There are lots of different ways to use Google Drive apps in the classroom. Google Slides offers many possibilities. One way of using Google Slides in the classroom is developing digital student workbooks that include different types of activities. You can take a static, paper based, black and white worksheet or workbook and make it interactive and colourful, incorporating different ways of engaging with information and demonstrating understanding.

Items you can include in your digital workbook include:

• words and images (I know, obvious)
• multimedia including YouTube videos
• links to other resources
• short answer activities
• drag and drop activities
• extended response activities
• links to a quiz in Google Forms
• links to a Google Classroom
• collaborative activities
• student portfolio

The ability to create drag and drop activities is particularly appealing. Below is a short video tutorial showing you how to create drag and drop activities in your workbook that prevent student from accidentally moving the wrong elements on the page. This is done by using the “Slide > Background image” feature of Google Slides.

Advantages of digital workbooks with Google Slides

• Free!
• Reduce paper.
• Easy to distribute via your preferred method. For example, email, Google Drive sharing, Google Classroom.
• Does not require G Suite for Education (just Google Drive).
• Can differentiate by developing different versions for students aiming to achieve at different levels.
• Ability to incorporate different learning activities.

Free sample digital workbook

Below is a link to the sample workbook shown in the video. Feel free to make a copy for yourself and use it as you like:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1z9sfkNXCYxebr1Fe8U1A7dtuGIDzuD7RATBXnixgXuw