Including Video in an Online Powerpoint?

February 21, 2011 8:23 AM

Easiest way to incorporate videos into a Powerpoint for online viewing?

I'd like to create an online training in powerpoint that includes multiple short videos. This is for a class of about ~30 people, who need to be able to access the presentation online easily. I can email the presentation out to the 30 people, or I have space online to post it. I can find lots of resources on how to embed videos into powerpoint presentations, but most of them seem to involve using a video file that is already on the computer that will be running the presentation.

What's the easiest way to put video into a powerpoint so that people see the video play without their having to download a separate video file before they run the presentation? Private youtube videos and embed a links into the PP? Something else?

Thanks for your help on this possibly dumb question!

posted by aka burlap to technology (5 answers total)

Embedding a youtube player into PPT is pretty simple - I've done it for a few classes at uni. Here are some instructions.
posted by msbutah at 8:43 AM on February 21, 2011

I know that you are asking about using Powerpoint but I hope this isn't too much of a derail to say that Prezi.com might fulfill all your needs easily. I found the interface to be very intuitive and I had everything I wanted in the free version. The ability to embed youtube videos easily was one of the sweetest features. I went from never having used it to presenting a freshly-built Prezi to a room full of conference-goers within two hours.
posted by Foam Pants at 9:58 AM on February 21, 2011

What about a third-party solution like Adobe Presenter or Articulate Presenter that work with Powerpoint? Download the youtube video using something like KeepVid and embed it directly into the presentation -- either software will allow you to export the entire thing as Flash and post, but retain end-user navigation and animations and whatever else you'd like. Both software solutions are available as free trials.
posted by ThatSomething at 10:49 AM on February 21, 2011

You might want to consider KnowledgeVision's synchronized video/PowerPoint presentations. They're offering a new service this week -- KVNow!
posted by ericb at 10:58 AM on February 21, 2011

Thanks for the great suggestions! Looks like all of these third-party options would do what I'm looking for. Thanks!
posted by aka burlap at 1:28 PM on February 21, 2011