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Google Slides + Audio for Student Narrated Presentations

Your classroom has wide-ranging student needs and situations.  Some of your students may have conditions that make presenting in front of the class challenging.

Google Slides provide a lot of flexibility for students who might be reluctant to present in front of the class.  I'm including a few ideas on how you might use Google Slides (or Adobe Spark!) for students with conditions that make presenting a challenge.   Or,  you can use the tools to provide practice for students in a less anxiety-inducing environment.

Narrate the Slide Deck Slide by Slide:


As I mentioned in my last post, Google Slides now allows you to add audio files to your slides.  You can use any program that allows you to create an audio recording, but I like online-voice-recorder.  Students record what they would say for each slide, and add the audio file to the slide. (Insert>Audio).   Set the audio to autoplay as the slide is clicked, and you have a narrated slide deck!  (Refer to my last blog post for more detailed instructions for using audio files in Google Slides.)



Click here to listen to this single slide about the new Google Drive Priority page coming soon:
Click here for the slide


 I have added audio to a single slide in this slide deck, so you don't need to move forward.  However, students can insert audio on every slide and you will hear narration throughout the entire presentation.  

This method makes it easy to re-record individual audio files if students make a mistake recording.

Create a Video Narrating the Slide Deck:


Using a Google Chrome add-on called Screencastify, students can record as they navigate through the slide deck.  Screencastify records whatever is shown on the screen along with anything that is spoken.  Screencastify is helpful when students want to demonstrate something not available on the slides themselves.  If a student makes a mistake, however, they need to start from the beginning. 

 Click here to add Screencastify to your Chrome browser.  (You can find this and all other Chrome extensions in the Chrome Web Store.)

Once added, the Screencastify icon will appear to the right of your web address bar.  

Click the icon to see your options:



 Watch this video to see how this looks - you don't need to watch the entire video!




The video is saved to your Google Drive in a folder called Screencastify.  You can't edit the video in any way (a blessing and a curse!), and time is limited to 10 minutes.

Looking for ways to use Screencastify?  Click here for '50 Ways to use Screencastify in your classroom!


Adobe Spark - another way to create a narrated video:

As I was writing this blog post, I realized Adobe Spark produces the same video output.  Students create their slides within Adobe Spark and record/re-record audio on each slide until they are satisfied.  When the slides/audio are ready, Adobe Spark creates the video!  Another great tool in your toolbox!  You may have seen the example below before (thank you Florence Roussel-Ehrenthal):




I hope this post provides you the options you need for your students.  Students can practice their presentation skills or students with identified conditions have an alternative method for showing what they know.

Please feel free to contact me for more information, advise, or additional support!










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