Google Presentations is a wonderful new program that is part of Google Apps for Education, which allows users to create interesting presentations with ease. It is very similar to Microsoft PowerPoint, a bonus since most people are familiar with this program. Google Presentations also meets many of the Common Core standards, even better than does Microsoft PowerPoint.
In Google Presentations, one can create a presentation with many slides using different fonts, hyperlinks, pictures, and animations. There are several tools, however, that Presentations has which PowerPoint does not. First of all, just like Google Docs, one's presentation can be stored on the internet in the "cloud," which means it can be accessed from anywhere with internet and on any device. Secondly, also like Google Docs, Presentations can be collaborated on; many people can easily work on a presentation together, from their own device. Third, Google Presentations can be stored in different forms such as PowerPoint, which makes it easy for users who are more comfortable with PowerPoint. Next, presentations can be shared on the web for others to view. Last, Google Presentations is free!
Google Presentations helps to meet several Common Core State Standards. According to the Graham text, in Common Core students are expected to "Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations," and standard that is clearly met through use of Google Presentations. Another Common Core standard that Google presentations helps to meet is the one that says students must be able to "Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words." Students must be able to see and understand information in all forms. They need to be able to understand the text in a presentation, as well as the pictures, videos, charts, graphs, etc.
Google Presentations has many wonderful implications for classroom usage, even in elementary school, which is my area. The Graham text points out that "Preparing students to make high-quality
presentations in the early grades will hone their skills as they
progress in school." Graham makes an excellent point that in order to
succeed later on in school, students must begin at a young age
developing computer and technological skills required for this
technological age that we live in. Google Presentations is also a great tool to teach students collaboration skills, as it allows students to work together on presentations. Teachers can also be involved in the process of creating a presentation, guiding students through the process (which is very important, especially at the elementary school level!) Google Presentations can also be a great tool for teachers when creating presentations for use in teaching their classes; it can be easily stored to work on in another location, such as home, easily shared with other teachers, and collaboration in lesson planning with other teachers is also possible.
Google Presentations is a great program; although it is very similar to Microsoft PowerPoint, it has several advantages over PowerPoint. Google Presentations can be stored online, and accessed from any device. Presentations can be stored in nearly any form. Presentations are easily shared and collaborated on. Students can use it to meet the rigorous Common Core standards, and learn skills necessary to succeed in this technological age. Teachers can use it for easy lesson planning, and even aiding students on assignments. I can see no major cons with Google Presentations. It seems to me a step above Microsoft PowerPoint, a tool of the future, and something that will be a marvelous classroom tool, helping to meet Common Core Standards.
For a sample Google Presentation, please click HERE.
Outstanding!
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