11.15.07

Posted in Questions and Concerns from Teachers at 4:51 pm by Administrator

Question from Carolyn C., (submitted via the Guest Map Nov. 11, 2007)

November 11, 2007

How do you record your sound for your Powerpoint stories? I do stories for each letter, vocabulary and color but can not add sound or colored background yet.

 

Hi Carolyn,

I’m so glad that you create these stories for your children!  I love making PowerPoint stories!  The children enjoy dynamic, informative presentations and learn so much.

To answer your question, I’ll assume some knowledge with basic computer programs, so if this is too vague, let me know.  Okay, so first I create the PowerPoint.  I know, what a surprise! :)   (If you don’t have Microsoft Powerpoint, you could try OpenOffice.org’s free version, Impress, which is supposed to be comparable, but I haven’t tried it.) 

For my sounds, I usually do one of two things, (1) record my own sound using my iTalk and iPod, which is then saved in iTunes, or (2) I use a site that offers free sound clips, Partners in Rhyme, like the alligator growl in my Alligator PowerPoint. You can find many others that offer free clips and many that have ones you can buy, if you do a search.  Save the chosen clip to your computer (and remember where you save it). 

Then, go into your PowerPoint program.  Choose the page in which you want to insert the clip.  From the top menu bar, choose Insert > Movies and Sounds > (wherever you saved it, most likely) Sound from File. Now, right-click on the speaker icon and you can edit the sound in the frame (hide the icon in the slide show, loop it continously, etc.).

As far as changing the background goes, right-click on chosen frame.  Choose Background, then the unnamed arrow to open more choices.  From here, you can choose More Colors or Fill Effects (which has gradients, textures, patterns and even offers the option to choose pictures from your computer by choosing Select Picture!)  This is the part I love!  It would be so much fun to write a PowerPoint “book” about each student using pictures and voice sound clips in their stories!  Maybe I can accomplish it by preschool graduation.  Cross your fingers!

Let me know if this answered your questions or simply created more questions for you.

Gina