Having been asked to do intermediate and advanced PowerPoint workshops this week I spent some time preparing and rediscovered how much I enjoy using this particular application and developing learning resources that frankly just blow the bulleted list out of the water (even the animated ones!). It’s been a while since I’ve delivered training on PowerPoint so I needed to revise and update the workshop programmes and in fact discovered (just as well) that we would be using Office 2007 on the day. In my opinion, Office 2007 is similar in functionality but quite a bit different in the way all the tools are organised in previous versions, but there are some tremendous new graphics and easy to use tools in PowerPoint which add functionality, style and sophistication to the look of resources.
You can create photographic effects with a single click and in 2007 changes you’re considering are previewed live before you actually apply them.
One of the most popular techniques I include in the workshops is how to put hotspots on graphics so that information pops out in a little text box as you move your mouse over the image. This provides an interactive picture which presents learners with information in a visually stimulating way. Another element that has a great impact on a learning object is sound, and both music and narrated text can be added easily added to any object on a slide which transforms the resource into a multisensory experience which accommodates a wide range of learner preferences. Instructional videos on how to do some of these things are on our website in the Making the Most of Microsoft page.
A final top tip from PowerPoint is to save the final version of your presentation as a "PowerPoint Show". Use this one when you are presenting or to distribute to learners. Double clicking on the show icon will start the show and after the last slide a black screen is displayed before the show ends. This avoids the need to open up your presentation, displaying all the slides to the audience, and start the show manually.
The Smart graphics provide a great range of templates that you can re-colour and apply loads of effects that in the past would require you to use separate graphic design tools.
You can create photographic effects with a single click and in 2007 changes you’re considering are previewed live before you actually apply them.One of the most popular techniques I include in the workshops is how to put hotspots on graphics so that information pops out in a little text box as you move your mouse over the image. This provides an interactive picture which presents learners with information in a visually stimulating way. Another element that has a great impact on a learning object is sound, and both music and narrated text can be added easily added to any object on a slide which transforms the resource into a multisensory experience which accommodates a wide range of learner preferences. Instructional videos on how to do some of these things are on our website in the Making the Most of Microsoft page.A final top tip from PowerPoint is to save the final version of your presentation as a "PowerPoint Show". Use this one when you are presenting or to distribute to learners. Double clicking on the show icon will start the show and after the last slide a black screen is displayed before the show ends. This avoids the need to open up your presentation, displaying all the slides to the audience, and start the show manually.
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