Google Slides is already a powerful tool for student creation and collaboration. You can see a wide range of educational uses on my Google Slides resource page.As awesome as Google Slides is, you can make it even awesomer with the use of Add-ons. Just like Docs, Sheets, and Forms, you can now install Add-ons for Google Slides. Add-ons are third-party tools that provide you with extra features and functions that are not normally available in Slides.
Although Add-ons are still a relatively new option for Slides, there have already been many excellent Add-ons created. In this blog post we will take a look at nine of my favorites that can be valuable for students and educators.
See below for details on how to find, install, and use Add-ons, in addition to links and explanations for each of my recommendations. Also you can watch the recorded video from the webinar where I cover all of the topics in detail.
Training Video (1 hour)
- Session Agenda - Google Doc link
- YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I9uFseFfcE
- Session Slideshow - Google Slides link
- Session Q&A Chat Document - Google Docs link
- Session Evaluation - Google Form link
- Session quiz for certificate of attendance - Google Form link
How to install an Add-on
When you are using Google Slides, you will see that there is an Add-ons menu item in the top menu bar. You can click this menu item to access your installed Add-ons and to find new Add-ons. To install a new Add-on do the following:
- Click the Add-on menu item in the top menu bar.
- Click Get Add-ons from the drop-down menu.
- This will open the Add-ons window.
- You can scroll through the available Add-ons, or narrow down the choices with the filter menu, or type in a search term.
- If you find an Add-on that looks interesting, you can click on it to get more details.
- In the pop-up window you can read more about the Add-on, see images and/or videos, and see reviews and ratings.
- If you decide to install an Add-on, click the blue +FREE button.
- You will then get a pop-up window explaining what privileges the Add-on needs, and asking for your permission to install it.
- Click the blue Accept button to allow the Add-on to install.
Once you have installed an Add-on, it will show up in the drop-down menu when you click Add-ons in the top menu bar. To use an Add-on:
- Click the Add-ons menu.
- Click on the Add-on you want to use in the drop-down menu
- A side menu will pop-up and will typically include a menu item to launch the Add-on.
How to remove installed Add-ons
If you decide you no longer need a particular Add-on, you can remove it easily.
- Click the Add-ons menu item in the top menu bar.
- Click Manage add-ons... from the drop-down menu.
- This will open a pop-up window showing all your installed Add-ons.
- Click the Manage button next to an Add-on, and then click Remove from the drop-down menu.
- The Add-on will now be uninstalled.
- If desired, you can always reinstall the Add-on again.
Google Slides Add-on link
- Unsplash Photos gives you access to over 300,000 high resolution photos.
- The pictures are completely free to use with no copyright restrictions.
- You can search for the photos you want in the add-on panel.
- When you find the image you want, simply click on it to insert it into your slideshow.
Google Slides Add-on link
- Much like Unsplash Potos, the Top Stock Photos Add-on lets you search for free images.
- Top Stock Photos pulls images from a wide range of free photo sites such as Pexels, Pixabay, and more.
- Images can then be inserted into Slides with one click.
- You can also click the link icon to insert a text box with a link back to the original photo.
Google Slides Add-on link
- Insert Icons gives you easy access to over 1,800 free icon images from the Font Awesome and Google Material Design collections.
- You can run a search or browse through the icons to find what you need.
- You can also choose any color you want for the icons and they will automatically be updated to that color.
- After clicking on your chosen icon to insert it, you can move, resize, and adjust as needed.
Google Slides Add-on link
- PhotoSlideshow allows you to bulk import images from a Google Drive folder or a Google Photo album.
- The pictures are added one image per slide.
- This is an easy way to create a slideshow from a collection of images.
- After PhotoSlideshow inserts the images, you can crop and resize as needed.
Google Slides Add-on link
- Shutterstock Editor lets you do advanced editing to images that are already in your slideshow.
- Select an image in your slideshow, then click "Edit Photo" in the Add-on panel.
- This will open an editor where you can make lots adjustments to the image, apply filters, and more.
- When done, click "Save to Slides" to put the updated image back into your slideshow.
Google Slides Add-on link
- Flat allows you to compose and insert sheet music in Google Slides.
- From the Add-on you can insert a wide variety of notes and musical symbols.
- Your completed sheet music is then inserted as an image into your slideshow.
- You can play back the music by selecting the image and re-opening the Flat add-on.
Google Slides Add-on link
- Paletti lets you choose from 200 pre-made color palettes to apply to your slides.
- Browse through the palette options, then click the little wand button to apply the colors to one slide, or the big wand button to apply it to the entire slideshow.
- You can also create your own palette by choosing your own colors.
- You can also select an image in your slideshow and have the Add-on automatically create a palette to match the picture.
Google Slides Add-on link
- Slides Toolbox provides loads of tools for doing bulk actions.
- The tools are arranged in menus including Removal Tools, Text Tools, Arrangement Tools, Export Tools, Import Tools, Chart Tools, Shape Tools, and Page Tools.
- Some of my favorite tools include:
- Sort - Sort text alphabetically, by length, randomly, etc.
- Download Outline Text - Export all the text from your slides to a text file.
- Export Slides - Save all of the slides as individual images
- Create Slides from Images - Import images from Drive in various arrangements.
- Create Slides from Docs - Import the text from a Google Doc to create slides.
- Table of Contents - Create a table of contents hyperlinked to each slide.
Google Slides Add-on link
- Pear Deck lets you add interactive elements to your slides including multiple choice, text entry, numeric entry, drawing, and draggable activities.
- You can insert pre-made template slides provided in the Add-on.
- Or you can add interactive elements to slides you have already created.
- When you present the slideshow through the Pear Deck Add-on, students join the presentation and can interact with it.
For more details on how to use the Pear Deck Add-on, see my earlier posts linked below:
- Supercharge Google Slides with Pear Deck Add-on
- 21 New Free Interactive Pear Deck Templates for Google Slides
Conclusion
In addition to the Add-ons we looked at in this blog post, there are many others available and many more still to be made. What are your favorite Slides add-ons that I did not mention? Share your suggestions in the comments below.
Also, if you are interested in learning more about Add-ons for different programs, be sure to check out some of my other resources:
Post by Eric Curts. Bring me to your school, organization, or conference with over 50 PD sessions to choose from. Connect with me on Twitter at twitter.com/ericcurts and on Google+ at plus.google.com/+EricCurts1
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