Communicating with Microsoft PowerPoint: The Basics

1
Communicating with Microsoft PowerPoint The
Basics

• Jane Cook
• EASTCONN
• Windham Mills, Mill 1, 3rd Floor
• 322 Main Street
• Willimantic, CT 06226
• [phone], ext. 3011
• jcook_at_eastconn.org

2
What is Microsoft PowerPoint?

• PowerPoint is a complete presentation software
  package that allows you to incorporate words,
  numbers, pictures and graphs, as well as
  multimedia to communicate your message.

3
What can PowerPoint Do?
Reveal Lists
For example, heres a list of Meeting Ground
Rules for you to consider

• Open your mind.
• Be willing to suspend your self-interest for the
  good of the group.
• Look for sources of untapped energy.
• Only one person talks at a time.
• Maintain your good will and good humor and share
  them liberally.

4
What else can PowerPoint Do?
Show Pictures one at a time
or all at once
5
What else can PowerPoint Do?

• Open a file from another Program, like Microsoft
  Excel

Or launch Internet Explorer and go to a Web
siteClick here for a great PowerPoint tutorial
6
What else can PowerPoint Do?

• Display a Graph

7
What else can PowerPoint Do?

• Show a Video

8
Content Tips Recommendations

• Create a title slide that relates to the
  presentation content.
• Avoid using a single bullet or more than five
  bullets per slide.
• Keep charts simple.
• Use clip art that relates to the content and does
  not distract from the message.
• Provide a recommendation, summary or transition
  on your final slide/s.

9
Format Tips Recommendations

• Use large fonts NO SMALLER THAN 18 POINT.
• Avoid long lines of text.
• Keep the background simple. Make sure the text
  can be seen clearly.
• Maintain a consistent color scheme throughout the
  presentation.
• Use consistent slide transitions.

10
Presenting Tips Recommendations

• Project your slide show on a large screen before
  you go live - colors will look different
  adjust as needed.
• Provide some form of handout so your audience can
  follow take notes.

11
When creating a PowerPoint presentation, reflect
on the following questions

• Who is your audience?
• What kind of message do you need to send?
• How might PowerPoint help deliver it?

12
Ready?

• Lets get started