Last winter I attended a conference and delved deeply into Microsoft Sway. The presenter gave us some free time to explore and create a Sway. Within 5 minutes, I had a new tool to add to my tech toolbox of “go to” tools! Best of all, I had created my Sway in less than five minutes.
I had already been slightly familiar with Sway from viewing a past TeachersFirst OK2Ask Session: So Simple, So Slick, and So Sway. What an appropriate title for that session. Sway is simple, slick, and so much more. I just really didn’t grasp the true value of this tool until I tried my hand at it myself.
Sway helps you to create interactive presentations; it works on all platforms and has an iOS app available. Sign up for free with your email address. You can easily (and I mean EASILY) add your own text, questions, images, videos, and more. You can change the font, color palette, and layout to how you desire.
And that is it! Sway does the work for you. And the final product looks professional and slick.
As a teacher, use Sway to create engaging presentations about a science or social studies topic. Introduce yourself to the class on the first day using Sway. Share information and sounds from different music genres. Create presentations on nearly any and all topics using the slick and simple Sway.
Students can also use this tool easily. Sway gives your students a new alternative to PowerPoint. This tool is perfect for any research project. Challenge students to create a Sway demonstrating their knowledge about a subject being taught in class. Students could create a Sway rather than a traditional book report. Groups could create Sways about science investigations and experiments. Sway is truly simple, slick, and soaring with possibilities!
Here are some resources to help you and your students to get started with Sway:
- TeachersFirst’s Review of Sway
- Lesson Planning with Sway
- Archive of OK2Ask Session: So Slick, So Simple, So Sway
Sway video tutorials
- Introduction Video
- How to Build a Presentation in Sway
- How to Collaborate on a Sway
- Detailed “How To” Instructions for Sway
- Microsoft Sway for the Classroom
What other ideas do you have for using Sway in your classroom?
I’m looking forward to trying this. I’m interested to see if students can print their presentations. I know that with Prezi, they can create, but unable to print unless you buy the membership.
I love the idea of using Sway to introduce yourself to your class on the first day of school. Nothing like a hook to reel them in! Easy to understand the introductory tutorial.
I will used in Sciences with Amplify Activities. Thank you for this idea.