PowerPoint is an invaluable tool to anyone who takes the time to learn it.
Dr jeanette cates
PowerPoint is one of those tools that “everyone” seems to know. But one of the things you quickly come to understand is that few people actually understand how to use PowerPoint effectively and efficiently.
That’s one of the reasons you hear so many jokes about “Death by PowerPoint”—because few people use it well.
So let’s start to solve that problem! Here are just a few tips for making better use of PowerPoint and its wealth of built-in features.
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Tip 1: Use Multiple Views
PowerPoint has three main views available: slides, outlines, and sort. Each has specific purposes that “can” be achieved with any of the views. But it’s easier when you use the appropriate view for the intended purpose.
Tip 2: Save Design for the Last
Virtually every tutorial you get on PowerPoint has you start with choosing your design. But when you do that, you are plunged into the visual aspect of the slide show.
Instead, start with the outline and no design. Get your content into Power- Point, then you can spend your spare time playing with the design.
Tip 3: Modify Your Master
Many people don’t even recognize that there IS such a thing as a master slide view. Yet behind every slide in your slide show, there is a master slide. It will save you hours of headaches if you learn to modify the master, rather than trying to fix and fit things on individual slides.
Tip 4: Use Presenter View
While presenter view is hard to use on a stage, it’s the “easy button” for any presentation you do sitting at your desk. With presenter view you can see upcoming slides, read your speaker notes, and even modify slides – all while the audience never sees you sweat!
The idea that you are tied to the presentation order that the slides appear in is out-dated. You are free to jump from front to back to middle, whether you’re in front of an audience or presenting in the comfort of your office. The key is in learning to navigate with PowerPoint.
PowerPoint is an invaluable tool to anyone who takes the time to learn it.
