Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

Learning Technology Index

Google Slides*

What is it?

Google Slides is a presentation program included as part of the free, web-based Google Docs editors suite offered by Google.

What is its purpose?

The purpose of Google Slides is to create, edit and collaboratively work on presentation slides. Google Slides allows users to access their presentation slides across multiple devices, including Windows and macOS computers, tablets, and iOS and Android devices. Users can share their Google Slides files with others and allow them to edit or only view.

How do I use it?

You need a Google account to sign-in, and it can be accessed through Google Slides. It is available on all devices and platforms. It can be downloaded for Android and iOS.

Why would I use it?

No special software is required to create a presentation; it can be created in a web browser. Multiple people can work on slides at the same time, and you can see the changes as they are being made. All changes are automatically saved.

Quick Facts

Category: Content Delivery
Rating Level: Web Search
Website: Google Slides*
Last Modified: 10 November 2021
Created: 26 October 2021
License Available: Yes
More Info

Google Slides is free for all Memorial University users. To date, there is no limit on the amount of storage available for users accessing Google Slides using their Memorial University credentials. The University has announced that this will change in the year 2022 as Google has announced new storage limits for Google Workspace for Education. Further details are available on the MUN IT services website.
Security Concerns: Yes
Technical Support
Platform(s): Web browser, iOS, and Android.

Ratings Information

CITL Rating

Select any category below for details about the criteria for each rating.

Functionality: ★★☆

Scale:★★★: Works Well. Works Well
Ease of Use:★★★: Works Well. Works Well
Tech Support/Help Availability (for Instructors):★★☆: Minor Concerns. Minor Concern: No campus-wide technical support is available.
Tech Support/Help Availability (for Students):★★☆: Minor Concerns. Minor Concern: No campus-wide technical support is available.
Hypermediality :★☆☆: Serious Concerns. Minor concern : It does not inherently allow for audio or visual communication, though Google offers other platforms, including Google Chat and Google Meets, as audio and visual communication methods.

Accessibility: ★★★

Accessibility Standards:★★★: Works Well. Works well
User-focused participation:★★★: Works Well. Works well
Required Equipment:★★★: Works Well. Works well

Technical: ★★★

Integration/Embedding within a Learning Management System (LMS) :★★☆: Minor Concerns. Serious concern : Google Slides can not be embedded within any LMS systems apart from Google Classrooms. Brightspace does allow for the submission of files for assignments through Google Drive, which includes Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.
Operating Systems:★★★: Works Well. Works well
Web Browser:★★★: Works Well. Works well
Additional Technical Requirements:★★★: Works Well. Works well

Mobile Design: ★★★

Access:★★★: Works Well. Works well
Functionality:★★☆: Minor Concerns. Minor concern : The core features of the main tool are functional on the mobile app. However, there is a difference in functionality between web browser and mobile devices.
Offline Access:★★★: Works Well. Works well

Usage and Account Set Up: ★★★

Sign Up/Sign In:★★☆: Minor Concerns. Minor concern : Instructors need to create an external account or additional login, and personal information is collected.
Cost of Use:★★★: Works Well. Works well
Archiving, Saving, and Exporting Data :★★★: Works Well. Works well
Data Privacy and Ownership:★★★: Works Well. Works well

Social Presence: ★★☆

Collaboration :★★★: Works Well. Works well
User Accountability:★☆☆: Serious Concerns. Serious concern : Google Slides does not offer a way to maintain learner anonymity while using this tool, and there is no technical solution for holding users accountable to their actions.
Diffusion:★★★: Works Well. Works well

Teaching Presence: ★★★

Facilitation:★★★: Works Well. Works well
Customization:★★★: Works Well. Works well
Learning Analytics:★★☆: Minor Concerns. Minor Concerns : Google Slides records users' activity within the file allowing instructors to monitor a learners' interaction with this tool. There is currently no other method for analyzing a learners' participation or activity using this tool.

Cognitive Presence: ★★☆

Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s):★★☆: Minor Concerns. Minor Concerns : Google Slides does not inherently improve learners' engagement with cognitive tasks. It can allow for interaction between instructors and learners which may aid in engagement.
Higher Order Thinking:★★☆: Minor Concerns. Minor Concerns : The instructor would need to design the Google Slides specifically to engage learners in higher-order thinking skills.
Feedback on Learning:★★☆: Minor Concerns. Minor Concerns : The request edit tools in Google Slides can be used to provide formative feedback to learners, but there are limited ways to track learners' progress or to test their knowledge.

Security and Privacy

: While Google Apps are considered a secure service, using personal accounts for teaching and learning may put the users' data outside of University control and may go against the University Policy.