Overview

Today's session will have five purposes:

1. Discuss the nature of Powerpoint, and explain its benefits and drawbacks.

2. Provide an overview of your assignment.

3. Discuss and demonstrate the various view screens that Powerpoint uses.

4. Discuss and demonstrate how to create a presentation, modify text, and import graphics.

A. What is Powerpoint?

An application that allows you to create slides that contain text, figures, and sound. The slides are sequenced in any order that you choose, and can have a variety of transition effects.

B. Advantages / Disadvantages of Powerpoint

1. Advantage over slides

• Can change text and images "on the fly"
• Can incorporate information already in electronic format
• Can incorporate sounds and transitions
• No costs associated with preparation
• No need to sort slides by hand and worry about mix-ups

2. Advantage over overheads

• Can incorporate color
• Can incorporate sounds and transitions
• No costs associated with preparation
• No need to sort slides by hand and worry about mix-ups

3. Disadvantages

• Need to have access to computer and projector
• Preparation time sometimes a factor
• If system crashes, you are left with nothing
• Presentation options sometimes poorly implemented
• Memory and processor speed may be constraining

III. Your assignment

IV. Features of Powerpoint

A. View Options

• Slides
• Outline
• Slide sorter
• Notes
• Presentation

B. How to set up a simple presentation

C. How to select a background

D. How to add/modify text within a slide

E. How to incorporate a background

F. How to include an image

G. How to do transitions

H. How to incorporate sounds and videos

This page posted and maintained by Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D., Biology Department, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766. (570) 408-4758, kklemow@wilkes.edu.