PowerPoint basics

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PowerPoint basics

• Minnesota Master Gardener State Conference 2005
• Central lakes College,
• Brainerd, MN

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Why Powerpoint?

• Everyone is on the same page at the same time
• Fast
• Adaptable and easy to make changes
• Utilize sound, video, imaging
• Wide range of presentation features available
• Can make you look like a pro!

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PowerPoint Dos Donts

• DO save regularly, save often (Control-S)
• DO use just enough graphics to keep it
  interesting
• DO leave extra white space between major points
• DO limit bullet points per slide - short and
  sweet
• DO use images to convey information
• DONT use more than two fonts per slide
• DONT as PowerPoint as a crutch, but as a tool

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1. Setting up Slides

• Select New for a blank slide
• Select Text Layout
• On the slide or the outline tab, type text
• Click New Slide or insert the next slide
• Select Text Layout
• Repeat as needed
• Save!

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2. Selecting a Slide Design

• Click Design
• Select a Design Template
• Select a Color Scheme
• Select an Animation Scheme (if desired)
• Save!

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3. Customizing Text

• Slide designs will automatically format type
• Changing fonts
• Text colors
• Text characteristics
• Italics
• Bold
• Size
• CAPS vs. lowercase
• Shadow
• Emboss
• Save!

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4. Working with Images

• Click Insert or click on Image Icon in slide
  layout
• Click Picture ? Select From File
• Find Image File on your computer ? Insert
• Re-size image as desired
• Double-click on image for image options
• Grab grips and drag to re-size
• Click ?hold ? drag image to position on slide
• Re-size text box to fit
• Save!

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5. Clip Art

• To use or not to use...
• that is the question
• Click Insert and select Clip Art
• In Search For type a word or phrase Click Go
• Click on the clip art you would like to insert
• Re-size and position on the slide
• Save!

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6. Transitions Animation Schemes

• Click Slide Show ? Transitions (for slides)
• Select type of transition, speed, sound
• Select Advance (mouse or auto)
• Click Design ? Animation Schemes (for text)
• Select scheme desired

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7. Various Views

• Normal Slides on left, individual slide
  prominent
• Outline Slide text only
• Slide sorter Allows you to re-arrange slide
  order easily
• Slide show View slides as they appear on the big
  screen
• Notes Notes can be added below each slide

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8. Saving Printing

• File ? Print Preview
• Print What Various printing formats available
• Options print in color or grayscale, scale to
  fit paper
• With Adobe Acrobat, you can convert a PowerPoint
  file to a PDF file
• Always remember to Save!
• Hint If you are making major changes, save the
  new file as a different name.

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Tips on Presenting

• Know your topic
• Be conversational - avoid reading from slides
• Be familiar with your equipment
• Bring back up equipment if possible
• Bring your presentation on a CD or flash drive
• Practice setting up your equipment
• Relax and talk slowly
• Have fun!