After my recent Microsoft Powerpoint course, I felt inspired to explore what I’d learned at home.
Exploring with computers can be like going “off road” for me, and I need some extra back up to help me cope with the bumpy bits as I learn. So when I try something and the result isn’t as I expected, I like the back up of help.
Powerpoint has help available whenever you are using it. To access help in Powerpoint there are a few options:
Help option is located in the File Menu…phew
In the File Menu, Help is located below Save and Send. By selecting Help, you will be taken to Microsoft Office Help, where you can seach online for tips.
For quick access to help which you are working, you can click on the question mark in the top right of your screen. This will take you to Microsoft Office Help, so you can type in what you need to know.
Help button – a little question mark even if I have big questions…
There have been times when I’ve seen a PowerPoint presentation, which was heavy on the text. It’s the PowerPoint equivalent to a voice with no oompf. With my upgrade to 2010 comes the necessary upgrade of my attitude to presentations and how they have moved on.
Upgrading to PowerPoint 2010 includes upgrading expectations and skills.
As an upgrader to PowerPoint 2010, (and a returner to presentations) I need to move on from my old experience of 2003 presentations, which involved, clip art, bullet points and maybe a picture. At that time I was living in the paper-driven world of handouts – with visuals limited to what could” come out ok” on a printer or photocopier.
Now presentations can be visually captivating – we can share them online, email them, co-author them, and view them again. In all those times I received a handout of a presentation, I never looked at the presentation again. Because a handout doesn’t capture the experience of the event.
With 2010, I now know about recording a narrative in PowerPoint – for my whole presentation or to highlight a message within my presentation. After the event, my audience can go over a key section they might have missed (we all get distracted at times), or replay a section to a co-worker back at the office.
I can even use my presentation for my own development – spotting where the narrative didn’t work, or use a different technique to get my message across. I can add notes to my presentation, using the Notes page, to remind myself how I can adjust the presentation for using it at a different event.
Trying something new…Here is a quick exercise to help me on my journey to giving my presentations more impact.
Adding Shapes to slide
PowerPoint 2010 gives you a huge variety of shapes to play with. From the Shape options, you can add boxes, arrows, create your own process diagram, stars, speech bubble and buttons for action. Use the Insert tab, and select the down arrow underneath the Shapes icon.
Use the Insert tab to access the shapes…
Click on the shape you want to add to your slide. The cursor will change to a cross shape, and then click to add to where you want it in the slide. You can easily change the size and location, using click and drag.
