Several people have recently asked me how to put their PowerPoint presentations on their iPod. Here are three articles that tell you how to do just that:
Create an organization chart to visualize not only a group of people but also any other hierarchical structure. You can use Microsoft Organization Chart directly within PowerPoint to create org charts in your presentation. But this application isn’t limited only to creating charts with people and how they rank in an organization. You can also use it to display any kind of hierarchical information — projects, products, concepts, ideas, steps, etc. The fastest way to add an organization chart to your PowerPoint presentation is to select the Organization Chart AutoLayout option from the New Slide dialog box. Open this dialog box by clicking the New Slide button on the Standard toolbar.
PowerPoint is one of the most popular tools around for creating e-learning programs, a fact that’s surprising to many people. Developing e-learning with PowerPoint is popular because you’re working in a familiar environment and don’t have to learn a complex course authoring tool to be able to create quality e-learning content. This also lessens the time it takes to develop a course, providing you with a rapid e-learning solution.
You can convert an existing PowerPoint presentation to an e-learning course, adding optional features such as quizzes for additional interactivity. Or, you can design e-learning courses from scratch, planning to use PowerPoint and a third-party tool as your authoring tools.
Some of my favorite tools for creating quality e-learning with PowerPoint include:
- Articulate Rapid E-Learning Studio
- Camtasia Studio
- Adobe Presenter (formerly Macromedia Breeze)
All offer a free trial, so you can try them out to see which solution best suits your needs.
Want to spiff up your PowerPoint presentation with some great clip art? Here are two of my favorite choices for top-quality clip art:
- Clipart.com. With more than 6 million high-quality clip art and photographic images, there’s something for everyone at this premier clip art site. The site also contains 5,000 sound clips and more than 11,000 downloadable fonts. You can subscribe for a specified period of time and then download as much as you want during your subscription period. Time frames range from $15.95 for one week (great for the budget-conscious) to $169.95 for one year if you have an ongoing need for clip art. Three-month and six-month plans are also available.
- Animation Factory. If you’re looking for animated clip art, the Animation Factory is a good choice. This site offers 300,000 professional animations, plus a collection of 3D clip art, web design elements, and tiled backgrounds. Rates range from $29.95 for three months of unlimited downloads to $59.95 for a one-year plan. Their optional Platinum program includes a collection of PowerPoint templates and video backgrounds for $99.95 per year. Take a look at the free sample video backgrounds offered on the site; they add an interesting twist to PowerPoint presentations. If you choose an annual plan, you also get free clip art on a series of CDs.
Want to design and deliver a truly outstanding PowerPoint presentation? This series will offer four tips to get you started:
1. Master the Software
Obviously, your first step is to learn how to use PowerPoint. Because PowerPoint is rather intuitive and easy to use, it’s tempting to start creating presentations without really knowing all the innovative features this powerful program has to offer. As a result, you often end up with a basic, no frills presentation – not the kind that will energize an audience that has probably seen similar presentations hundreds of times. If you’re a self-taught, “know only the basics” kind of PowerPoint user, give yourself an hour (or preferably more) to learn about and experiment with features you’ve never explored before. Although the available features vary depending on the version of PowerPoint you use, your software’s online help should get you started. Also consider buying a comprehensive reference book on PowerPoint or taking a hands-on course. A little knowledge can go a long way in improving the quality of your presentations, and convert them from average to amazing.
Want to get up and running quickly with PowerPoint 2007’s new interface? Download the PowerPoint 2007 Add-in: Get Started Tab for PowerPoint 2007. This add-in installs a Get Started tab on the PowerPoint ribbon with easy access to content and training that will help you become productive in no time.
Microsoft recently announced its next release of Microsoft Office — Office 2007. The new Office offers a complete user interface redesign and the new Office XML Formats. Read more about the next release at the official Microsoft Office 2007 website.
