Tuesday, April 2, 2013

authorSTREAM


WHAT IS IT?
authorSTREAM is a FREE online slide sharing platform, which provides multiple options for sharing PowerPoint presentations both online and offline.  I prefer it to SlideShare because authorSTREAM retains animations, transitions, audio narration, and in-slide video viewing.  SlideShare does not.  


HOW DO YOU DO IT?
Go to the authorSTREAM web site and sign up for a FREE account. Once you have signed in you can upload your PowerPoint presentation by clicking the yellow Upload button and choose the file you plan to upload.  It’s that simple.  You can also embed your PowerPoint in a blog or web site, download as a flash presentation or a PowerPoint, or convert to an MP4 video format for up to 5 minutes for free.

You can also search for and USE any of the PowerPoints that have already been uploaded by others without signing up for an account.  Just use the search box in the upper right corner.


WHAT TO DO WITH IT?
This is an excellent resource to store your PowerPoint presentations to be accessible on any computer because they are online.  If you lose a flash drive or crash a PC, your PowerPoint is always there. Sharing is the best part.  Not only can others benefit from your ideas, but now you can access a multitude of presentations already online.

If you have presented a slide show in class and need an absent student to view it, upload it to authorSTREAM and link the PowerPoint on your web page of the district’s web site. 

Note: Slideshare is a larger PowerPoint sharing site.  You may want to search its database for ready to use slide shows for your classroom.  You can also upload and store your PowerPoint presentations there, but again Slideshare does not retain all the extras you may put into your slides.