Canvas Tip: Embed PowerPoint Slide Shows by Cheryl Colan Canvas Tip: Embed PowerPoint Slide Shows If you use PowerPoint slide shows and add them to Canvas Courses, you already know you can upload the PowerPoint file in…

 by Cheryl Colan

Canvas Tip: Embed PowerPoint Slide Shows

If you use PowerPoint slide shows and add them to Canvas Courses, you already know you can upload the PowerPoint file into Canvas. And you know that when you link to the PowerPoint in the Rich Content Editor, students can download the file or preview the slide show (unless you disable the preview using Link Options).

So why this Canvas Tip to embed the PowerPoint instead? In short, it provides a better experience for you and your students. Let's compare!

Uploading the file to Canvas

Advantages: Students can view the slide show in Preview mode or download it to their devices.

Disadvantages: In Preview mode, the only navigation available is to scroll or click through each page one at a time. Students can't see slide notes in Preview mode. If you change content in the PowerPoint, you have to:

• upload the new file
• re-link to the new version in the course's content
• manage your Canvas files (remove old version to avoid confusion later). 

Embedding the file from OneDrive

Advantages: Students can view the slideshow within the Canvas page, show or hide slide notes, and switch to a thumbnail view to quickly locate a specific slide. If you change the PowerPoint content, the edits appear in Canvas without the need for any file management or relinking.

Disadvantages: Faculty need to do a little additional work to:

• set up file sharing so students can view the embedded slide show
• provide a download link and a link to view in a web browser for full accessibility

We think the extra effort during the initial embed is well worth it to avoid the work of file management if the content in the PowerPoint needs to be edited. If you agree, we have a how-to faculty resource ready for you!