Have you wondered whether you should use Google Slides for your students’ assignments? Is Google Slides the best option for you? With so many types of digital resources out there, it can be challenging to decide what’s right for your class.
Benefits of Using Google Slides in Your Class
- Google apps are widely available because they are free to use.
- Google Slides assignments are easy to assign by email and in Google Classroom.
- When working in edit mode, the pieces are moveable!
- Shortening assignments is simple.
Personally, I love assigning my students work using Google Slides because they are a great worksheet alternative. Worksheets are typically plain and boring. Google Slides contain color and color makes my students happy. However, my favorite reason for using Google Slides in my classroom is because of the moveable pieces.
Moveable Pieces
When students work in edit mode, any items not flattened in the background become moveable. This is great for teachers who do not have enough manipulatives for the whole class to share.
Plus by dragging and dropping items on the screen, students get a nice break from traditional short answer problems.
Working in edit mode is simple. Whenever a Google Slides presentation is opened, it opens in edit mode by default. Just don’t click on the “Present” button.
Drawbacks of Using Google Slides for Student Work
- Google Slides are not self-grading.
- Students must have the internet to access the activities.
While I really love the capabilities of Google Slides, my biggest complaint is that they are not self-grading. For this reason, I often use Google Forms when I need something that is graded quickly for me. I mostly use Google Slides when I want my students to have an interactive experience with moveable pieces or for guided practice activities that we check together. However, there are times when I do take grades on my Google Slides activities. Read this blog post that explains how grade them.
Although using Google Slides for student assignments isn’t for everyone, there are some compelling reasons to give it a try. For me, it was the ability to give my students hands-on interactive activities in a virtual setting. What do you think? Is Google Slides a good choice for your class?
