Exploring Google Slides
Reflecting on Google Slides
I have been using Google Slides for a while now in my own preschool classroom, in college courses and within the context of the school district. I am a part of a school system where slides are often shared by administration and supervisors for communication purposes. I have utilized slides to create book reports and research presentations for college classes, in addition, as a collaboration tool within the online classroom construct. I have also created assessments and visual prompts for preschool students using Google slides that I use in conjunction with the Phonological and Literacy Awareness Screening (PALS) in my classroom.
While I am familiar with and have been using slides, I really reflected this week on how I currently use this tool and how I can broaden my usage and deepen my understanding of it. I have realized that I have only been touching the surface of what Google Slides can actually be used for. For the most part, I have been using slides as an informational tool where I plug in the information I want someone to know and then simply present it or turn it in. In the future, I wish to venture into the administration or supervisory aspect of the early education field so I am interested in finding different uses in which to use this presentation tool. I would like to broaden my own understanding and usage of the product so I can better utilize this tool in future positions.
So, with this in mind, I wanted to focus this week on using more of the tools Google Slides has to offer and use some things I have not previously used. I wanted to take a different approach with Google Slides and use it in a different way. I am currently working on a program evaluation of a Kindergarten Transition Program for another college class so I wanted to incorporate that evaluation with the Google Slides tool. It is my intention to work on the evaluation with the Coordinator of Preschool Services and several preschool teachers during the evaluation process. My hope is to use Google Slides as a platform for which we can collaborate on the program evaluation together. As we gather information, ideas and brainstorm the process we can then add the information to the presentation slides.
Using Google Slides
This week I challenged myself to dig deeper into Google Slides. My goals in using slides were to:
1. Create a slide presentation for a different purpose (different from my usual use)
2. Use more of the tools within slides, i.e. shapes, links, arrange on page, etc.
3. Add visuals to the presentation
4. Insert links to resources--website links, etc. to use as references or info
5. Be able to use the slide presentation for a project based purpose instead of a single use
6. Make it useful for collaborating
With these goals in mind I set out to create a Google Slide presentation for the Kindergarten Transition Program I am evaluating. It is my hope that I can utilize this presentation throughout the semester to share, collaborate and brain storm with the program stakeholders--coordinator, preschool teachers, assistants, kindergarten teachers and administrators.
I created the Kindergarten Transition Program slide presentation in order to use as a working document to collaborate with others on the evaluation (different purpose/useful for collaborating/project based). I included visuals and used more Google Slides tools in the presentation with adding a background picture, using shapes, arrows, adding color to some slides and text boxes, and arranging some information in visual form. One of the purposes of the presentation is to use it as a working document where it is revisited and revised as needed, instead of using it as a one time presentation tool. I also utilized more resource based links and information into the presentation including links to websites that can be consulted for further information.
Including Visuals in Slides
To include the background visual in Slides:
Click the background in the tool bar and then click choose image; I then searched for the image I wanted by typing in "children in line." Select the image and then click insert to use as the background for the slide.
Using Shapes and Arrows
Using shapes and arrows is a great way to create a flow chart of information:
Click on circle and angle icon on the tool bar, when hovering is should say shapes, to select the shapes you want to create with. Click the shape you want and drag it where you want it to be on the slide. You can then enter the text onto the shape directly. Use the same icon and procedure for the arrow options. I used this tool to create the organizational flow of the program I am evaluating. You can use as many shapes and arrows as necessary to create the visual chart you want to display the information.
Adding Color
Click on the text box you want to add fill color to and click on the icon that looks like a cup pouring, when hovering it should say "fill color." Brings up a drop down box to choose the color you want to add to the text box.
Videos
To insert the videos for the presentation I clicked on the Insert tab and clicked on video, this brought up a window to search in YouTube. I put in what kind of video I wanted, a description, phrase, etc. and it pulled up videos to choose from. Click on the one you want for the presentation and hit the select button on the bottom left and it uploads to the presentation. You can click and drag it to where you want it on the page.
Overall this was a positive experience and I think I extended my own learning by using more of the tools and options that Google Slides has to offer.
Kindergarten Transition Program Google Slides Presentation
1. Create a slide presentation for a different purpose (different from my usual use)
2. Use more of the tools within slides, i.e. shapes, links, arrange on page, etc.
3. Add visuals to the presentation
4. Insert links to resources--website links, etc. to use as references or info
5. Be able to use the slide presentation for a project based purpose instead of a single use
6. Make it useful for collaborating
With these goals in mind I set out to create a Google Slide presentation for the Kindergarten Transition Program I am evaluating. It is my hope that I can utilize this presentation throughout the semester to share, collaborate and brain storm with the program stakeholders--coordinator, preschool teachers, assistants, kindergarten teachers and administrators.
The Kindergarten Transition Program Presentation
After creating the slides presentation, I revisited the goals I had set out to accomplish and although it is a work in progress, I think I have accomplished the goals I set for myself.I created the Kindergarten Transition Program slide presentation in order to use as a working document to collaborate with others on the evaluation (different purpose/useful for collaborating/project based). I included visuals and used more Google Slides tools in the presentation with adding a background picture, using shapes, arrows, adding color to some slides and text boxes, and arranging some information in visual form. One of the purposes of the presentation is to use it as a working document where it is revisited and revised as needed, instead of using it as a one time presentation tool. I also utilized more resource based links and information into the presentation including links to websites that can be consulted for further information.
Including Visuals in Slides
To include the background visual in Slides:
Click the background in the tool bar and then click choose image; I then searched for the image I wanted by typing in "children in line." Select the image and then click insert to use as the background for the slide.
Using Shapes and Arrows
Using shapes and arrows is a great way to create a flow chart of information:
Click on circle and angle icon on the tool bar, when hovering is should say shapes, to select the shapes you want to create with. Click the shape you want and drag it where you want it to be on the slide. You can then enter the text onto the shape directly. Use the same icon and procedure for the arrow options. I used this tool to create the organizational flow of the program I am evaluating. You can use as many shapes and arrows as necessary to create the visual chart you want to display the information.
Adding Color
Click on the text box you want to add fill color to and click on the icon that looks like a cup pouring, when hovering it should say "fill color." Brings up a drop down box to choose the color you want to add to the text box.
Videos
To insert the videos for the presentation I clicked on the Insert tab and clicked on video, this brought up a window to search in YouTube. I put in what kind of video I wanted, a description, phrase, etc. and it pulled up videos to choose from. Click on the one you want for the presentation and hit the select button on the bottom left and it uploads to the presentation. You can click and drag it to where you want it on the page.
Overall this was a positive experience and I think I extended my own learning by using more of the tools and options that Google Slides has to offer.
Kindergarten Transition Program Google Slides Presentation
