Presentations (Unit 19)

Presentation Software

Presentation software, such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides, is used to create and display electronic slide shows.
These applications provide a set of tools for organising and formatting content on slides.

Elements of Presentations

Presentations may include a variety of elements, including text, images, audio, video, charts, and hyperlinks.
These various elements should be used appropriately to ensure the presentation is engaging and informative.

Creating Slides

Each slide should focus on a single topic or idea to avoid overwhelming viewers.
A consistent design across all slides can give the presentation a professional appearance.
A variety of slide layouts such as; title slide, content slide, comparison slide etc might be used depending on the context.

Using Templates

Templates can help you quickly create a professional-looking presentation.
They provide a pre-set design, including colours, fonts, and layouts, which can be customised to match your needs.

Formatting Text

Font choice, size, colour, and alignment can greatly impact the legibility and overall appearance of the text on the slides.
Clear, easy-to-read fonts and sufficient contrast between text and background are essential.

Transitions and Animations

Transitions control how one slide switches to the next.
Animations control how objects on a slide (like text boxes or images) appear, move, and disappear.
Both should be used sparingly and consistently, as too many or overly complex animations can distract from the content.

Inserting and Formatting Images

Images can be inserted from a variety of sources and should be appropriately sized and positioned on the slide.
Copyright laws must be observed when using images that are not your own.

Hyperlinks and Action Buttons

Hyperlinks can be used to link to other slides, files, or websites.
Action buttons are a type of hyperlink that can perform actions such as moving to the next slide.

Using Multimedia

Multimedia, such as audio clips, video files, or animated GIFs, can be inserted into a slide to help illustrate points and engage viewers.
Any inserted media should be relevant and not detract from the main message of the presentation.

Running a Slide Show

Presentation software includes options for running a slide show, such as keyboard controls, a presenter view, and automatic timings.
Presentations can also be set to run automatically, looping continuously until stopped — useful for kiosk or display presentations.

Saving and Sharing Presentations

Presentations can be saved in a variety of formats and can even be exported as a video.
They can be shared via email, cloud storage, or presented live over the internet.

Reviewing and Editing a Presentation

It’s important to review and edit presentations carefully before the final audience views it.
Look for spelling and grammatical errors, check hyperlinks and functionality of multimedia elements, and ensure consistent styling and formatting.