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.

Pump Up PowerPoint

Here are the tips and tricks that Ms. Puckett shared with IHS teachers in her CPE training session on PowerPoint.

HOW TO DO IT:

Backgrounds:
Go to Format > Backgrounds > Fill Effects. Use Color, Gradients, Patterns, Fill Effects or use your own pictures.

Import backgrounds from Internet:
Do a Google Image Search for Scrapbooking, Wallpapers, etc. and “Save Picture As” to My Pictures. Then follow the directions above to insert.

Graphics:
Copy and paste your own pictures or images from internet, then you can enlarge, reduce, rotate.

Use drawing tools:
Found at the bottom of the screen to add borders & shapes of any size & color. Try using Line Fill, Lines, Word Art, Autoshapes

Fill shapes with pictures:
Drawing Tools >Paint bucket >Fill effects > Picture

Animations:
Do a Google Web Search for “free animated clip art of ____” . Then copy and paste to your presentation.

Import sounds & video:
Use from your camera or copied from internet or from Windows file. Insert > Movie & Sounds > from file OR from internet—“Save Target As” to My Documents

Custom Animations:
Slide Show > Custom Animation. Add Effects, custom motion paths, time entrances & exits

Slide Transitions:
Time your show to move without clicking by clicking: Automatically after ___ seconds.

Narrate your presentation:
Slide Show > Record Narration. Use a microphone to record your voice.

WHAT TO DO WITH IT:

Here are some K-12 Jeopardy games already ready to use made by Hardin County, Kentucky teachers.

This site from Jefferson County, Tennessee provides the templates for PowerPoint games such as Password, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Twenty Questions, Guess the Covered Word, Hollywood Squares, Weakest Links, and Undercover. You or your students can create projects or reviews using ready made templates. Just plug in information from your course.

For LOTS and LOTS of ready-made PowerPoint presentations to use in your class for K-12 in all subject areas including math, language arts, science, health, and social studies...again thank Jefferson County.

Go to the Microsoft website for a variety of suggestions for not only using PowerPoint but all the other Microsoft Office products for education.

For what NOT to do on PowerPoint, watch this video...Death by PowerPoint!

What have you done with PowerPoint...comment on this blog.