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Powerpoint - forgive my ignorance

13 replies

maggiethecat · 06/12/2013 23:32

Need to help dd put together brief presentation for school and she'd like to do a slide presentation.
I'm sure I can knock up something simple using text and internet pics but how is it actually used? do I save the presentation on to a memory stick which she takes to school and then navigates from the class pc?

It probably is very simple but I've never had to do one before.

OP posts:
Mogz · 06/12/2013 23:54

Yes, save the file to a memory stick and she can then open it at school, so long as they have power point too!
How old is your dd? Will she know how to retrieve the file from the stick?

maggiethecat · 07/12/2013 00:06

she's 10. I don't think she's used PP before. Do you mean that I should be going through with her finding icon for external memory and opening up?

OP posts:
Mogz · 07/12/2013 00:23

If she's not used it before then yes, I'd be going through the whole process, from where to plug in the memory stick, through opening, how to use the program, to safe removal of the device.
I'm sure if you leave her alone with power point and some facts and pics to put in she'll soon get the hang of it, then just go over it all with her to make sure she's confident.

maggiethecat · 07/12/2013 00:32

Ok, will have a go with her.

OP posts:
NoComet · 07/12/2013 01:19

If you talk her through the memory stick bit she'll get the rest really easily.

DD2 could work power point from about 7, it seems to work the way children think.

Consequently it causes language from adults. Although nothing like as much as laying out pictures and text in word.

Cindy34 · 07/12/2013 09:28

Check what facilities school has, they may not have powerpoint, or powerpoint viewer installed, or be able to install them.

One fall back option is to screenshot each powerpoint slide, saving the resulting image in a folder on the memorystick. The pictures can then be shown individually if needed.

If on a pc, software like IfranView will do a screenshot and let you save in a variety of graphics formats.

RegainingUnconsciousness · 07/12/2013 09:40

"Check what facilities school has, they may not have powerpoint, or powerpoint viewer installed, or be able to install them."

Sorry, have I woken up in 1993?

What kind of school won't have PowerPoint?

Cindy34 · 07/12/2013 12:30

Some schools may only have it on some computers on the network, or they may have a different version so it my not open a file created by a newer version. The particular computer linked to the projector may not have it installed.

It's important to check, not assume I feel.

Ferguson · 08/12/2013 23:52

And in the Presentation itself, make sure the text is BIG enough to read from the back of the room, and not TOO much of it.

Don't use too many different fonts, no more than three I would say.

And don't get too carried away with 'wizzy' effects. The purpose of a Presentation is to convey information to the audience, in a clear and attractive way; it can be entertaining, but not make them feel dizzy or seasick! Keep all effects, and styles etc consistent from one slide to the next.

Good Luck to DD!

maggiethecat · 09/12/2013 11:46

Thanks all.

Ferguson, did not think about font size Confused. What do you think is a reasonable size?

OP posts:
Ferguson · 10/12/2013 18:21

Hi -

Sorry, wasn't on MN yesterday!

I was a primary school TA (male), and in things like PP children always wanted to use all the available effects, fading one slide into the next in lots of different ways, colour effects, text 'spinning' onto the page etc.

You can't really specify a font size, as it will partly depend on how the Presentation will be viewed (which DD may not know until 'the day', though, hopefully she might be able to find out beforehand.)

If it is being projected onto a screen, or interactive white board, so will be a large image, you don't need the font TOO big. If on the other hand, it's being viewed on a computer screen or on a lap-top, that the kids have to crowd round, then it needs to be larger. I don't think you said what Year group she is; obviously the older the child, the more sophisticated the wording and content needs to be.

Maybe plan it on paper first, like a 'storyboard' for a movie. So compose the captions, text, labels etc first. Quite often, Presentations are done with bullet points, rather than text like an essay; but a bullet point may need a few lines of explanation.

You will need different sizes for different things: for the Page Heading (largest); sub-headings, if there are any, (bit smaller); explanatory text, (smallest). Maybe just type a 'mock-up' in Word first, to see how it looks.

Probably best to use a BOLD font for a lot, if not all of it, as standard font is normally used on a printed page, so is thin and may not stand out enough on a slide. If coloured text is used, don't have too many colours, and tie it to the content of the pictures if you like; thus, Springtime could have green or yellow, Autumn obviously orange or brown.

We used to have a Presentation program at school (not PP) that had ready-made backgrounds, and one was an old fashioned blackboard, complete with wooden frame and ledge for the chalks. That looked super with bold WHITE text on the black background.

If you put coloured text on a coloured background, make sure the colours are suitable and still easily readable; you often see web sites with text that is too small, and unsuitable colours so it can be almost impossible to read it! Quite often you see similar effects in magazines, where designers get carried away and the text disappears into the background.

Using bullet points, you can make them come on-screen one after another, or all at once, whatever seems most appropriate.

You could probably type the text in Word first, then copy it into PP. Do you know the keyboard shortcuts? Ctrl + C=copy; Ctrl + X=cut (looks like scissors); Ctrl + V=paste (because it's the next key along.) Ctrl + Z is often 'undo', or 'delete' but can vary depending on machine. Ctrl + A is 'select all' usually.

And MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: don't forget to Save regularly as you go along; so many people seem to think you only Save at the end. So, as soon as you add a new bit, Save it. Professionals keep different versions, so they have a choice of 'routes' as work progresses.

Good luck, enjoy it, and I hope it is successful.

maggiethecat · 10/12/2013 23:09

That's all very helpful. Hers will be very simple but it's good to know for next time.
She is looking forward to it (especially to the interactive part involving food Xmas Smile

OP posts:
LaBelleDameSansPatience · 11/12/2013 06:45

I reiterate what Ferguson said; as a primary school teacher I am always trying to persuade children that the loopiest curly font, size 8, in yellow on a decorative background, with whizzy effects, is not the most effective. Think large large and simple and it will look far more professional.
If any of the audience may be dyslexic or have vision problems, remember that the recommendation is not to use black text on white; a pale blue, green or yellow background is easier to read.

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