HIT191 > Presentations: Quickstart

Quickstart

Much of what you learned about word processing in Microsoft Word, you can also use in creating presentations using Powerpoint. The first topic in this section will briefly introduce you to the features of the software and ask you to think about how PowerPoint can be used to enhance a presentation to clearly communicate a message.



Develop your skills - Quickstart PowerPoint

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Skills

To begin learning about PowerPoint, find out about:
  • the autocontent wizard which beginning users of PowerPoint will initially use frequently, and
  • how to create your first basic presentation using the outline pane a very useful way of getting started.

Stable 2007 textbook
Stable 2003 textbook

SET TEXT
Chapters 2 & 3
pp. 503-524
or
pp. 505-524

In your textbook, complete the pages and exercises in chapters two and three on PowerPoint.

TASK:
1. Complete the Develop Your Skills 1, pp. 512, and 2,       pp. 524.
2. Explore the Autocontent wizard to see what other
    resources are packaged in the software that could be
    useful for you to use. To do this:
    • On the File menu, click New,
    • Then click the General tab.

Tips & tricks icon Tips & Tricks

Viewing a slide show (p. 509)

Stable 2007 textbook
Stable 2003 textbook

SET TEXT
Chapter 2
p. 509
or
Chapter 3
pp. 517-518

p. 509 in your text explains that clicking the mouse repeatedly enables you to work through the slideshow. Try the arrow keyboard commands (< > ) for the same process.

Denoting & Promoting points (p. 515)

Using the keyboard command <tab> to demote and the <shift>+<tab> to promote data (p.515) can save you a lot of time when you are organising the content of your presentation.


Keyboard Shortcuts

Learning Keyboard shortcuts is good ergonomic work practice and time efficient. The link opposite provides a list of main PowerPoint shortcuts which you could print for reference.


Putting it to work: PowerPoint Capabilities

This section introduced you to the basics of designing a PowerPoint presentation. The following activities will develop your skills and knowledge further in this area.

PowerPoint presentation 1
Bad example
(340k)

PowerPoint presentation 2
Bad presentation
(137k)

PowerPoint: the good, the bad & the ugly
  1. View the attached PowerPoint presentations (they will take a little while to download especially if you are working off campus).
    • What do you think works and doesn't work in this presentation?
    • Share you ideas with other students
    • Respond to at least one other student's comments.

Discussion board
Discussion board

http://www.searls.com/present.html
Its the Story
Stupid

http://www.indezine.com/products/powerpoint/ppperils.html
Perils of
PowerPoint

http://www.indezine.com/ideas/davesurvey.html
How to Stop
Annoying...

  1. Read any one of the three readings opposite All 3 readings describe some problems with using PowerPoint and provide some practical advice about how to get a presentation that works. Begin to develop your own checklist to keep these issues in mind when you are working with your own presentation.
    • It's the Story Stupid : a humorous article demonstrating the power of narrative when developing a presentation.
    • The Perils of PowerPoint: a short article citing examples of how PowerPoint can be misued.
    • . How to Stop Annoying Audiences with Bad PowerPoint: based on audience surveys on annoying feature of PowerPoint. You may be surprised at the results.


What makes an effective presentation

Previous readings describe what often doesn't work when using presentation software. Let's move away from the software and look at the communication process used in presentations so that the software becomes a support tool in this broader context.


http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/Preparing_talks/TalkStrt.html
Preparing
Effective ...

Presentation fact sheet
Presentation
fact sheet
(95.3k)

Discussion board
Discussion board

  1. Choose one of the two readings opposite.
    • Preparing Effective Oral Presentations provides a comprehensive discussion of what's involved in preparing to present an oral presentation.
    • Presentation Fact Sheet is a pdf file that describes a range of practical considerations for oral presentations.
  2. Read about how to effectively prepare for an effective oral presentation. Add these to your checklist.
  3. Post your checklist on the discussion board.

 



What have I learned?

After completing these activities you should:
  1. Understand the basics of the presentation software PowerPoint,
  2. Recognise some of the pitfalls that novice users should avoid, and
  3. Understand how the software fits into the broader communication process.
Next section --> Develop