Multimedia talking books using PowerPoint

The following is a tutorial created by Kristie Stapler from the Louisiana Assistive Technology Initiative.  It is a great step by step walk-through of how to create an engaging and accessible book using Microsoft PowerPoint 2003.  

Note: If you use PowerPoint 2007 or 2010, the concept will be similar, but the commands may be labeled differently or found in different location in the program.

Creating Talking Books with PowerPoint

A.  Create a Folder

1.     Create a folder on the computer to save your talking book files.

B.  Scan or create your Pictures

1.     Scan or create your pictures for your talking book and save to folder.

C.  Create a Talking Book Template

Create a talking book template that you can use with all of your talking books.

1. Open PowerPoint.  It should open to a blank slide.  If not select File-New and select Blank Presentation.
2. Choose the blank page layout and click Ok.
3. Add a forward page turning arrow by selecting the Slideshow menu and click Action Buttons.
4. Click on the Forward Arrow.  The cursor will change to a small cross.  Position this cross at the bottom right hand corner of the page and click and hold the left mouse button.  Drag mouse to draw the button.  Release the mouse button.  Resize forward arrow if needed.
5. Add a Back Arrow following the directions in step 4.
6. Add a page turning effect by clicking on Slideshow – Slide Transition.  Choose a transition effect and click Apply to all slides.
7. Save the slide as a template.  Click File-Save As.  When the dialog box opens, click in File Name and type “Talking Book Template”.  In Save as type: choose Design Template.  Click Save.

D.  Create Blank Pages

1.     Create blank pages for your book by clicking on Insert menu, then Duplicate Slide. Repeat until you have the required number of blank pages (slides) for your book.

E.   Add Pictures

Click on the first slide.  To add a picture to your slide, click on the Insert menu, then Picture, then From File and choose a picture that you have previously scanned or created.

1.     Insert the picture on the page.  Reposition and/or resize the picture on the page by clicking and dragging on the corners of the picture frame.

F.  Add Symbols/Text

1.     Adding Symbols:  Open your symbol processor and type your sentence. (examples of Symbol processors are Writing with Symbols, Inclusive Writer, Clicker, Intellipics)

2.    Make your sentence large enough but not larger than the computer screen.

3.    Remove the cursor from the screen by hitting the Return key.

4.    Copy the image by pressing the Print Screen button located at the top right of the keyboard.  Usually labeled as PrtScr or Print Scrn.  The image has been copied to the clipboard and is ready to paste into your PowerPoint.

5.    Click back to the PowerPoint where you want the symbol sentence to be.  Choose Paste from the Edit menu.  The screen image will appear on the page. 

6.    The image will be large and needs to be cropped.  Click on the image to get the Picture Toolbar.  (If you do not have the toolbar, click on View-Toolbar-Picture)

7.    Choose the Crop tool from the Picture toolbar. Move the mouse to the edge of your image.  Hold down the left mouse button and crop the image by dragging a corner or side inwards and release.  Continue to crop the image until the desired image has been created.

8.    The image may need to be resized or repositioned.

G.  Add Sound to the Page

1.     Before adding sound to the pages, make sure the microphone is connected to the computer and it is working.  (You can test the microphone by going to Start-Accessories-Entertainment-Sound Recorder and recording a voice test.)

2.    You must also change a setting within PowerPoint.  This allows you to create larger sound files and they will stay within your PowerPoint book.  (This makes it easier to move from computer to computer.)

3.    In PowerPoint, Click on Tools, then Options.  In the popup window click on the General tab.  Click on the Link sounds with files greater than box and type in 50000.  This will ensure that all sound files are included when you save your talking book.

4.    To add sound, click on the Insert menu, then Movies and Sounds and then click on Record Sounds.

5.    Click  in the Name box and rename this sound file. (ex: give more information than slide 1)

6.    Click on the Red Record button and speak the page text into the microphone.  Click Stop when you are finished recording the sound.

7.    Click Ok.

8.    A loud speaker will appear in the middle of your page. This can be positioned anywhere on the slide.

9.    This completes the first page of your talking book.  Click on the next slide and follow the directions in steps E - G.

BOOK OPTIONS

   I.   Automate The Sound On Each Page

a.    Click on the Speaker to select it.  Choose Slideshow menu, then Custom Animations.  To play the sound or movie automatically, click Start With Previous.

 II.   Use Forward And Back Buttons

a.    To set up the show, click on the Slideshow menu, then Set Up Show.  Click Browsed at a kiosk (full screen).  Then Ok.

III.   Combine A Page Turn With Speech

a.    You can set PowerPoint to turn the page and speak the text using a single mouse or switch press.

b.    Click on the Slideshow menu, then Slide Transition.  Click on the Sound box where all your sound files are located.  Choose the right sound for that page and click on Apply, not Apply To All.  Do this for each page.

c.    The cursor must be placed over the forward arrow to allow for switch access.

IV.   Add A Time Delay To A Page Turn

a.    Another modification is to give the forward arrow a time delay.  This prevents students making multiple or rapid presses that would otherwise make the pages turn quickly.

b.    Click on the Forward Button.  Click on Slideshow, then Custom Animations. 

c.    Click on Add Effect.  Choose Appear. Click on the Down Arrow next to the action button in the Animation Window.

d.    Choose Timing.  In the Delay box set time to 2 seconds.  Timing may need to be adjusted according to student.  Click Ok.