Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 & 2007

Text:

PowerPoint 2003 Complete Concepts and Techniques - Excel Authors: Shelly, Cashman, et al. - $64.00 - Search to see if you can find this book used.

PowerPoint 2007 Complete Concepts and Techniques - Excel Authors: Shelly, Cashman, Quasney - $64.00 - Search to see if you can find this book used.

Estimated hours: 50 to 200 hours depending on text, program, computer experience, knowledge of Windows, and data entry speed.

Additional Resources: You may want to purchase a reference manual for Microsoft Office in addition to your regular text book.

Assignments

General Directions:

Regardless of what the textbook instructs you to do, do not download any files from the Internet, including clip art files, without your instructor being present.

Ask an instructor to copy the Student Data files that go with the book to your network folder. Save and open files to the network folder rather than using a diskette as suggested in the book. Be certain you are using the appropriate Network Directory (never Drive C:\My Documents) to store and retrieve your files. See ‘Saving a Document’ on the “Assignment Submission Procedures” handout.

PowerPoint 2003 Assignments

Complete all work in the text except the “Cases and Places” exercises. Print and submit the following:

Project 1 – Lab 2 (pgs. 72-73)
Project 2 – Lab 3 (pgs. 136-137)
Web Feature – Lab 3 (pg. 159) – You should create a presentation outlining your career achievements. Think of this as a tool to use with perspective employers.
Project 3 – Lab 1, 2, & 3 (pgs. 217-221)
Project 4 – Lab 2 (pgs. 299-301)
Collaboration Feature – Lab 1 (pgs. 338-340)
Project 5 – Lab 2 (pgs. 408-411) – E-mail this presentation to your instructor (submit handouts 4 slides per page)
Project 6 – Lab 2 (pgs. 466-467) – E-mail this presentation to your instructor (submit handouts 4 slides per page)
Online Feature – Lab 3 (pg. 488) – Ask your instructor to view this presentation at your workstation. Submit handouts (4 slides per page)

PowerPoint 2007 Assignments

If you already know Office 2003 you should check out the Interactive Guides for all of the Office 2007 programs. They are very helpful for learning the new Office 2007 interface.

Chapter 1 – Lab 2 (pgs. 71-73)
Chapter 2 – Lab 2 (pgs. 137-139)
Web Feature – Lab 2 (pg. 159) – Remember to save and open your Web presentation from drive O:\
Chapter 3 – Lab 2 (pg. 220)
Chapter 4 – Lab 2 (pgs. 290-292)
Collaboration Feature – Lab 1 (pgs. 324-325)

To conserve paper and toner, please print and submit handout pages on the HP5 printer. Click File > Print > Print What > Handouts > Slides per page 6 (2003) or click the Office button and click Print > Print. > Print What > Handouts > Slides per page 6 (2007). Set the Color/Grayscale to Pure Black and White. Before printing any work, check it thoroughly for quality. All work should be, legible, spell checked AND proofread for accuracy.

Create a cover sheet for each project, attach the “In the Lab” and submit it for review.

If your lesson is returned “See Notes”, you must make all indicated revisions in order to receive credit. You will have only one attempt to correct assignments. Resubmit the original packet with the corrections attached. If the project is still incorrect after the second resubmission, you will be given a ‘no credit’. You may not have more than one ‘no credit’ to qualify for a certificate.

PowerPoint 2003 Project Notes

Collaboration Feature

PPT341 - Open Lab CF-2 Nutrition & Fitness in the Collaboration Feature folder first. Then merge this document with the Nutrition & Fitness file in the Project 2 folder.

Final Project 2003 & 2007

Create a 2-5 minute presentation on a subject of your choice. The presentation should contain at least five slides.
Include in your presentation features such as animations, transitions, graphics, backgrounds, and logos that illustrate your mastery of the program.
Present your work to the class. Submit your printed presentation, a handout page, and notes pages.

After completion, visit http://pclab.cccoe.k12.ca.us/software/powertest.htm for the practice test information.

Certificates

Ask your instructor to help you to create an account on the DDC Testing Center. You can use this system to prepare for your assessment and to prepare for the Microsoft Office Specialist exam if you decide to pursue it.

Certificates are awarded to students who:

Demonstrate effort to learn and problem solve.
Accurately complete all required project labs (one retry is permitted per project).
Receive 80% or better on an industry standard test. Two retries are permitted. ESL students are allowed instructor assistance.
Full course certificates require successful completion of the final project.

How to Make Your Presentations More Presentable

Prepared by M.B. Birkenshaw

“People remember about 30 percent of what they hear in a presentation and about 20 percent of what they see. They retain about 50 percent of what they see and hear” Anon.

Using Visuals More Effectively

Regardless of the type of presentation you are making, visuals can help you to communicate your ideas faster, more effectively, and more memorably.

Hints for Designing Visuals

Putting together visuals for your presentation doesn’t have to be a problem. As a matter of fact, it can be fun and give you an opportunity to be creative. Here are some easy-to-follow guidelines that work every time.

Keep visuals simple. They should enhance your message, not compete with it.
Make sure visuals relate to your subject. A pretty picture is always nice to look at but if it doesn’t help you make your point, it doesn’t belong.
Limit each visual to one strong idea. If the idea is complex, use several simple rather than one complicated visual. The only exception to this is when your audience is so familiar with the concept that they would be able to immediately understand a more complicated visual.
Keep visuals consistent and unified in terms of letter size, formats and color.
Don’t forget to include a title frame.
Don’t overlook the obvious for visuals. Your company logo, your annual report, the cover of your most recent sales promotion all make excellent visuals.
Keep all visuals in the same format—preferably horizontal—because it accommodates material better and fills the screen better.
If you are using visuals from magazines, books, newspapers, the Internet, etc., make sure to check the copyright laws.
When you are preparing art, make sure that images are proportioned to the projected size. Usually this means a 3:2 ratio of the finished visual.
Some people say that a presentation should contain no more than one visual for each two minutes of presentation time. Others feel that a visual a minute is a good ratio. Use your judgment depending on the complexity of your message and the nature of your audience.

Using Text

Keep text big so even the person sitting farthest away can read it.
Restrict use of words to a maximum of six words per line.
Restrict use of lines to maximum of six to eight lines per screen (including the title).
Use short phrases and key words rather than sentences.
Spell out any abbreviations or acronyms that might be confusing.
Pie charts and bar graphs are ideal for communicating complex ideas or figures.
If you are using figures, round them off.
Simplify as much as possible. Here’s a case where less equals more. Deletions automatically put the emphasis on what’s left.

Working with Color

Use color for contrast and to highlight important points.
When using lettering or type, make sure there is sufficient contrast. A dark letter against a medium blue background greatly enhances readability.
Use pure colors that are harmonious. Stay away from colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel (complementary colors) like red and green on the same screen.
Be aware that certain colors can vibrate when used together, like yellow and purple.

“Ready-Made” Visuals

“Ready-Made” visuals are available in your computer clip art files as well as various sites on the Internet allowing free use of their ‘symbol libraries.’ These generic, often ‘universal’ images can greatly enhance your presentation.

Some ideas:

Universal symbols: dollar signs, travel signs, etc.
Backgrounds: scenery, cities, farms, sunsets, travel
Stock photos
Generic: “The End” or “Time for a Break”

Lighting

Lighting is a very important element in determining the success of your presentation. First of all, make sure you know where the light switches are. Will you be able to control them or are they located out of your reach so you need an assistant? What about windows? Do you need shades?

Note: Students preparing their final PowerPoint presentations should log in at the front instructor station and project their first few images to determine whether the color scheme is appropriate for presenting in this classroom. What looks great at the computer workstation may look washed out when projected.

Image Size

Here’s a tip: The size of the projected image should match the size of your audience. To accomplish this, just measure the distance from the screen to the furthest member of the audience. The image width should ideally be 1/6 of that distance. For example, if the farthest viewer is 36 feet away, the width of the projected image should be at least 6 feet.

Sound

Acoustics play an equally important part. You want to make sure that everyone can hear what’s being said—yet you also want to keep out unwanted sounds. If there’s a telephone in the room, find out if it can be shut off. For an audience larger than 50 people, you should consider using a microphone. If there are a hundred people in your audience, it is a must. If at all possible, check for echo chambers and “dead spots.” (And, keep your fingers crossed that there’s no firehouse or airport close by, or that your meeting room isn’t next to the kitchen!)

Checklist for Checking Presentations Rooms

Look over the checklist below to see if you’ve taken into consideration all the variables having to do with your presentation. Keep in mind that it is attention to details that make the difference between an ordinary presentation and an extraordinary one.

Is the room adequate in size?
Do you know where all the controls are?
- Air conditioning?
- Heat?
- Lights?
- Microphone volume?
Do you need a stage? Platform? Podium? Monitor?
Is someone supplying equipment or are you bringing it?
Are there adequate outlets?
Do you need an extension cord?
Does your equipment need special voltage?
If you’re using a lectern, is there a reading light? Does it work?
Do you need an easel?
Will you want a pitcher of water on the stage?
Do you need a projectionist?

These are just a few of the kinds of questions you should ask. If you know the answers, you can alleviate many headaches.

Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

There is no substitution for practice. Become so familiar with your material that you can present it with confidence. If possible, try to rehearse in the room in which you’ll be giving your talk, using the same equipment.