Busy Bee Bulletin
Busy Bee Bulletin
PowerPoint to Google Slides Conversion: Important Update for Teachers
There have been increasing reports this year of issues when converting PowerPoint files into Google Slides. This appears to be affecting a range of resources, not just my own, and is something teachers should be aware of when planning and delivering lessons. The main concern being raised is that presentation notes are being altered during the conversion process. In some cases, completely unrelated notes are appearing in slides. For example, a common issue at the moment is fractions content appearing in the presentation notes of unrelated units within the 2026 Maths Teaching Slides. This is understandably confusing and can disrupt lesson flow. At this stage, it is unclear why this is happening. I have contacted Google in an attempt to find answers or a solution, but unfortunately I am still waiting. So far, I have not received clear guidance, and enquiries have been passed between departments without resolution. All teaching slides are currently created in PowerPoint. While I understand and appreciate the convenience of Google Slides and its accessibility through Google Drive, the platform does have limitations. Many of my resources are designed to be highly interactive, using animations, drawing and writing tools, and specific clipart and fonts. These features are only supported in PowerPoint and cannot always be accurately replicated in Google Slides due to its restrictions. Given the current workload, it is not feasible to create separate Google Slides versions of each resource. Each CHPS unit takes approximately two weeks to develop, followed by several additional days of editing. On top of this, the Maths and English unit updates take several days each. With 63 units per term, I am currently at full capacity, and there simply are not enough hours in the day to produce parallel formats. When using these resources in Google Slides, please be aware that presentation notes may not always transfer correctly. This does not occur every time, but it is happening often enough to flag as a known issue. To check whether the problem is caused by the conversion process, it is recommended to open the original file in PowerPoint and compare it side by side with the Google Slides version. If the notes appear correctly in PowerPoint, then the issue is likely due to the conversion. However, if you notice errors within the PowerPoint file itself, please reach out. I am always happy to investigate and provide support where needed. Thank you for your understanding and for your continued support.
Download Issues on DoE Networks: What Teachers Need to Know
Many teachers have recently been experiencing issues when attempting to download resources from the Aussie site while connected to the DoE network. Over the past few days, several teachers have reported that downloads are not completing as expected on school devices. Interestingly, the same files download without any issues when accessed using a personal network, which suggests the problem may be linked to DoE network settings rather than the files themselves. What seems to be happening is that the download begins as normal, then pauses partway through. After waiting approximately 8 minutes, selecting “resume” allows the download to complete successfully. While this delay is understandably frustrating, it has worked consistently as a temporary workaround for many teachers. At this stage, it is unclear what has caused the change. One possibility is a possible update over the school holidays that may have introduced stricter controls on downloads from sites that are not explicitly approved within the DoE network. TpT is a well-known platform used by many teachers. I cannot confirm how it is currently being handled within DoE network security settings, but given its popularity, it may be on the approved IT list. Please bear with me while I work through this. I am genuinely unsure why this is only occurring when a device is connected to the DoE network. Personal devices and those in non-DoE settings, including many independent schools, are still able to download the exact same files without any interruptions. If the “resume after waiting” option does not suit your situation, there are a couple of alternative approaches that may help. Some teachers have had success downloading the files using a mobile device instead. For example, when accessing the link through Chrome on an iPhone, you can choose to save the file directly to your phone or upload it to Google Drive. From there, you can then access and download the file on your computer via Google Drive. Although these workarounds are not ideal, they do provide a short-term solution while the issue is being investigated. Thank you for your patience as this is being worked through.
How to Quickly Replace Font in PowerPoint
Sometimes the fonts used by content creators in editable resources may not be the same fonts you have installed on your device. So, what can you do?
What's the Latest Resources?
What's currently in production? Learn more now!
CHPS Sample Units Are Coming to The Busy Honey Bee
We are excited to share that brand new CHPS Sample Units are on the way to The Busy Honey Bee.
Save Hours of Planning with Ready-to-Go Printable Maths Workbooks
If you’re looking for a practical, no-prep solution that works straight out of the folder, here’s why these Maths workbooks are a must-have for every K–6 classroom.
Important information about the NSW Maths and English Sample Units
The Maths and English sample units are being completely rewritten. So what does this mean for the Busy Honey Bee resources?