" to set up the way the slides move from one to another.




You can build Mind Maps inside of Google Slides.  Start by choosing "insert" from the menu at the top.  Click on "shape."  Choose a shape that you want to have in your mind map. To be able to type in the shape, click on "insert" again and choose "text box."  Drag the text box and resize it so it fits inside the shape.  Now you can type into it.  To change the color of the shape, click on the paint bucket on the tool bar.  You can also change the color of the shape outline by clicking on the pencil next to the paint bucket.



One of the advantages of Google Slides is that it has opportunities for students to communicate with the teacher in real time. Click on "Present" on the tool bar and it gives you choices.  Choose "presenter view."  Once you open that, a box should appear in the middle of your screen with the option of "audience tools."  Click on that to create a URL for your students to access from their cell phone or computer.  Once they have typed in the URL, they can type questions to the teacher about the slide presentation.  Those questions will pop up on the big screen for the whole class to see.  The teacher can then answer the question for the student.


Another feature available on Google Slides is the comment feature.  From the top menu, click on "insert" and then click on "comment."  There you can place a comment on a slide that will show up for whoever has permission to edit the slide show.  This feature is especially useful for students working in groups to work on their own presentation.  They can tell each other when slides need more work or ask questions to other group members.




Now you have a basic idea of how to use Google Slides.  This tool can be as interactive as you make it.  So let's get started!