Why was Slideshow Maker so popular at our Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference in May of this year – and in sales of SOOO many copies since then? We decided to put it through its paces this week and found that it definitely did live up to its promise of making it EASY for the busy special education or early childhood teacher to make simple motivating slideshows with accompanying music for all students – whether they are operating the computer using a touchscreen, Interactive Whiteboard, mouse or even a switch. The “smarts” are all built into the program taking away the time and “cognitive load” to learn how to use the program!
Can’t you just build slideshows with pictures and music in PowerPoint? You can … but … here are just a few ways in which Slideshow Maker beats PowerPoint hands-down for this task.
- Simple uncluttered interface makes it easy enough for your more able students to build slideshows on their own!
- Equally important, it is easy enough for a busy teacher, therapist or parent to be up and running with a slideshow within minutes too!
- Access for switch users is not at all easily built within PowerPoint but can be set up in seconds using Slideshow Maker
- Instant one-button import of images from your computer files, the Internet, your WebCam or your digital camera saves time and the hassle of “lost files”
- No need to worry about the tricky process of selecting animations for each slide transition – these are done automatically in Slideshow Maker
- Printing of slideshows is a one button press – bringing up clear full screen versions of the images automatically (without fiddly PowerPoint print settings adjustments)
- Export any slideshow easily in a format which can be played on any computer (not just those with Slideshow Maker installed) – great for students to take home and share over and over with family and friends – or for sharing with your colleagues!
To learn more … Read Ian Bean’s guide to Slideshow Maker.
And to see more simple cause and effect and choice making activities visit HelpKidzLearn – a website full of free software and resources developed by the clever Inclusive Technology development team in the UK. Try them out with your students (or your own kids). There are some fun games and activities up there. Could be handy over the Christmas/New Year break!
