As an online instructor, I try to make sure may students have the opportunity to develop oral as well as written communication skills....and what better way to do this than by assigning presentations? Many students do not have access to expensive video and audio recording software, so I have created a list of 6 ways they can make class presentations - for FREE!
1. Recording a slide show in PowerPoint
The finished file an then be saved and uploaded...but this finished file may be too large for many email systems to handle or to upload into an LMS (Learning Management System). The work-around here is to export the video to YouTube, resulting in a link or a video to embed.
Following is a list of websites to assist in adding voice-over to a PowerPoint slide presentation and exporting it to YouTube:
- Record your Slide Show in PowerPoint
- Save your Presentation as a Video
- Post your PowerPoint Presentation as a Video to YouTube
2. Office Mix
Office Mix is a downloadable PowerPoint extension that allows users to turn presentations into interactive online lessons to be shared on the web, in OneNote, or in one's LMS. Integrating audio and video narration, real-rime digital inking, screen captures, quizzes and polls, simulations, videos, and live web pages are now possible.
The following video provides a brief overview of this extension and how it can be used:
3. Infographic - Thinglink - Just add video/audio
Tired of traditional presentations? Try something a wee bit different. This approach involves a few more steps, but the results can be very creative and interesting.First, create an infographic using a program that allows you to save the infographic as a jpg or png. I tend to use Piktochart but Easel.ly and Visme work well, too. Once you have your information presented on your infographic, publish and download it as jpg.
Once the infographic is finished, decide where video or audio should be added to further explain and explain specific topics, images, ideas..... then, create those video or audio files being sure they each have a url. Programs that allow you to save the files to your google drive where you can share them as a url will also work. Free programs that will allow you to create short audios or videos online include Screencast-o-matic, Free Webcam Recorder Software, Jing, Screenr, and many others.
Having the video or audio url is necessary for the next step.
Now, sign up for free Thinglink account. Thinglink allows members to create interactive graphics. What does this mean for you and your presentation? You can now embed a video or audio file, an image, or even a website into the infographic that you previously saved as a jpg. Click HERE to see an example of an interactive syllabus I designed using this same method. Simply link several videos to expand upon your infographic.
The Thinglink video below provides a quick overview of how to use it :
4. Infographic with Embedded videos
This approach requires more pre-planning on your part, but you might consider creating an infographic and embedding your videos directly into it -WITHOUT the use of Thinglink. Piktochart and Venngage will allow users to embed a Youtube or Vimeo video directly into an infographic.Remember - several of these infographic generators also offer other formats such as posters or presentations, so experiment!
Learn more about Piktochart below:
5. Prezi: Just Add Video
Prezi is yet another option for a presentation. Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software often used as an alternative to PowerPoint. Where PowerPoint uses slides, Prezi uses a large canvas where users zoom in and pan to various parts to emphasize ideas presented. Video files can be embedded, but users need to note hat when the video plays the rest of presentation my be hidden, so plan accordingly. Also, I have had some students with motion sickness when they watch a prezi, so keep that in mind when planning and building. As before, plan out the videos and embed where needed.Learn more about using Prezi by watching this video:
6. VoiceThread
VoiceThread may provide another free option for presentations. A free account is available but with a limit of 5 presentations.New to VoiceThread? VT is an interactive collaboration and sharing tool that enables users to add images, documents, and videos, and to which other users can add voice, text, audio file, or video comments.
Users can up load images, slides....and add voice to each one, with the ability to add text or to draw, making this a great method of presenting material for discussion.
The following video provides a very quick overview of VoiceThread:
