Using an Audio Slideshow

A new semester means a chance to experiment...and I have decided to experiment with audio slideshows.....and give my adult students a chance to experiment with them as an alternative to a  recorded PowerPoint presentation.


An audio slideshow is an audio track (speech and/or music) with a sequence of  photographs (slides) which change as the track progresses. This self-running slideshow, then, could be used in a variety of ways.

Uses for an Audio Slideshow

How about crafting an audio slideshow to present a topic as part of a larger lecture? This approach would also work well to archive a meeting while providing audio narration. Students could use this technique to capture an  internship project...or practicum..or a study abroad opportunity. Audio slideshows could be used to present an interview project or poetry reading or musical  composition....There are so many different and creative ways to use this technique!

Why use an Audio Slideshow?

We know how to narrate PowerPoint presentations and how to turn those into videos for posting in youtube or vimeo for embedding in an LMS, so why should we use an audio slideshow? 

Photographs tell a story, and often we have stories to tell about content ..... or about events ... or we want students to share their stories. Photographs capture a specific point in time - and what can be more important in communication than seeing and understanding one's perspective?

Strong audio can pack as punch too  as shown by the many road dramas of the past.


Putting these two mediums together can result in an extremely powerful product.

Weaknesses of an Audio Slideshow

Although audio slideshows are growing in number, they are still not very popular.

Why?

Well, it's not video, and for those of us who are used to fast moving video and activity, an audio slideshow can feel downright slow. For example, one image will stay on screen for 5 or more seconds, before slowly dissolving into another. In video, we see images lasting just a matter of frames.

Another issue is that many  audio slideshows are just not very good and have mismatched audio and video.....or the slides move too quickly.....

Examples of Great Audio Slideshows

The audio slideshow of Bronx grandfather Joseph Cotton  is part of series by the New York Times entitled 1 in 8 Million. This slideshow tells the story of Mr. Cotton using black and white stills depicting average family routines that make up the fabric of everyday life...narrated by grandfather Cotton.

 Dreams Come True by Colin Mulvany makes extensive use of natural sound, resulting in an  extremely effective piece of storytelling. This slideshow  tells the story of a young woman named Amber Green who has cerebral palsy and yet works as a paid teacher’s aide.

Surf Town Canada by Evan Mitsui demonstrates how still photography can be more interesting than video. Utilising multiple photos shot at a high shutter speed  adds a dimension to the sport of surfing that you cannot see on television.

How to's

What makes a good audio slideshow:do's and don'ts provides a great lesson in how to design your own slideshow, including tips on photos, timing, and narration.  Popular Photography's How To: Create an Audio Slideshow from Start to Finish focuses on taking photos and how to capture the perfect soundbite. ABC.Net's Tip Sheet on Creating an Audio slideshow looks at te nuts of bolots of the process.

Have fun! Create! Tell a story!