NOTES FOR USING POWERPOINT

1) Select "Microsoft PowerPoint" from "Programs" under the "Start" menu. If you have a shortcut loaded on your desktop, you can start it from the icon.

2) Select "Blank Presentation," and click OK.
Setting up your background -- When you open a new file, your first choice is what your background will look like. If you choose "Blank Presentation," you will need to select background and text colors at some point. Under format choose "Slide Color Scheme," and you can select text and background colors. Or you may opt for "Design Template." This will provide you with a set background that is a little fancier and will appear on every slide. You will only need to type in text.

3) Choosing your slide layout -- Take a look at the choices. The first one (already selected) is intended as a title page. The others have designated spots for headings, text, tables, or pictures. The final choice is blank. You can insert text or images at any location on any slide as needed. Select the layout you would like, and click on OK.

4) To start a new slide, go to "Insert"--"New Slide." Choose the desired layout again.

5) Note that as you create slides the program displays a list of each in the window on the left side. The right side window shows what the selected slide looks like. Across the top and bottom you have buttons for almost every feature of the program (to find out what each does put the mouse pointer over the icon and wait). And across the very top you have pull down menus that you can also use to reach the various program features. There are at least two ways to do everything, so look around, and you will find what you need somewhere.

6) To view your slide show, select "View"--"Slide Show." Or select "Slide Show"--"View Show." You can review what the presentation actually looks like. Click anywhere on the screen to go to the next slide.

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7) Simple features to include on a basic presentation:

Transitions--Under "Slide Show" one option is "Transitions." This will allow you to decide on the transition (how it changes) from one slide to the next. You can apply the same transition to all slides or alter it for different effects. You can also designate moving from one slide to the next by clicking or by a pre-selected time period.

Insert--You can insert a picture, clip art, word art, tables, etc. Go to the "Insert" menu and pick the option that fits what you want to do. To do images choose "Picture," and pick a picture (you can go online and search for one or use one saved on a diskette or select one from the program). Click on the picture to select it, and when the box with four choices comes up, click on the blue arrow and it will insert the image on your slide.

Bullets--Under "Format" select "Bullets" and "Numbering," and then choose the type you want and click OK.

There are a lot of options in this program. You do not have to use all of them, but as you learn the program and you want to dress up your presentation, look around and try new things. You can animate pictures and text so that they move and/or you can add sound clips.

8) Save--This is exactly the same as in a word processing. The first time you save, choose "Save As" and name your file. Save often!!! Remember, if you have saved your presentation and try something that you don't like just don't save it, and your original presentation will remain unchanged.

9) Basic Formatting Suggestions:

No more than 6 lines per slide.

Use complementary or contrasting colors for background and text. (No white background with yellow text or black background with blue text.)

Be consistent with fonts and typefaces. This doesn't necessarily mean the SAME font must be used throughout the presentation, but fonts should stay in the same "family."

If a background or design template is used, it should be complementary to the subject matter.

If the presentation will be projected onto a television or other device, the font should be a minimum size of 36.

Utilize the full potential of multi-media to express the content in the presentation. Avoid narrative text.

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