A Slideshow plays a series of images for the whole group, each with its own caption and, if you like, narration. It's an engaging alternative to a video, and you can build one straight from the pages of a PDF.
Tip: Follow a Slideshow with an activity or a discussion so the group can put what they saw into practice.
How to add a Slideshow activity
In the section you want, click Add content > View all activities…, and then choose Slideshow. When you create a new section, you can also choose Slideshow as one of its activities.
Add, remove and reorder slides
To add a slide, click Add another slide. It's added at the end.
To remove a slide, click Remove slide on it.
To change the order, drag a slide up or down by the handle on its left.
Edit a slide
Image: Click Choose image to pick one from your media library or upload a new one. To change it, choose a different image.
Caption: Type it in the caption field. Learners see it on their phone.
Narration: Under Audio track, click Choose audio and pick an audio file.
Length: Set Time allocated. When you add an audio track, the time changes to match its length. You can still choose a different time.
Add PDF pages as slides
If you have a PDF, such as a slide deck, a report or a handout, you can turn its pages into slides without exporting them as images first. PDF pages work like any other slide: you can reorder, replace or remove them.
One page: On a slide, click Choose image, choose your PDF, and pick a page.
Several pages: Click Add multiple slides via PDF. In a new slideshow, the first empty slide is filled first. Otherwise, the pages are added at the end.
In the page picker:
Click a page to select or deselect it. To select a range, click the first page and Shift-click the last.
To zoom the thumbnails in or out, click + or −. Your zoom is remembered next time.
The button at the bottom says what it will do, such as Use page 3 or Add 5 pages.
To pick a different PDF, click Choose a different document.
For more on uploading PDFs, see Managing media content.
Slideshow settings
In the options panel:
Background Music: Music that plays quietly behind your narration for the whole slideshow.
Transition type: Slide swipes each image in from the side. Fade crossfades gently from one image to the next.
Auto-progress slides: Moves on to the next slide automatically when its time is up.
When to use the Slideshow activity
To present a series of related images or visual content.
To give learners something to look at and listen to at the same time.
As an alternative to video for presenting information.
For more about audio, images and other media, see Managing media content.