Mark LeggottUniversity of PEI

PPT Culture PPT Content PPT Tips and Techniques

• Style• Images/SmartArt/Charts• Audio• Video• SlideShows/Sharing

PowerPoint Alternatives

Tufteitis• Edward Tufte’s

Cognitive Style of PowerPoint

• “I don’t like PPT, but…” Ignore PPT-naysayers Use PPT to match

your own style• Develop a

template/look • Provide graphic relief

when possible

Best option• search.creativecom

mons.org Every topic Creators who want

you to use their stuff

Templates (Hands-On)• Create using blank• Cursor over designs to view, click to select

Editing Templates/Themes (Hands-On)• View-Slide Master• Edit as you see fit and save for future

Transitions (Demo)• Generally a waste, unless of value to slideshow• Use sparingly, do not often transfer to PDF etc.

Use JPEG for standard images• Need only 72dpi and keeps size small

Use GIF for transparency (Hands-On)• Clean lines will create nice image• Insert GIF – Recolor – Set Transparent Color• Complex images will pixelate

Use WMF for clipart• Allows editing within PPT

Good way to spice up presentation

Standard widgets can be easily edited

Use for• abstract concepts• chronologies• flows & relationships

(Hands-On)

No better way to add a chart than with built-in tools

Wide range of chart types and options

(Hands-On)

File types• WAV files tend to work best with PPT in

Windows• Edits must be done outside PPT using

software like the OS Audacity Narration (Demo)

• Use built-in Narration function – very easy!• Slide Show – Record Narration

Working with movies in PPT is only recommended for local presentations

Distributing PPT with videos is too complex (unless playing on your laptop)

Embedding YouTube videos quick and easy way to embed video (Hands-On)• Need to have Internet connection• Can be done for most Flash videos

Can use same PPT for different lectures

Use Slide Show-Custom to create special version of one PPT (Hands-On)• Useful for standard lecture delivered to

different audiences (e.g. more/less detail)• Have a large PPT with all images/items and

create special Shows• Can save multiple version in one PPT

Sharing assumes you want to distribute• Sharing a PPT not always best option• Not everyone has PPT or viewer

Optional formats• PDF to ensure all can view (use Publish as

PDF or XPS Add-In from Microsoft)• HTML (Multi-file best option)

GoogleDocs or SlideShare (Demo)• Easiest way to share PPT to a wide audience

Expensive (but GOOOOOD)• Buy a Mac• Use Keynote• Don’t worry about it

Inexpensive (Demo)• Keep your system• Download OpenOffice• Do much of the same - buy an iPod with $

saved