The world of presentations has undergone a digital transformation in recent years, moving from in-person to online. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or a beginner, this transition can be tricky, both in captivating your online audience and adapting to unfamiliar technological tools. Juggling all of this can be quite challenging! In this article, we will explore how to use Presenter Mode in Google Slides to enhance your professionalism and confidence during online presentations.
For more general tips on improving your online presentation skills, check out our handy guide to successful online presentations.
Resizing and Moving the Presenter Mode Window in Google Slides
Presenter Mode displays your slides to your audience in one window and shows your speaker notes in a separate window. This feature works best if you have two screens. Without a second screen, the Presenter Mode window obstructs your view of the slides. Therefore, make sure to ensure that your audience only sees the presentation itself and not your personal notes before starting your presentation!
Here’s how you can use Presenter Mode:
- Click on the drop-down arrow next to the “Present” button at the top right of your screen.
- Select “Presenter Mode.”
- The Presenter Mode window will open, and your presentation will start broadcasting.
Resizing and Moving the Presenter Mode Window in Google Slides
To resize the Presenter Mode window in Google Slides, hover over any corner or side of the window until a double-headed white arrow appears. Then, click and drag to adjust the size and shape of the window according to your preferences. To move the window on your screen, click and hold the top of the window. To maximize the window and fill the screen entirely, click on the maximize button located between the minimize button and the close button of the window.
Once you are satisfied with the size and position of your window, you are ready to start your presentation.
Timing Slides in Google Slides
In the Presenter Mode window, you will see a timer on the left that automatically starts when your presentation begins. Press “Pause” to stop the timer and “Reset” to reset it to zero.
The timer button can be particularly useful for rehearsing your presentation or if you need to keep track of time to ensure you do not exceed the allocated time.
Presenting in Presenter Mode in Google Slides
Below the timer, there is a scroll bar and a preview window showing the slide you are currently on. If you click on the scroll bar, you get a list of all your slides and can quickly navigate through the presentation. To move from one slide to another, simply click on the “Previous” or “Next” buttons below. These buttons also allow you to visually preview the previous and next slides, enabling you to deliver a smooth presentation.
Using Q&A in Google Slides
Presenter Mode also includes an interactive feature called “Q&A” that allows audience members to ask questions without interrupting your presentation. The “Q&A” can be accessed through the “Audience Tools” button on the right side of the Presenter Mode window.
To start a “Q&A” session, follow these steps:
- Click on “Start a new” to begin a new “Q&A” session or, if you have already started one, select “Continue recent session.”
- Under the “Accept questions from…” bar, there is an on-off switch. When the switch is turned on, the bar turns blue to indicate to your audience that you are accepting questions.
- Click on the switch again to disable questions.
When the “Q&A” mode is activated, a URL appears at the top of the blue bar in your Presenter Mode window and at the top of your presentation. Audience members can use this link to submit their questions at any time during the presentation, as long as the “Q&A” mode is active.
This URL redirects the audience to a separate tab in their browser, where they can ask questions publicly or anonymously.
Tip: Send a copy of the link via email or paste it in the chat function of your online call to save your audience from having to type the URL themselves.
Once someone submits a question, it appears in your Presenter Mode window under the “Audience Tools” tab.
By pressing the “Present” button, your presentation will be paused, and the question will be displayed on the screen for the audience to see. To return to your slides, press “Hide.”
Audience members can also vote on questions by clicking the thumbs-up or thumbs-down icons. This allows your audience to interact with each other and lets you know which questions are the most common.
Presenting Google Slides with Notes
Presenter Mode displays your “speaker notes” on the left side by clicking the button on the right of the window, next to the “Audience Tools” button. If you find it challenging to read the text clearly, you can use the plus and minus buttons to adjust the font size.
Now that you know how to use Presenter Mode, your fingers can dance on the keyboard while you deliver your presentation with flair! To discover other ways to present your slides, such as the “Present on another screen” feature or how to download your presentation in an alternative format, why not take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Google Slides? Or, if you need to present on a non-standard-sized screen, our article on Changing Slide Size in Google Slides may have the answers you’re looking for!
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