As teachers we need timers. Class time is limited and we need to keep our lesson on pace. “Take 3 minutes to talk in your group…” Juggling Google Slides and timers doesn’t necessarily support classroom management. A more seamless experience is obviously better. Slides Timer Add-on by AliceKeeler helps make this easy.
Slides Timer in Google Slides
When presenting your Google Slides you typically will click on “Slideshow” to display your slides. This goes full screen, thus making other timer resources difficult to access.
Integrate the Timer Into the Presentation
To add the timer to your Google Slides insert a text box on your slide in the format of <<3:00>>. This would add a 3 minute countdown timer to your presentation. <<mm:ss>> is the generic format for you to add any number of minutes and seconds. Format the textbox to be any color, font type, size of your choice.
Install Slides Timer Chrome Extension
A timer in your Google Slides is NOT a built in feature. You MUST install the ClayCodes Chrome Extension Slides Timer. If the timer is installed in your Chrome account, when you click the “Slideshow” button the Chrome Extension will swap out the <<mm:ss>> for a countdown timer. Slides Timer Chrome Extension by ClayCodes is FREE! I personally know Clay and endorse his extensions. (Buy Clay a ☕️ coffee to thank him)
Slides Timer Add-on
Clay’s Chrome Extension requires that you add the text boxes onto your slides for it to work. INDEPENDENTLY I created an Add-on for Google Slides that will add these text boxes for you.
You need* BOTH the Chrome Extension and the Add-on.
*Okay, no you do not NEED both, however, my add-on will NOT work without ClayCodes Chrome Extension.
Show the Sidebar - Slides Timer Add-on
Use the Extensions menu in your Google Slides to locate Slides Timer Add-on. Show the sidebar.
The add-on helps you to create your text boxes.
Multiple Timer Styles
There are actually multiple timer styles that work with the ClayCodes Slides Timer Chrome Extension. The default <<mm:ss>> is a countdown timer. However, you can also have a countup timer. Or to display the current time or date.
Insert Text Boxes
The ONLY THING the Slides Timer Add-on does is adds regular text boxes to Google Slides. It helps you to remember the format for the different types of supported elements for the Chrome Extension.
Choose a Default Time
In the sidebar, the first option is to select a default time. This just helps you to speed up the process of inserting timer text boxes onto your active slide.
Hyperlink Slides Choice Board
Quickly turn your Google Slides™ into a choice board with automatically generated hyperlinks.
Created by AliceKeeler – Collects NO user data.
Upper Right or Large Centered
Clicking on one of the buttons in the sidebar for “Upper Right” will place the desired format timer, with the default time, in the upper right of the active slide.
Want something more obvious? “Large Centered Timer” will place the textbox, with large font, right in the middle of the active slide.
Upgraded Features
For $5 a year you can upgrade the Slides Timer Add-on experience. Click on “Upgrade Now” in the sidebar.
Customizable Timer Styles
Set the default time and choose the font size, color, font, and position on the active slide. Choose another slide, keeping the sidebar open, to add an identical timer to that slide.
Auto-Slide Timer
Another upgraded feature is the ability to divide the number of minutes for your presentation by the number of slides (minus the first slide). Place timers to put a small timer in the upper right hand corner that will automatically advance your slide to the next slide when the time is up.
