About Presentation Software & Learning to Use PowerPoint 2013

What is Presentation Software? According to WhatIs.com, presentation software is a category of application program used to create sequences of words and pictures that tell a story or help support a speech or public presentation of information.

The Need for Presentation Software According to PresentationTube Blog “Presentation tools are increasing in popularity and providing powerful tools for creation of instructional materials and accessible information in audio-visual formats. When used appropriately, these tools can support and extend traditional presentations in valuable ways. In lecture settings, Microsoft PowerPoint, for example, has become the dominant presentation tool because it is both readily available and easy- to-use by instructors (Grabe & Grabe 2007).”

Top 5 Presentation Software According to the top 5 presentation software as of July 2015 includewww.topbestalternatives.com Google Slides Prezi Haiku Deck Academic Presenter PowerPoint presentation-software/

Change As with all technology, presentation software will continually change. Presentation software can be used as a learning tool but can also be used to tell a story and express ideas creatively. Because PowerPoint is a very commonly used presentation software in education and business, the rest of this PowerPoint will cover the basics of using PowerPoint.

How to Use PowerPoint

Choosing a Document Template  When you Open PowerPoint you will have the option to choose a Design template or choose a Blank Presentation.  When you select a design you will also have the option to choose a color scheme  This can be changed by going to the DESIGN tab.

The PowerPoint Window Ribbon  Located near the top and is the control center in PowerPoint Tabs found on the Ribbon are:  HOME – INSERT – DESIGN – TRANSITIONS – ANIMATIONS – SLIDESHOW – REVIEW – VIEW

The PowerPoint Window Slide Pane  The current slide is viewed in this pane Notes Option - Used by presenter to add notes about slide  Turn it on and off at the bottom of the window

PowerPoint Views – Found on View Tab Normal View  Slides Tab  Thumbnail or miniature view of slides. Outline View  Rearrange lists, paragraphs, and individual slides. Slide Sorter View  View of all slides Reading View  Makes the presentation easy to review

Slides Placeholders  Boxes that automatically display when you create a slide. All slides except the Blank slide layout will have a placeholder. Text and Content Areas  Surrounded by dotted outline.  Number of areas depend on the slide layout selected.

Creating a Title Slide Title Slide Layout  Presentation Title Placeholder  Presentation Subtitle Placeholder

Creating a Bulleted Slide Click on New Slide in the Slides group on the HOME tab Select Title and Content Layout Bulleted lists are default and can be turned on and off in the Paragraph group in the HOME tab. Can also change Bullet Style in Paragraph group on the Home tab

Creating Additional Slides Click on New Slide in the Slides group on the Home tab Select a Layout Change the slide layout through Layout in Slides group

Text Attributes Font Group on the Home tab and in Font Dialog Box  Color  Light color text on dark background.  Dark color text on light background.  Readability when projected.  Effects  Underline, shadow, superscript, and subscript.  Style  Regular, Bold, Italic, Bold Italic.

Text Attributes (continued) Font  Maximum of two font styles or effects in a slide show.  Ease of viewing.  Uniformity in capitalization and grammar.  Same font style throughout presentation. Size  Height of character.

Insert tab – Illustrations group  Shapes  SmartArt  Charts

INSERT Tab Insert tab, Text group  Header & Footer  WordArt  Date & Time  Slide Number  Object

Graphics and More Insert tab, Images group  Picture  Online Pictures  Must have an active internet connection to get clipart.  Screenshot  Photo Album Insert tab, Media group  Video – Two options  Online Video  Video on my PC  Audio – Three options  Online Audio  Audio on my PC  Record Audio.

Animations Animations - Animation group  Visual effects applied to text or content.  Use a variety of entrances, emphasis, exit, and motion paths to enhance slide show. Animations - Animation group  Effect Options  Changes the direction and sequence of animation Animations - Advanced Animation group  Add Animation  Adds additional animation

Transitions Transitions tab, Transition to This Slide group  Used to progress from one slide to another.  Maximum of two different animation effects in one presentation. Transitions tab, Timing group  Add sound and select speed of transition.

Hyperlinks and Action Can link to another slide, a custom show, a Web page, or a file.  Insert tab - Links group - Hyperlink Can be text or an object such as a picture, graph, shape, or WordArt. Actions:  Insert tab - Links group - Action  Adds an action to the selected object.

Action Buttons Pre-defined Action buttons are found on:  Insert - Illustrations group - Shapes – At bottom of list.  Ready-made button that you can insert into your presentation and define hyperlinks.  Select button from Action Buttons menu.  Draw button.  Drag sizing handles to correct size.  Drag and drop to desired location.  Select appropriate action for button.

Running a Presentation Slide Show tab, Start Slide Show group, From Beginning OR F5  Computer acts like a slide projector.  Slide is displayed on a full screen.  Can start from current slide.  Can be run manually or timed. End on Black Slide

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