PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE RECOMMENDATIONS

Upon reflecting on the process of evaluating Google Slides as a productivity software by way of much research and documentation. I am confident in my recommendation of this software to educators specifically. The attributed score of 43/55 tallying 78% justifies my recommendation of this software for use by educators especially those who are using the Google Suite platform. Most educators  would attest that free software is most attractive especially for those on a limited budget. Added to this is its user friendliness and interface which makes it simple to use for those who may not consider themselves as tech savvy.  Access to local technical support (METVT IT Department) being available at no-charge in addition to online support aids in the advocation for the use of this software. Assistance in troubleshooting is usually a main factor which influences a users decision for or against software. It should be noted that Google Slides was created with an online performance in mind. The cloud-based software usually works flawlessly with a strong internet connection. Notably also is the reality that since it runs in a browser, unfortunately it is possible to experience some glitches or slow loading periodically.

Thankfully, users aren't required to download content in order to use Slides, it's as simple as going online and opening the program accessing content from Google Drive which is associated with the users Google Account which allows for accessibility the users work on any device. Google Slides being owned by Google allows for the ability to connect other software like Google Docs and Sheets when necessary. Most impressive is the avant-garde collaborative features which allow users to easily share and work together as needed on one single Google Slides file . For students who may require individualised assistance Slides allows for such access and the ability to make work easier and communicate through chat. sending, receiving, and viewing of Slides. After investing time into the creation of impactful presentations Google Slides saves all data on Google Drive storage which is cloud based. Therefore there's no need to hit “Save” every 5-10 mins. All changes are automatically saved to the cloud as you create them. Google Slides also provides a history review. You can go check out previous versions of your presentation, and restore them at any time if needed.

An evaluation cannot be deemed effective if it does not highlight any cons especially if they do exist, Although there are solid selection options regarding 'themes' to choose from when making a Slide, there aren't too many. A recommendation to the developers for consideration therefore would be for the production of features where people can design their own themes and implement them into the Slides to aid in the production of more culturally relevant content showcasing the creators uniqueness. Including YouTube videos is also another feature they should add so that the presentation of  videos can be immediate instead of having to go through the route of opening a link to view it.

I hope that after you have perused this blog you too would agree with my recommendation and that your interest has been piqued to be influenced to explore this software as a viable resource in your teaching practice.