An Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint

1
An Introduction to
Microsoft PowerPoint

• Eddie Watson
• Fall 2002 FDI Workshop
• eddie.watson_at_vt.edu
• Foreign Languages / Educational Technologies

2
Initial Questions

• What is Microsoft PowerPoint?
• Why would I want to use PowerPoint?
• Can I do more with PowerPoint than deliver
  presentations?
• What are PowerPoints features?
• Are there things I should avoid in PowerPoint?

3
Why Use PowerPoint - part 1?

• Attractive PowerPoint presentations are quick and
  easy to make
• It can assist you as you teach
• It will increase learning and retention
• It offers numerous printout formats which make
  excellent note-take aids for students

4
Why Use PowerPoint - part 2?

• Its an excellent way to include images and
  graphics in your instruction
• You can integrate web sites into your instruction
  through PowerPoint
• PowerPoint presentations can be easily converted
  into a web ready format

5
PowerPoints Capabilities

• You can include
• images, graphics and clip art
• video clips
• WWW and e-mail links (ex. FDI)
• motion (transitions and animations)

6
Images

• PowerPoint supports the same images formats as
  the web
• With the help of a scanner or digital camera, you
  can include almost anything

7
Clip Art

• Generally, clip art is low in quality
• Many clip art samples come with PowerPoint (for
  more, search for clip art with any search
  engine.

8
Video and Sound

• PowerPoint supports audio
• and video/QTVR

9
PowerPoint for the web

• In HTML Format
• In PDF Format
• In PDF Format for student notes (color)
• In PDF Format for student notes (BW)

10
Creating Transitions

• Applied as the current slide gives way to the
  next
• Limit yourself to one (or maybe two) Transitions
  throughout an entire presentation
• Transitions become distracting if used copiously

11
Creating Animations

• Used with bulleted lists to reveal each bulleted
  item
• Best accomplished from the Slide Sorter View
• Limit yourself to one (or maybe two) Animations
  throughout an entire presentation
• Animations become distracting if used copiously

12
Custom Animations

• View --gt Toolbars --gt Animation Effects
• Anything on a page can be animated
• Can set the order in which items move about the
  page
• Can set a time for objects to automatically move

13
Custom Animation Example
14
Design Dos and Donts

• Keep it simple
• Only a few lines per slide
• Make text easy to read
• One concept per slide
• Color and Background
• Use it sparingly
• Choose 1 basic text color, 1-2 accent colors

15
Final Advice...

• Find out what version of PowerPoint youll be
  using to deliver your presentation
• Find out what platform (Mac/PC) youll be using
• Dont overload your presentation with images
• Stick with default fonts
• Test it on the presentation machine, if possible

16
Lets work with PowerPoint