Eliminate creator's block with Sway
Microsoft Sway is a free cloud-based, story-telling application that is a great alternative to PowerPoint. With one of many predesigned templates, educators and learners concentrate on adding content to presentations and worry less about design.
In addition to creating a Sway from scratch, learners may choose from either Start from a topic or Start from a document options to create their presentations.
The Start from a topic choice is a great way for learners to begin creating because Sway produces an outline of a presentation, complete with definitions, uses, areas to cover, suggested linked topics, images, and more.
Busy educators who have notes compiled in a Word document may use the Start from a document choice to upload their notes. Sway uses these notes to automatically create a presentation.
In Storyline view, learners add cards to enter new content. Many different cards are used, such as:
- Text
- Heading
- Image
- Video
- Audio
- Embed Code
Learners aren't limited to using just these cards. They can upload additional information from their devices using the Upload option.
The Design view helps learners who lack design skills create information in an interactive, appealing, and modern way by offering design options such as:
- Three different layouts (horizontal, vertical, slideshow)
- Preset styles that include decorative elements, color, textures, and image captions
- A Remix button to apply a random design
All elements in a Sway design are customizable, and changes are immediate.
Completed Sways may be published and shared with no file to download. Sways may also be embedded into websites. Whenever the Sway is updated, the website page updates as well.
Sway is a simple tool, packed with design features allowing learners and educators to concentrate on adding content.
For more on Sway, see the Microsoft Learn module Digital storytelling with Microsoft Sway.