
EP029 Learning with Google (Updates on Google for Education) – The 8-Bit Instructor
In this week's episode, I go through all of the updates coming to Google Workspace for Education. Plus, news and updates from Microsoft, IXL, and Screencastify; and, of course, your question of the week.
Episode 16
This week is all about Google Slides! In this week’s episode, I share a lot of the tips and tricks I’ve learned about Google Slides. And as always, your 8-Bit Crew question of the week.
News & Updates
- No news this week
Treasure Chest:
- This whole episode is a treasure chest!
Boss Battle: Tips & Tricks for Google Slides
- Tips
- Changing dimensions
- File–>Page Setup
- Use custom dimensions (inches or pixels)
- Import Slides from another presentation
- Make a copy of selected Slides
- Insert multimedia
- Images
- Audio
- Format options
- Start play on click or automatically
- loop audio
- stop on slide change (or play throughout the entire presentation)
- Format options
- Video
- Format Options
- Mute audio
- Play automatically, manually, or on click
- Format Options
- Design
- Use shapes instead of text boxes
- add text directly to shapes
- Use colors, gradients, and transparency to give it a pleasing look
- Use recolor on images to change the color of the image
- Format Options–>Recolor
- Use Drop shadows and Border Color to add a nice aesthetic
- Drop Shadow – Format Options–>Drop Shadow
- Border Color – In the toolbar next to Fill Color
- Adjust color, weight, and pattern
- Use on shapes, images, and videos
- Mask images
- Use the pulldown menu attached to the Crop button
- Select a shape to mask the image under
- Adds some variety rather than just square corners
- Use Arrange options to align, distribute, and center elements
- Use shapes instead of text boxes
- Linking elements
- Select an objects (shape, image, etc)
- Ctrl (Cmd)+K to add a link
- Add a URL or use the pulldown menu to link to a specific slide in the presentation
- Add-ons
- Unsplash – Royalty-free images
- Noun Project – tons of icons
- Pear Deck – make Slides interactive
- Poll Everywhere – another interactive feedback add-on
- Slip-in-Slide – Add slides to already copied Slide decks
- Edit URL when sharing
- After the final / in the URL, change the ending to change how the presentation can be viewed
- /copy – force anyone to make a copy
- /present – view in present mode (full screen)
- /template/preview – shows a template preview before copying the document
- /export/pdf – shares a downloadable PDF version of the presentation
- After the final / in the URL, change the ending to change how the presentation can be viewed
- Changing dimensions
- Things other than Presentations
- Creating PDFs
- Creating PNG or JPG files
- Google Classroom Banners
- Combine with Tall Tweets to create your own gifs
- Use with Screencastify to create gifs


Crew Members’ Board (#8BitCrew)
QOTW: What are some of your favorite Slides tips? What do you like to use Slides for besides presentations?
Use the #8BitCrew on Twitter or post longer stories in the comments section here.
Get connected
- Twitter: @comicsocks & #8BitCrew
- Web site
- Youtube
- Email: 8bit.instructor@gmail.com
- Support the show on Patreon.
Check out my Google Classroom Udemy course.
Credits
Music by David Fesliyan (https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/)
- Intro/Outro: “Retro Platforming”
- Boss Battle: “Boss Battle Rock”
- Crew Member’s Board: “Pirate Dance”
- Wrap up: “Game Over” by Patrick de Arteaga
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links to products or services. I may receive commissions or bonuses from your actions on such links.