Google Slides - Collaboration Tool 

Cost: Free with your Gmail Account | Platforms: Google Slides is available for all platforms - web, Android and Apple. 

G Suite is part of your Gmail account and can be part of some Educational Organisations and Workplaces. If so, there is a tool available called ‘Google Slides’ (used for presentations) and it allows you not only to write up presentations on your own but you can share a presentation so you can write with a group.  

Now you and your group can all have access to one presentation that you all have access to 24 hours a day and can write/edit on your own and as a whole group.

Most useful for: There may be times when people can’t meet face to face for group work so the collaboration tool in Google Slides allows people to have 24-hour access to a shared document and can contribute at a time that suits them. 

Its key features are: 

• Sharing a Google Slide Presentation is easy and really makes a big difference to group work if some cannot make face to face meetings. 

• Google Slides is very similar to PowerPoint so it can be very easy for people to try out. 

How do I share my online Google Slides presentation? 

• When you are in Google Slides, you will see a yellow button in the top right-hand corner of the page called ‘Share’. 

• Click ‘Share’ and then a window will appear and you simply write your groups email address into the box. 

• Make sure you assign them with the appropriate role - ‘Editor’ (to edit) or ‘Viewer’ or ‘Commenter’ - displayed beside the email section. 

• You have the option of typing a message to your team too. 

• Then click ‘Send’ and each group member will receive an email with an invitation to open the Google Slide. 

Our Top Tip:

It’s really useful to discuss with the group how to best co-author the presentation. Will everyone have responsibility for part of the presentation? Headings for the slides can be a good way to assign work to specific people and ensure fairness. Also, it may help to clarify if people can edit other people’s work? 

Demonstration of Collaboration in Google Slides in Action 

Video source: Bakerfield City School District YouTube channel 

Go to the Google Website for more information about sharing Slides> 

Advice about collaboration tools and Assistive Technology: 

• If you are a student in Higher Education, speak to your Assistive Technology Officer or Disability Officer /Learning Support Officer.  

• If you are a Student in the FET/ETB then it may be possible to speak to an Educational Needs Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator, Student Access Officer, Student Support Coordinator or a Disability Support Officer for more information about assistive technology.  

• If you are an Employee and are interested in this technology then speak to your Disability Liaison Officer (public service) or your Line Manager to start the conversation.