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Presentation Software Definition and Examples

Presentation software brings complex ideas to life, one slide at a time

Brock University

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Many software suites offer a program designed to accompany a speaker when he or she delivers a presentation. The specific presentation program in this suite of programs is usually (but not always) in the form of a slide show. This category of program is well-established; it doesn't change much, and it supports not only online visual display but also, generally, the printing of related handouts and speaker notes.

Benefits of Presentation Software

These programs make it simple and often fun to create a presentation for your audience. They contain a text editor to add your written content; they support charts and graphic images such as photographs, clip art or other objects to enliven your slideshow and get your point across crisply.

For a deeper dive into some of the leading applications in this software category, check out:

Microsoft Sway

Besides PowerPoint, Microsoft also offers Sway, which is a presentation and newsletter designer that supports simpler and more image-focused designs along a familiar linear flow path.

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Computer Basics - What is a Computer?

Computer basics -, what is a computer, computer basics what is a computer.

Computer Basics: What is a Computer?

Lesson 2: what is a computer.

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What is a computer?

A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store , retrieve , and process data. You may already know that you can use a computer to type documents , send email , play games , and browse the Web . You can also use it to edit or create spreadsheets , presentations , and even videos .

Watch the video below to learn about different types of computers.

Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here .

Hardware vs. software

Before we talk about different types of computers, let's talk about two things all computers have in common: hardware and software .

Everything you do on your computer will rely on both hardware and software. For example, right now you may be viewing this lesson in a web browser (software) and using your mouse (hardware) to click from page to page. As you learn about different types of computers, ask yourself about the differences in their hardware. As you progress through this tutorial, you'll see that different types of computers also often use different types of software.

What are the different types of computers?

When most people hear the word computer , they think of a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop . However, computers come in many shapes and sizes, and they perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cash from an ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're using a type of computer.

Desktop computers

Many people use desktop computers at work, home, and school. Desktop computers are designed to be placed on a desk, and they're typically made up of a few different parts, including the computer case , monitor , keyboard , and mouse .

Laptop computers

The second type of computer you may be familiar with is a laptop computer , commonly called a laptop. Laptops are battery-powered computers that are more portable than desktops, allowing you to use them almost anywhere.

Tablet computers

Tablet computers —or tablets —are handheld computers that are even more portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet.

A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers on a network. For example, whenever you use the Internet, you're looking at something that's stored on a server. Many businesses also use local file servers to store and share files internally.

Other types of computers

Many of today's electronics are basically specialized computers , though we don't always think of them that way. Here are a few common examples.

Smartphones : Many cell phones can do a lot of things computers can do, including browsing the Internet and playing games. They are often called smartphones .
Wearables : Wearable technology is a general term for a group of devices —including fitness trackers and smartwatches —that are designed to be worn throughout the day. These devices are often called wearables for short.
Game consoles : A game console is a specialized type of computer that is used for playing video games on your TV.
TVs : Many TVs now include applications —or apps —that let you access various types of online content. For example, you can stream video from the Internet directly onto your TV.

PCs and Macs

Personal computers come in two main styles: PC and Mac . Both are fully functional, but they have a different look and feel, and many people prefer one or the other.

This type of computer began with the original IBM PC that was introduced in 1981. Other companies began creating similar computers, which were called IBM PC Compatible (often shortened to PC ). Today, this is the most common type of personal computer, and it typically includes the Microsoft Windows operating system.

The Macintosh computer was introduced in 1984, and it was the first widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface, or GUI (pronounced gooey ). All Macs are made by one company ( Apple ), and they almost always use the Mac OS X operating system.

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Presentation

Written By Gregg Rosenzweig
Updated: November 8, 2023

We’re here to help you choose the most appropriate content types to fulfill your content strategy. In this series, we’re breaking down the most popular content types to their most basic fundamentals — simple definitions, clarity on formats, and plenty of examples — so you can start with a solid foundation.

What is a Presentation?

A communication device that relays a topic to an audience in the form of a slide show, demonstration, lecture, or speech, where words and pictures complement each other.

Why should you think of presentations as content?

The beauty of content creation is that almost anything can become a compelling piece of content . Just depends on the creativity used to convert it and the story that brings it to life.

The long and short of it

Although the length of a presentation in terms of time can depend on the overall approach (Are you talking a lot? Are you referring to the screen in detail or not?), consider the number of informational content slides when tallying the overall presentation length. For instance, don’t include title slides in your tally when conveying length to a content creator.

A general guide to presentation length:

Short Form (5 content slides)
Standard Form (10 content slides)
Long Form (20+ content slides)

Business types:

Any company that has a pitch deck, executive summary , sales presentation, or any kind of internal document that can be repurposed into external-facing content pieces — without pain.

Presentation Examples – Short Form

Presentation Examples – Standard Form

Presentation Examples – Long Form

Understanding Content Quality in Examples

Our team has rated content type examples in three degrees of quality ( Good, Better, Best ) to help you better gauge resources needed for your content plan. In general, the degrees of content quality correspond to our three content levels ( General, Qualified, Expert ) based on the criteria below. Please consider there are multiple variables that could determine the cost, completion time, or content level for any content piece with a perceived degree of quality.

Impress your clients, co-workers, and leadership team with exceptional content for your next presentation, product demonstration, and more. If you need help getting your message across in a succinct, attention-grabbing, and persuasive way, talk to one of our content specialists today.

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Presentation Software

Check list with the words objectives next to it

Learning Objectives

Define functions of presentation graphics programs as used in business.
Design, create, and execute an artistic presentation that includes graphics and animation.

Presentation software is designed to allow the user to present information in an engaging way with text, pictures, sound, and video. It is a way to communicate ideas in a powerful, organized manner. It utilizes sequences of slides that accompany a spoken presentation. The presentation may also be recorded and posted online. The slides are consolidated in virtual files called slide decks. Communication skills are necessary for many careers. Presentation software can help to deliver a message online or in-person to a large audience or small group. The goal is to create a presentation that will leave a lasting impression on the audience, and not distract them from the message you are delivering. The ultimate goal is to create dynamic, interesting presentations that engage your audience.

Common presentation software programs:

Going forward, we will focus primarily on Microsoft PowerPoint.

Since Microsoft PowerPoint is widely used in business, and we are using Microsoft Windows, we will focus on this presentation software. There are many similarities across presentation software, so the skills we are learning can be translated to other systems. Some of the tasks in PowerPoint may seem familiar because they were used in other applications. The following Practice It assignments are designed to be completed using Microsoft PowerPoint in Office 365 on a PC with Windows 10 or higher. You may need to download the Professional version of Office 365 (which is free to students) to access all features.

POWERPOINT PRACTICE 1

Prefer to watch and learn? Check out this video tutorial:

Complete the following Practice Activity and submit your completed project.

We will use PowerPoint to create a presentation that welcomes individuals to coding. We will build upon this presentation over the next 3 practice assignments. Key skills in this practice include creating and editing a new presentation, entering text, adding slides, presentation themes, bullets, adding and formatting pictures, transitions, and printing a presentation.

Start PowerPoint and select the Design tab. Under Themes, select the Circuit theme. If the Circuit theme is not visible, use the search to locate it.
Select File, Save As, Browse, and then navigate to your PowerPoint folder on your flash drive or other location where you save your files. Name the presentation as Yourlastname_Yourfirstname_PowerPoint_Practice_1.
Take a moment to view the PowerPoint window:

Notice that the layout of slide 1 is Title and Content. This is a common layout for the Title Slide . All text, graphics, videos, or anything that is on a slide must be in a placeholder . In the “Click to add title placeholder,” type Welcome to Coding! In the subtitle placeholder type Introduction to Python .
On the Design tab, in the Themes group, ensure under Variants, Blue colors are selected.
Although we only have our title slide added, most presentations have several slides. When creating your presentation, keep in mind the attention span of your audience, and the allotted amount of time. For this presentation, we have been allotted 10 minutes and will create 5 slides.
Outline View
Slide Sorter
Notes Pages
Reading View
On the Home tab, in the Slides group, select the arrow next to New Slide and choose the Title and Content layout. In the “Click to add title” placeholder type: Student Life.
With slide 2 still active, on the Home Tab, in the Slides Group, select the arrow next to Layout and select Two Content. Notice how the layout of slide 2 changed.
Coding develops problem-solving skills
Coding nurtures creativity
Coding makes math more fun and engaging
Coding promotes learning by doing
Coding enables computational thinking
Format the text as a bulleted list, with the default bullet. Change the font size of the text to 28.
In the second placeholder, use the placeholder shortcut to insert a stock image. In the Insert Pictures dialog box, use the search bar and search the word Coding. Choose any picture, then return and insert it into the placeholder.
With slide 2 still active, on the Transitions tab, select Fade.
Computer Programmer
Web Developer
Software Application Developer
Computer Systems Analyst
Computer Systems Engineer
Front and Back End Developer
Resize the text to 28 pt and use the default bullet.
With slide 3 still active, on the Insert tab in the Illustration group, select the arrow next to Shapes. Under Stars and Banners add the Explosion: 8 points shape to the right of the bulleted list. Click and drag the shape onto the slide.
Inside the shape type: All High Paying Jobs.
On the Home tab, in the Slides Group, select New Slide and choose Blank Layout. Ensure slide 5 is active.
On the Insert tab, in the Text Group, select the arrow under WordArt , and select Word Art in the first row, first column Fill: White, Text color 1; Shadow. Type the text: Any Questions?
Change the font size of the WordArt to 72.
Change the font color to orange from the standard colors.
Select the File tab to display Backstage view. Select Print to view the Print Options . Although PowerPoint slides are meant for presentations, there is the option to print slides for the presenter and participants. Under Setting, click Print All Slides.
Under Slides, select 6 slides Horizontal. Notice how the data and page number display on the slide in Print Preview .
Save your presentation and take note of where it is located. There should be a total of 4 slides in your slide deck. Compare your presentation to the image below and make any modifications if needed. Close out of PowerPoint and submit your entire presentation per your instructor’s instructions.

POWERPOINT PRACTICE 2

We will continue to work with the PowerPoint presentation we started in PowerPoint Practice 1. You have been asked by the Dean to add additional content to the presentation regarding Computer Science courses that require coding. Key skills in this practice include how to enhance a presentation, insert and format images, manage slides, add speaker notes and animations, and apply effects.

Start PowerPoint; notice how it opens in Backstage View. Under Open, browse to locate your PowerPoint_Practice_1, and select Open.
Select File, Save As, Browse, and then navigate to your PowerPoint folder on your flash drive or other location where you save your files. Name the presentation as Yourlastname_Yourfirstname_PowerPoint_Practice_2.
There should be 4 slides in your slide deck. Ensure your presentation is in normal view.
With a slide selected, on the Home tab in the slides group, select New Slide and then Duplicate Selected Slides .
With slide 4 active, change the title to Coding Courses.
Introduction to Programming I
Introduction to Programming II
Data Structures
Database Management Systems
Programming Languages
Delete the shapes from the slide.
At the bottom of the screen, click Notes.
Type the following Presenter Notes: Remember other courses that may not require coding.
With slide 4 active, move slide 4 above slide 3 in the thumbnail pane making slide 4 become slide 3, and vice versa.
With slide 3 still active, on the Insert tab, in the Pictures group, select Online Pictures . In the Insert Pictures dialog box, in the search box, type coding course and then press enter. Choose any image you like that represents technology. Insert the image of your choice under the last bullet on slide 3. If necessary, resize the picture so that it fits on the slide without overlapping with the text.
Select the image you just added. On the Animations tab, in the animation group, select the Wheel entrance effect. Once the animation is applied, notice the number 1 appears next to the image to indicate this is the first animation that will play.
On the Animations tab, in the advanced animation group, turn on the Animation Pane by clicking it one time. The Animation Pane will open on the right side of the screen. Click the down arrow next to the first animation, Picture 1, and select Effect Options . In the Wheel dialog box, select the Effect tab, and under Sounds choose Applause. Click the speaker icon to hear the applause and ensure your volume is turned up, but not too loud. Select OK to hear the applause sounds you just applied. Close the Animation Pane.
Save your presentation and take note of where it is located. There should be a total of 5 slides in your slide deck. Compare your presentation to the image below and make any modifications if needed. Close out of PowerPoint and submit your entire presentation per your instructor’s instructions.

POWERPOINT PRACTICE 3

We will continue to work with the PowerPoint presentation from PowerPoint Practice 2. After submitting your presentation to the Dean, she has asked you to make a few enhancements that incorporate multimedia. Key skills in this practice include screenshots, embedding videos, recording audio, and background images.

Start PowerPoint; notice how it opens in Backstage View. Under Open, browse to locate your PowerPoint_Practice_2, and select Open.
Select File, Save As, Browse, and then navigate to your PowerPoint folder on your flash drive or other location where you save your files. Name the presentation as Yourlastname_Yourfirstname_PowerPoint_Practice_3.
Select slide 4 in the thumbnail pane. With slide 4 active, on the Home Tab, in the Slides Group, select New Slide and select Layout and Content.
There should be 5 slides in your slide deck. Ensure your presentation is in normal view and select slide 5. In the title placeholder type: Why Learn Coding?
In the content placeholder below the title, click the icon to insert an online video. To insert an online video, you can also use the Insert tab, Media group, video, online video. It may take a few moments for the Insert Video screen to load.
Use the Search YouTube box by typing in Why Learn Coding? and then selecting the search icon or pressing enter on your keyboard. Scroll through the videos to find the video titled Why Learn Coding? If that video is not available, you can select a different one. Double-click the video or select Insert to add the video to slide 5.
With the video selected, on the Video Tools, Format tab, resize the video so that it has a height of approximately 5″ and a width of approximately 9.4″. Move the video so that it is centered on the slide if necessary.
On the Playback tab, select Play to watch the video.
Another way to add an online video to a PowerPoint slide is by embedding it. Using your web browser, navigate to www.youtube.com . In the search window, type, Why Learn Coding? Locate the video Why Learn Coding? Select the Share icon, and then select embed. Copy the embed code.
In PowerPoint, on slide 5, select the Insert tab, Media group, Video, Online Video. In the box next to From a Video Embed Code, paste the code you copied from YouTube and then press Enter. It may take a few moments for the video to preview. If necessary, right-click on the video, and then select Preview. You can put the video in the presentation either way.
Select slide 5 in the thumbnail pane. With slide 5 active, on the Home Tab, in the Slides Group, select New Slide and select Layout and Content.
With slide 6 still active, on the Insert tab, in the Pictures group, select Online Pictures . In the Insert Pictures dialog box, in the search box, type: computer languages. Choose any image you like that represents technology. Insert the image of your choice. If necessary, resize the picture so that it fits on the slide without overlapping with the text.
Select slide 6 so that it is the active slide. On the Insert tab, Media group, select the arrow under Audio and select Record Audio. Record a short audio clip (about 20 seconds) and tell me what language you would like to learn.
After recording your audio and playing it back, name it Coding. Then, close the Record Sound audio dialog box. Notice a speaker icon displays on slide 6. Move this icon to the upper left-hand corner of slide 6. Click the speaker once to play the audio.
On slide 6, in the Notes pane, add the following note: Remember to play the audio.
Select slide 1 so that it is the active slide. On the Design tab, customize group, and select Format Background. Under Fill, select the button next to Picture of texture fill. Under insert picture Online Picture, search for any coding picture and select Insert. Be sure to not select Apply to All, as we only want the background image applied to the title slide.
Close the Format Background dialog box by clicking the x in the upper right-hand corner.
Save your presentation and take note of where it is located. There should be a total of 9 slides in your slide deck. Compare your presentation to the image below and make any modifications if needed. Close out of PowerPoint and submit your entire presentation per your instructor’s instructions.

MASTER ACTIVITY 1

Trophy with the words master it next to it

Complete the following Master Activity and submit your completed project.

All about me using Google Slides

You will need to be logged into your Google account to complete this assignment. Since Google Slides is web based , it changes frequently. The steps outlined here may be slightly different from what you see on your screen. If you do not already have a Google account, you will need to create one. Go to http://google.com and in the upper right corner, click Sign In. On the Sign In screen, click Create Account. On the Create your Google Account page, complete the form, read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and then click Next step. On the Welcome screen, click Get Started.

Family and pets
1-, 5-, and 10-year goals
From the desktop, open your browser, navigate to http://google.com, and then sign in to your Google account. In the upper right corner of your screen, click Google apps, and then click Slides .
Select the template gallery to browse templates . Take a moment to view General templates.
Select the back arrow to go back to the main Slides page. Select the plus sign to start a new Blank presentation. If necessary, hit ESC on your keyboard to show the toolbar.
In the Themes dialog box, select the Simple Dark theme.
Name your presentation Yourlastname_Yourfirstname_PowerPoint_Master1, and save it in your Google Drive or other location as indicated by your instructor.
With Slide 1 selected, enter your name as the title, and for the subtitle type All About Me.
On the Slide tab, select New Slide to insert a new blank slide. Type My Hobbies as the slide title. In the textbox below, create a bulleted list with at least 5 hobbies. The bulleted list is found on the main menu, format, in Google Slides.
On the main menu, select the plus button to add another new slide with the same layout as the previous slide.
Type My Family and Pets for the slide title. In the textbox below the title, create a bulleted list with information on your family and pets.
On the main menu, select the arrow next to the plus button to add a new slide with the title and two-column layout, then type My Work and Major for the title. In the textbox to the left create a bulleted list that contains at least 3 bullets about your work life. In the textbox to the right create a bulleted list that contains at least 2 bullets about your major or future career.
My one-year goal is to…
My five-year goal is to…
My ten-year goal is to…
Complete each sentence with your own personal goals.
Select slide 1 so that it is the active slide. Ensure the entire slide is selected, not the textbox. On the main menu, select background. In the background dialog box, next to Image, select Choose image. Select the option for Google image search. Find an image that represents you, and add it to the background for the title slide.
If necessary, change the text color, or move the text so that it stands out against the new background image. To change the text color, select the textbox, and on the main menu, select text color.
Select slide 2 so that it is the active slide. On the main menu, select the Insert Image button, and select Search the Web. Search for an image that describes your hobbies, and then insert it into slide 2. If necessary resize the image by selecting it and using the resize handles.
With the image selected, choose Animate on the main menu. Add an Object Animation to Fade in on click. Play the animation to preview it and close the Motion dialog box if necessary.
Select slide 3 so that it is the active slide. In the empty space next to the bulleted list, add a shape from the Insert tab, then Shapes. Choose any shape to compliment slide 3, and add it to your slide. Then, add text and a fill color to the shape.
Select slide 4 so that it is the active slide. On the Insert tab, select video, and use the YouTube search to embed a video related to your future career. Trim the video so it is 3 minutes or less. If necessary, close the Format video dialog box.
Select slide 5 so that it is the active slide. Select the textbox with your goals listed. On the main menu, select a light blue fill color for the textbox. Then, select a darker blue Border Color, with a border weight of 8px. Ensure the solid borderline is selected.
On the Tools tab, run spell check and make any corrections.
In the upper right-hand corner, select the arrow next to Present, and then select Present from the beginning. Use the arrows on your keyboard to navigate each slide of the slide deck. When completed, press the ESC key on your keyboard.
Make any final adjustments to your slide deck, and submit per your instructor’s instructions.

MASTER ACTIVITY 2

In this assignment, you are working as a Clinical Educator for a local healthcare company. You have been asked to make enhancements to a presentation that will be shared with employees on how to properly wash their hands. You have been asked to make the following enhancements to the presentation:

Change the slide deck theme Droplet Third Variant
Insert and edit an online video demonstrating proper handwashing
Add a chart
Add speaker notes
Add professional quality images to add visual interest to the presentation
Add transitions and animations
Add sources
Correct bulleted list and fonts
Run spelling and grammar
From your data files, open the file Starter_PowerPoint_Master2. If necessary, enable content . In Backstage view, under File, Save As, save the database as Lastname_Firstname_PowerPoint_Master_2 in your assignment files folder.
Change the slide deck theme to Droplet, with the third color variant. The color variant should be light blue. Ensure the theme and variant are applied to all slides in the deck.
On slide 3, ensure the hand washing video from YouTube is enabled. If not, insert an online video from YouTube from a reputable source that demonstrates the WHO proper handwashing technique.
Format the video so that the Height is approximately 5″ and the Width is approximately 9″.
With slide 4 active, insert a new slide with the Title and Content Layout. For the title, type Statistics. In the content placeholder below the title, select the Insert Chart icon and select Clustered Column.
Enter the following data for the clustered column chart.
On slide 5, select the vertical value axis and format the axis so that the minimum bounds is 0.0 and maximum bounds is 0.4.
Apply Quick Style 6 to the clustered column chart and delete the chart legend.
Insert a textbox below the chart, and enter the following text: Source: Am J Public Health. 2008 Aug;98(8):1372-81. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.124610. Epub 2008 Jun 12.
On slide 5, enter the following speaker note:

This data is based on the research study, Effect of hand hygiene on infectious disease risk in the community setting: a meta-analysis, and Improvements in hand hygiene resulted in reductions in gastrointestinal illness of 31% and reductions in respiratory illness of 21%.

Select slide 2. Delete all of the text starting with “This helps prevent…” and all of the text following it. Remove the bullet from the first paragraph that begins with “Cleaning hands at key times…” and change the font size to 24.
Under the paragraph, insert an online picture that represents the importance of handwashing. The image selected should be professional. Resize the image and center it under the paragraph. Apply the Drop Shadow Rectangle Quick Style to the picture.
Select slide 4. With all of the text selected, remove the bullets (do not delete the text). Insert an online picture that represents FAQ, or Frequently Asked Questions. Insert the image in the upper right-hand corner next to the title. Resize the image if necessary so that it fits to the right of the title.
Centers for Disease Control
Federal Government
Clean hands save lives
World Health Organization
The International Health Authority on Handwashing
Infection, Prevention and Control
Thurston County Public Health in Washington
Local County Health and Wellness
Handwashing Toolbox
Ensure all text that was just added is a bulleted list and left justified.
With slide 6 still active, insert an online picture that represents the importance of handwashing. The image selected should be professional. Resize the image and center it under the paragraph. Apply the Drop Shadow Rectangle Quick Style to the picture.
With the picture on slide 6 selected, add the Shape Animation to the picture.
With slide 1 active, apply the Reveal Transition to all slides in the slide deck.
Run spelling and grammar check and make any corrections.
View your slideshow.
Save your presentation, and take note of where it is located. There should be a total of 6 slides in your slide deck. Compare your presentation to the image below, and make any modifications if needed. Close out of PowerPoint and submit your entire presentation per your instructor’s instructions.

6 pages of a PowerPoint presentation on proper hand washing

MASTER ACTIVITY 3

In this activity, you will create a presentation regarding your plan of study. Your presentation should include:

A title slide with your major or plan of study
A slide explaining why you chose this major
A slide detailing your graduation timeline
A slide with post-graduation plans such as University Transfer, Jobs, Certifications, etc.
A slide highlighting your dream job
A slide that details your biggest influencers or motivators for completing your plan of study

Your presentation should be professional and collegiate and demonstrate effective presentation strategies. It should include the following elements:

Professional quality graphics
Transitions and animations
A background image on the title slide
Proper spelling and grammar
Review your presentation slideshow view.
Save your presentation as YourLastName_YourFirstName_PowerPoint_Master_3, and take note of where it is located. There should be a total of 6 slides in your slide deck. Close PowerPoint and submit your entire presentation per your instructor’s instructions.

CHALLENGE IT

Complete the following Challenge and submit your completed project.

In this challenge activity, you will complete a project that incorporates many of the key skills learned in the Presentation Software unit. For this project, you are the Marketing Director for the Arizona Tourism Office. The goal of the presentation is to educate visitors on all of the wonderful things Arizona has to offer. You will create a PowerPoint Presentation with the following:

Animations and transitions
7 Themed slides
Open PowerPoint and select Blank Presentation. In Backstage View, save the presentation in your PowerPoint folder, and name it Lastname_Firstname_PowerPoint_Challenge.
On the Title Slide, in the Title Content Placeholder, add the following text: Arizona.
In the content placeholder under the title, add the following text: The Grand Canyon State.
Change the Font Color to Black, Background 1. Bold all of the text.
Add a background picture to the title slide only. The background image is found in your data files and titled PowerPoint_Challenge_Step3. Change the transparency of the background picture to 25%.
Change the Theme to Office Theme, with the third variant.
Using Reuse slides, add slides 2-6 from the presentation in your data files titled PowerPoint_Challenge_Step_5.
On Slide 2, insert an online picture of a cactus. Resize and reposition the picture so that it fits to the right of the text. Apply the Soft Edge Rectangle Quick Style.
On Slide 2, show the speaker notes. In the notes pane, add a period after 2019. And then type the following note: Retrieved online on 1/26/2021 at https://tourism.az.gov
On slide 3, insert the picture from your data files titled PowerPoint_Challenge_Step8. Resize and reposition the image so that it fits to the right of the text. Apply the Soft Edge Rectangle Quick Style.
On Slide 3, show the speaker notes. In the notes pane, add the following note: The Grand Canyon is also located in Arizona and is a National Park.
On Slide 3, insert an Oval Callout shape. Resize the shape so that it has a height of about 2.1″ and a width of about 3.4″. The shape should be located in the bottom portion of the slide, it is ok if it covers a portion of the text or picture. Apply the Colored Fill—Blue, Accent 5 Shape Style. In the shape, type: Which parks have you been to? Apply the Float In animation to the shape.
On slide 4, insert a Line with Markers Chart. Use the following data:
Apply Quick Style 3 to the Line Chart, and delete the Legend.
In the speaker notes on slide 4, type the following note: Data provided by the Arizona Office of Tourism in collaboration with Northern Arizona University—The W.A. Franke College of Business.
On slide 5, insert the alternating hexagon SmartArt. In each shape, enter one sports team per shape, in any order. Delete the Add a picture placeholder, and delete the bulleted list of sports teams. Move the SmartArt to the right of the title. Change the colors of the SmartArt to Transparent Gradient Range—Accent 1. Apply the 3-D polished Quick Style to the SmartArt.
On slide 6, insert an online picture of a desert sunset. If necessary, resize and reposition the picture so that it fits to the right of the text. Apply the Soft Edge Rectangle Quick Style.
After slide 6, add a new slide with the Blank Layout. Insert a Fill—Blue, Accent 1 Shadow WordArt with the words: We look forward to seeing you soon!
Apply the Page Curl transition to all slides in the deck.
View the slideshow.
Save your presentation, and take note of where it is located. There should be a total of 7 slides in your slide deck. Compare your presentation to the image below, and make any modifications if needed. Close out of PowerPoint and submit your entire presentation per your instructor’s instructions.

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PowerPoint is a presentation program developed by Microsoft. It is included in the standard Office suite along with Microsoft Word and Excel . The software allows users to create anything from basic slide shows to complex presentations.

PowerPoint is often used to create business presentations, but can also be used for educational or informal purposes. The presentations are comprised of slides, which may contain text, images, and other media, such as audio clips and movies. Sound effects and animated transitions can also be included to add extra appeal to the presentation. However, overusing sound effects and transitions will probably do more to annoy your audience than draw their attention. (Yes, we have all heard the car screeching noise enough times for one lifetime.)

Most PowerPoint presentations are created from a template, which includes a background color or image, a standard font , and a choice of several slide layouts. Changes to the template can be saved to a "master slide," which stores the main slide theme used in the presentation. When changes are made to the master slide, such as choosing a new background image, the changes are propagated to all the other slides. This keeps a uniform look among all the slides in the presentation.

When presenting a PowerPoint presentation, the presenter may choose to have the slides change at preset intervals or may decide to control the flow manually. This can be done using the mouse , keyboard , or a remote control. The flow of the presentation can be further customized by having slides load completely or one bullet at a time. For example, if the presenter has several bullet points on a page, he might have individual points appear when he clicks the mouse. This allows more interactivity with the audience and brings greater focus to each point.

PowerPoint presentations can be created and viewed using Microsoft PowerPoint. They can also be imported and exported with Apple Keynote, Apple's presentation program for the Macintosh platform. Since most people prefer not to watch presentations on a laptop , PowerPoint presentations are often displayed using a projector. Therefore, if you are preparing a PowerPoint presentation for a room full of people, just make sure you have the correct video adapter.

Test Your Knowledge

In computer programming, a stored value that can change is called what?

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What Is a Digital Presentation & How to Get Good At It

Learn the basics of presentation decks and how to create one. Explore examples and tips to make your own deck more effective and engaging.

Dominika Krukowska

16 minute read

Short answer

What is a presentation.

A presentation is a slide-based visual storytelling aid. It’s used for transferring information and emotion to an audience with visual, vocal, and textual communication.

The purpose of a presentation is to help the audience understand a subject matter. Presentations are used in business, academics, and entertainment. They can be made in PowerPoint, PDF, or webpage format.

Why people hate presentations (including yours)

Have you ever sat through a digital presentation that felt like it was dragging on forever? Or worse, have you been the one giving the presentation when people’s eyes glazed over?

This feeling of agonizing boredom is called Death by PowerPoint, and it means losing your audience's attention. They won't remember anything you said, and probably couldn't care less.

I’m going to show you how to never again suffer from Death by PowerPoint by avoiding the common PowerPoint pitfalls, immediately engage your audience, capture their interest, and make them care.

Let's dive in!

What is the main purpose of a presentation?

The purpose of a presentation is to communicate information or ideas to an audience in a clear and effective manner. The reasons for making a presentation can be to inform, persuade, motivate, educate, entertain, or simply share knowledge or experiences.

The goal of a presentation can be to help your audience understand complex concepts, make informed decisions, or take action based on the information you present.

In business settings, presentations are often used to pitch products or services, report on progress or performance, or make recommendations to stakeholders.

What are the 2 main types of presentations?

When it comes to creating a presentation, there are 2 primary types: (1) speech presentations and (2) digital presentations (made for reading). There are key takeaways for nailing each presentation type. Take note of them if you intend to get good at both.

Reading presentations

Speech presentations

Digital presentations (Reading presentations)

Digital presentations, on the other hand, are presentations that the audience can access on their own computer or phone without the presenter being physically present. These presentations require a different set of skills and techniques to keep the audience engaged.

Essentials for improving your digital presentations:

Written clarity is critical: Since your audience will be reading your presentation, it's essential to keep your content clear and concise. Say more with less.
Show, don't tell: Use supporting visuals to help illustrate your points and make your presentation more engaging.
Animation and annotation: Use animations and annotations to direct your audience's attention to the right place at the right time, keeping them engaged throughout. there are plenty of free animation software to help you create these.
Personalization: Make your audience feel like you're speaking directly to them by personalizing your presentation. Use inclusive language and address their pain points, needs, and interests.

Speech presentations (Face to face)

Speech presentations are the classic type of presentation where a speaker presents to an audience in person. These presentations are usually given at conferences or meetings, and can now also take place virtually through platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype.

Essentials for improving your speech presentations:

Less written, more spoken: Speech presentations are all about the spoken word, so it's crucial to avoid cramming too much text onto your slides. Focus on speaking to your audience instead.
Body language and voice: In a speech presentation, your body language and tone of voice are essential to engaging your audience. Use humor, sarcasm, or suspense to keep your listeners interested.
Rapport: Making eye contact and using real-time communication can help you build rapport with your audience and make them feel involved in your presentation.

What are the main types of digital presentations?

Digital presentations come in all shapes and sizes, but understanding the main types can help you choose the right format for your message.

Business presentations

Marketing presentations, sales presentations, education and training presentations, personal presentations.

Education & training

Business presentations are used for showcasing company performance updates, introducing new products or services, discussing future plans with clients and partners, or briefing investors.

Whether it's an internal meeting or an external one with stakeholders, business presentations are all about delivering a clear and compelling message that drives the company forward.

Marketing presentations are visual decks used to present your target audience, marketing strategies, and campaign outcomes to prospective clients, ad agencies, or stakeholders.

Sales presentations are decks that contain details about the features, pricing, and main benefits of your offering, and are used during in-person meetings or online sales calls. They’re designed to help sales reps close deals or land new clients.

Education and training presentations are slide decks designed to teach new concepts and best practices to a variety of audiences, including students, employees, or clients.

A personal presentation is used during networking events, business conferences, or public speaking engagements. It’s used to share your key accomplishments and demonstrate your passion and the main values you stand for.

What makes a good presentation?

A good presentation captivates by establishing trust, engaging the audience with interactive elements, and weaving data into an enthralling narrative that sparks emotions and inspires, leaving a lasting impact.

There are 3 things any good presentation must do:

1. Establish trust and credibility

Without your audience trusting you and your authority you will never get them to listen. And to really listen, some say, they have to like you.

To establish yourself as a credible source of information, use relevant visuals, stories, and examples that showcase your expertise and experience, earning the trust of your audience.

2. Interact with the audience

Static PowerPoint slides are no longer enough to engage anyone. Presentations need to be informative but also entertaining.

Therefore, incorporating interactive elements into your presentations like animations, videos, calculators, quizzes , polls, and live infographics is now essential to grab attention and keep your audience engaged start-to-finish .

3. Tell a good story

When it comes to digital presentations, it's not just about the information you share, but how you share it. That's where storytelling comes in! It's all about weaving a relatable narrative that resonates with your viewers, leaving them eager for more.

By blending your data and facts into an enthralling tale, you're not only dishing out knowledge but also sparking emotions and inspiration. It's a game-changer for grabbing your audience's attention and getting your message across effectively.example

How to create a good digital presentation?

To create a great digital presentation, you need to think beyond the slides and consider the experience you want your audience to have.

Think of your presentation as a journey that takes your audience from point A to point B - you need to ensure that every step of the way is memorable and captivating.

When creating a digital presentation, there's more to it than just putting together a few slides.

You can make it real-pretty, but to make it truly effective you need to have a clear understanding of where you want to take your audience, and tailor your content accordingly.

Good presentation example

This example shows how interactive content can make a presentation that pulls you in and makes you feel part of the journey.

What should a presentation include?

Most decks contain the following 3 elements:

Introduction (the objectives and agenda of your presentation)
Main body (key talking points that you want to cover)
Conclusion (followed by a single, actionable call to action)

The specific outline of your presentation will depend on your particular use case.

Check out our dedicated guides for particular business presentations:

What to Include in a Pitch Deck (Slides 99% of Investors Want)
7 elements of a great sales deck structure
What should a one-pager include?
What does a marketing deck include?

How to start and how to end a presentation?

Start your presentation with a strong hook that captures your audience's attention and makes them interested in what you have to say.

You can end your presentation with a thank you slide, but that would be too bad. For your words to carry beyond the last slide you’ll need to give your audience the next step.

And so, you should end your presentation with a singular, clear call to action that inspires your audience to follow through on your message.

What are the essential building blocks of a successful presentation?

Almost everyone nowadays makes beautiful presentations. But that’s not enough to make them successful.

5 key elements that every successful presentation includes:

1. Compelling (human) story: Your presentation should tell a story that connects with your audience on a personal and emotional level, making your message relatable and memorable.

Here are 5 quick storytelling tips to deliver engaging presentations:

2. Clear structure: A clear structure helps your audience follow along and understand the flow of your presentation. This can be chronological, sequential, before-after, problem-solution-resolution, or any other simple and easy-to-follow structure.

3. Problem and solution: Your presentation should address a problem that your audience faces and offer a solution that your product or service can provide.

4. Actionable takeaways: Your presentation should leave your audience with actionable steps or insights that they can use to apply the information you've presented.

5. Supporting visuals (product demo) and data visualization (graphs, charts, and infographics): Using visuals to support your presentation can reinforce your message and help your audience retain the information you presented.

6 biggest mistakes to avoid when creating a presentation

It’s easy to forget that the presentation is for your audience rather than for you. You may want to tell them everything from A to Z, but they may only want to know ABC.

It’s even easier to take for granted that the things you understand are clear to others. But for them, these things are horribly complex (look up the curse of knowledge).

1. Using too much text: Overloading your slides with text can cause your audience to lose interest and detract from your main points. Keep your text to a minimum and use visuals to reinforce your key takeaways.

2. Going too much into detail: attention is a limited resource so you can’t fit everything in a single presentation. Tell your audience only what they really want (and need) to know. Avoid any technical details or complex jargon that does not contribute to the core of your message.

3. Neglecting interactivity: Failing to include interactive elements can cause your audience to disengage. Use polls, quizzes, and other interactive tools, including email newsletter software , to keep your audience engaged.

4. Ignoring the power of storytelling: Telling a compelling story is critical to capturing your audience's attention and leaving a lasting impression. Use relatable stories and examples that support your key points.

5. Poor use of visuals: Using low-quality visuals, irrelevant images, or poorly designed charts and graphs can detract from your presentation and cause confusion. Use high-quality visuals that reinforce your key ideas and are easy to understand.

6. Lack of personalization: If you don’t tailor your presentation to your audience's needs, interests, and level of understanding, your message will fall flat. Make sure to consider your audience's perspective and adjust your deck accordingly.

You don't want your presentation to end up looking like this:

How to design a presentation?

Designing a presentation is a bit like decorating a cake - you want it to be visually appealing but also yummy to consume. You want it to leave your audience with a taste for more rather than a bad taste in their mouth.

Lucky for you there are practical steps for designing a presentation that truly wows your audience every time. There's also a more practical presentation maker for this than PowerPoint. You can use it to get much more engaging presntations.

Practical presentation design tips:

1. Choose a color scheme: Just like choosing the perfect icing color for your cake, selecting a color scheme that complements your brand can make your presentation feel more coherent. Or, if you’re pitching to a client, you can use their brand colors instead in order to impress them.

2. Use high-quality images: Using high-quality images is like adding a layer of delicious, rich frosting to your cake. It makes your presentation more visually interesting and helps support your key message.

3. Use consistent fonts: Using consistent fonts throughout your presentation can make it easier to read. Stick to two or three fonts that complement each other and use them consistently.

4. Incorporate visual aids: Visual aids like colorful sprinkles and creative cake toppers can take your cake to the next level. Similarly, graphs, charts, and infographics can help break text patterns and, therefore, make your presentation more memorable.

Check out our use-ready slide design with every type of slide you can think of designed according to our tips and best practices.

Where to find presentation templates?

Scouring the web for presentation templates can be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack - it's time-consuming, frustrating, and can leave you feeling a bit lost. Most designs available look dull and samey, and are not optimized for engagement.

But don't worry, we've got you covered! Here are the best interactive presentation templates for different use cases:

Choose template by:

What tools to use to create presentations?

Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all tool for creating a digital presentation. And with so many presentation tools out there, it can be hard to know where to start looking.

That’s why we've done the research for you - check out our article rounding up the best presentation software to pick the right one for your needs!

And, if you want to learn more about creating effective digital presentations, check out these posts:

How to Make Effective & Impactful Presentations (12 Steps)
How to Make a Multimedia Presentation (5 Easy Steps)

How to give a presentation?

Giving a presentation can be intimidating, but it's an excellent opportunity to showcase your knowledge and expertise. To deliver a successful presentation, you need to focus on engaging your audience, keeping their attention, and providing valuable information.

9 tips to help you give a memorable presentation:

1. Start with a strong hook

A strong opening is crucial to grab your audience's attention and pique their interest. Begin with a bold statement, a surprising fact, or a personal anecdote that relates to the topic of your presentation. This will immediately grab the audience's attention and make them want to listen to what you have to say.

2. Make your objectives and agenda clear

Engage your audience right from the start by letting them know what's in store for them. Outlining your objectives and agenda early on will keep your audience focused and ensure that they don't miss out on any crucial information. Let them know why it's important to pay attention to your presentation and what they can expect to learn from it. By doing this, you'll build anticipation and get them excited about what's to come!

3. Leverage storytelling

People love stories, and they are an effective way to connect with your audience. Use anecdotes, metaphors, and examples to illustrate your points and make your presentation more relatable. This will help the audience understand the concepts you're presenting and retain the information up to 60-70% better .

4. Ask questions, use humor, give simple directions that prove a point

Engage your audience by asking questions, using humor, and giving them simple tasks to perform that illustrate your point. This will keep their attention and make the presentation more interactive.

5. Direct the audience's attention

Use a pointer or built-in animation to draw the audience's attention to critical information. This will help them focus on what you're saying and avoid distractions.

6. Work on the delivery

Speak slowly and clearly, use positive language, and avoid reading from notes as much as possible. Use humor and engage with your audience to make the presentation more enjoyable. Ensure your body language is confident and relaxed, and maintain eye contact with your audience.

7. Add interactive elements

Incorporate interactive elements like polls, quizzes, or surveys to involve your audience and gather valuable feedback. This will make your presentation more engaging and ensure your audience retains the information presented.

8. Close with a CTA

End your presentation with a strong call to action (CTA). Inspire your audience to take the next step, whether it's signing up for a newsletter, buying a product, or visiting your website. Make it clear what you want your audience to do after the presentation.

9. Leave time for a Q&A session

Finally, leave ample time for a Q&A session. This will allow your audience to clarify any doubts and ask questions. It's also an excellent opportunity for you to engage with your audience and get valuable feedback on your presentation.

Create amazing digital presentations from templates

Creating a digital presentation that grabs your audience's attention and drives results may feel like a daunting task.

After all, a strong digital presentation can be the difference between leaving a lasting impression on your audience or falling flat and losing their attention.

It's like trying to teach a class without proper preparation - you're not giving your knowledge and expertise a chance to shine, and your audience might not retain the information you're presenting.

To make things easier, try using our customizable digital presentation templates that will help you create an engaging and impactful digital presentation in no time!

Where can I see examples of good presentations?

If you’re looking for real-life examples that drove results for other companies from different industry sectors, check out highly effective presentation examples by our clients .

Alternatively, if you want to see the best presentation examples that you can replicate to create your own, here are our dedicated guides:

10 Perfect Presentation Examples That Win Over Anyone
9 Unique Sales Deck Examples that Outsell the Rest
10 Top Pitch Deck Examples to Inspire Your Fundraising Efforts
Top Product Presentation Examples That Wow Everyone
Marketing Deck: What It Is & How to Make It Win (Examples)
6 Elevator Pitch Examples for Any Scenario (Ready for Use)

Where can I find good presentation templates?

If you’re looking for snazzy presentation templates, Storydoc should be your go-to place. We offer a fantastic selection of visually stunning designs to make your digital presentation pop.

All components have been designed with best practices in mind and optimized for engagement. Thanks to the built-in analytics panel, you can also check how your presentations perform in real-time.

Click on any of these categories to see the best presentation templates for your specific use case:

One-pager templates
Sales deck templates
Pitch deck templates
Business proposal deck templates
Marketing decks templates
Case studies templates
Report templates
White paper templates

What are common types of business presentations?

The most common types of business presentations are:

Sales decks
Pitch decks
Business proposal decks
Marketing decks
Case studies

Is a presentation the same as a slideshow?

Technically, a slideshow is a type of presentation, but not all presentations are slideshows.

A presentation can take many different forms, from a speech to a product demonstration, and can use various tools, including slideshows, to deliver the message. So while a slideshow is certainly a popular choice for presentations, it's not the only option out there.

What is death by PowerPoint?

Death by PowerPoint is the phenomenon of boring, uninspired, and ineffective presentations that use an overabundance of bullet points, text-heavy slides, and monotonous delivery. It's a surefire way to put your audience to sleep and leave them counting down the minutes until your presentation is over.

To avoid death by PowerPoint, aim to create presentations that are visually engaging, incorporate storytelling, and use multimedia elements like images, videos, and interactive features. Remember, a presentation should be a tool to enhance your message, not a crutch to lean on.

What are common types of presentation delivery formats?

There are 5 popular types of presentation delivery formats to choose from:

Powerpoint: A classic choice, PowerPoint offers a range of design and animation options to create static slide-based presentations.
Google Slides : As a cloud-based tool, Google Slides makes it easy to collaborate with others in real-time. It's an excellent option for static team presentations and remote work situations.
Keynote : Exclusive to Apple devices, Keynote is known for its sleek and elegant design options. It's an ideal choice for visually appealing presentations on Mac or iOS devices.
PDF: For a simple, static, and easily shareable format, PDF presentations are a reliable option. They ensure consistent formatting across different devices and platforms.
Storydoc : Taking presentations to the next level, Storydoc provides immersive and interactive templates that are sure to captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression.

What are common types of presentation speech formats?

There are 4 common types of presentation delivery formats:

Memorized: In a memorized delivery, the presenter memorizes the entire presentation word-for-word and delivers it without notes. This format can be effective for short presentations or speeches but can be challenging to execute for longer presentations.
Manuscript: In a manuscript delivery, the presenter reads from a written script or teleprompter. This format is great for delivering complex or technical information but can come across as less engaging.
Impromptu: In an impromptu delivery, the presenter delivers a presentation without prior preparation or planning. This format is often used in situations like interviews or meetings and requires quick thinking and adaptability.
Extemporaneous: In an extemporaneous delivery, the presenter delivers a presentation using notes or an outline, but not a fully scripted presentation. This format allows for flexibility and engagement with the audience while still maintaining structure.

Why is a presentation important for my business?

Here are the main reasons why presentations are essential for your business:

Be the expert: Presentations provide a platform to showcase your expertise and share your unique perspectives with your audience, establishing you as a thought leader in your industry.
Build connections: Presentations provide an opportunity to connect with your audience, building relationships that can lead to future business opportunities.
Leave a lasting impression: An engaging and memorable presentation can leave a lasting impact on your audience, increasing brand awareness and improving message retention.
Achieve your goals: Presentations can be used to achieve business goals, from generating leads to securing funding or closing deals.

How to measure the effectiveness of a presentation?

Measuring the effectiveness of a presentation is crucial to ensure it hits the mark with your audience and achieves its goals. Here are some ways to measure the effectiveness of a presentation:

Ask for feedback: Don't be afraid to ask your audience for feedback after the presentation, either through surveys or live feedback. This feedback can provide valuable insights into what worked well and what could be improved, helping you refine your approach for future presentations.

Monitor engagement: Keep a pulse on engagement metrics such as views, shares, or the average reading time if the presentation is delivered online. These metrics can give you a sense of the level of interest generated by the presentation and which parts resonated with your audience. Our own presentation maker comes with built-in analytics tracking and reporting .

Track business outcomes: If your presentation is designed to drive business results, track metrics such as lead generation, sales, or conversion rates to assess its effectiveness in achieving these goals.

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

Perfect Presentation Examples That Win Over Anyone

Top Product Presentation Examples That Wow Everyone Sales and Marketing Presentations Statistics Marketing Presentation Examples that Engage & Convert

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PRESENTATION SKILLS

What is a Presentation?

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Presentation Skills:

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Preparing for a Presentation
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Presenting Data
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7 Qualities of Good Speakers That Can Help You Be More Successful
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The formal presentation of information is divided into two broad categories: Presentation Skills and Personal Presentation .

These two aspects are interwoven and can be described as the preparation, presentation and practice of verbal and non-verbal communication.

This article describes what a presentation is and defines some of the key terms associated with presentation skills.

Many people feel terrified when asked to make their first public talk. Some of these initial fears can be reduced by good preparation that also lays the groundwork for making an effective presentation.

A Presentation Is...

A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team.

A presentation can also be used as a broad term that encompasses other ‘speaking engagements’ such as making a speech at a wedding, or getting a point across in a video conference.

To be effective, step-by-step preparation and the method and means of presenting the information should be carefully considered.

A presentation requires you to get a message across to the listeners and will often contain a ' persuasive ' element. It may, for example, be a talk about the positive work of your organisation, what you could offer an employer, or why you should receive additional funding for a project.

The Key Elements of a Presentation

Making a presentation is a way of communicating your thoughts and ideas to an audience and many of our articles on communication are also relevant here, see: What is Communication? for more.

Consider the following key components of a presentation:

Ask yourself the following questions to develop a full understanding of the context of the presentation.

When and where will you deliver your presentation?

There is a world of difference between a small room with natural light and an informal setting, and a huge lecture room, lit with stage lights. The two require quite different presentations, and different techniques.

Will it be in a setting you are familiar with, or somewhere new?

If somewhere new, it would be worth trying to visit it in advance, or at least arriving early, to familiarise yourself with the room.

Will the presentation be within a formal or less formal setting?

A work setting will, more or less by definition, be more formal, but there are also various degrees of formality within that.

Will the presentation be to a small group or a large crowd?

Are you already familiar with the audience?

With a new audience, you will have to build rapport quickly and effectively, to get them on your side.

What equipment and technology will be available to you, and what will you be expected to use?

In particular, you will need to ask about microphones and whether you will be expected to stand in one place, or move around.

What is the audience expecting to learn from you and your presentation?

Check how you will be ‘billed’ to give you clues as to what information needs to be included in your presentation.

All these aspects will change the presentation. For more on this, see our page on Deciding the Presentation Method .

The role of the presenter is to communicate with the audience and control the presentation.

Remember, though, that this may also include handing over the control to your audience, especially if you want some kind of interaction.

You may wish to have a look at our page on Facilitation Skills for more.

The audience receives the presenter’s message(s).

However, this reception will be filtered through and affected by such things as the listener’s own experience, knowledge and personal sense of values.

See our page: Barriers to Effective Communication to learn why communication can fail.

The message or messages are delivered by the presenter to the audience.

The message is delivered not just by the spoken word ( verbal communication ) but can be augmented by techniques such as voice projection, body language, gestures, eye contact ( non-verbal communication ), and visual aids.

The message will also be affected by the audience’s expectations. For example, if you have been billed as speaking on one particular topic, and you choose to speak on another, the audience is unlikely to take your message on board even if you present very well . They will judge your presentation a failure, because you have not met their expectations.

The audience’s reaction and therefore the success of the presentation will largely depend upon whether you, as presenter, effectively communicated your message, and whether it met their expectations.

As a presenter, you don’t control the audience’s expectations. What you can do is find out what they have been told about you by the conference organisers, and what they are expecting to hear. Only if you know that can you be confident of delivering something that will meet expectations.

See our page: Effective Speaking for more information.

How will the presentation be delivered?

Presentations are usually delivered direct to an audience. However, there may be occasions where they are delivered from a distance over the Internet using video conferencing systems, such as Skype.

It is also important to remember that if your talk is recorded and posted on the internet, then people may be able to access it for several years. This will mean that your contemporaneous references should be kept to a minimum.

Impediments

Many factors can influence the effectiveness of how your message is communicated to the audience.

For example background noise or other distractions, an overly warm or cool room, or the time of day and state of audience alertness can all influence your audience’s level of concentration.

As presenter, you have to be prepared to cope with any such problems and try to keep your audience focussed on your message.

Our page: Barriers to Communication explains these factors in more depth.

Continue to read through our Presentation Skills articles for an overview of how to prepare and structure a presentation, and how to manage notes and/or illustrations at any speaking event.

Continue to: Preparing for a Presentation Deciding the Presentation Method

See also: Writing Your Presentation | Working with Visual Aids Coping with Presentation Nerves | Dealing with Questions Learn Better Presentation Skills with TED Talks

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What is PowerPoint: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

What is PowerPoint? This blog provides the essence of PowerPoint, a versatile presentation software by Microsoft. Discover its features, uses, and the art of crafting compelling slideshows. Whether you're a student, professional, or simply curious, explore the power of PowerPoint and learn how to create impactful presentations effortlessly.

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According to Glassdoor , a PowerPoint designer's average salary in the UK is about £37,811 annually. In this blog, you will learn What is PowerPoint, its key features, its benefits, and how to use it, as well as learn some tips for creating effective presentations.

Table of contents

1) What is PowerPoint?

2) Understanding the PowerPoint Interface

3) Key Features of PowerPoint

4) How to use PowerPoint to create a presentation?

5) Benefits of PowerPoint

6) Tips for Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations

7) Conclusion

What is PowerPoint?

PowerPoint is a versatile and popular presentation software developed by Microsoft (MS). It is a part of the Microsoft Office Suite and offers various features and tools to create visually appealing and engaging presentations. MS PowerPoint allows users to combine text, graphics, multimedia elements, and animations to convey information effectively .

Evolution of PowerPoint

Understanding the PowerPoint Interface

The PowerPoint interface provides a user-friendly environment for creating and editing presentations. Familiarising yourself with its essential components will help you navigate the software efficiently. Here's a breakdown of the MS PowerPoint interface:

1) Ribbon : The Ribbon is located at the top of the MS PowerPoint window and consists of multiple tabs, such as Home, Insert, Design, Transitions, and more.

2) Slides pane : The Slides pane is on the left side of the PowerPoint window. It displays thumbnail images of your presentation slides, allowing you to navigate and rearrange them easily. You can add, delete, duplicate, or hide slides from this pane.

3) Notes pane : The Notes pane is located below the Slides pane. It provides space for adding speaker notes or additional information related to each slide.

4) Slide area : The Slide area occupies the central part of the PowerPoint window. It displays the selected slide, where you can add and arrange content such as text, images, charts, and multimedia elements .

5) Task panes : Task panes are additional panels on the PowerPoint window's right side. They offer various functionalities such as formatting options, slide layouts, animations, etc. Task panes can be opened or closed based on your specific needs.

Understanding the MS PowerPoint interface will help you navigate the software effectively and make the most of its features. Whether you are creating slides, adding content, or applying formatting, having a good grasp of the interface ensures a smooth and productive experience .

Key Features of PowerPoint

When it comes to creating captivating and professional presentations, MS PowerPoint stands out as versatile and feature-rich software. Its array of tools and functionalities enables users to bring their imagination and ideas to life. Moreover, it also helps engage their audience effectively .

1) Slide Templates : PowerPoint provides a collection of pre-designed templates that make it easy to create visually appealing slides.

2) Slide Master : The Slide Master feature allows users to define the overall layout, font styles, and colour scheme for the entire presentation .

3) Animations and transitions : PowerPoint offers various animation effects and slide transitions to add visual interest and captivate the audience .

4) Multimedia integration : Users can embed images, videos, and audio files directly into their presentations, enhancing the overall impact .

5) Collaboration tools : MS PowerPoint allows multiple users to work on a presentation simultaneously, making it ideal for team projects and remote collaboration .

6) Presenter View : The Presenter View feature gives presenters access to speaker notes, a timer, and a preview of upcoming slides, enabling a seamless presentation experience .

These features collectively contribute to PowerPoint's versatility and make it a powerful tool for developing engaging and impactful presentations.

How to use PowerPoint to create a presentation?

Creating a presentation in PowerPoint is a straightforward process. Whether it's simple animations or explainer videos learning H ow to use PowerPoint is an extremely valuable skill. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a presentation:

1) Launch PowerPoint and choose a template or start with a blank slide.

2) Add slides by clicking "New Slide" or using the shortcut key (Ctrl + M).

3) Customise slide content by entering text and inserting visuals.

4) Rearrange slides for a logical flow by dragging them in the slide navigation pane.

5) Apply slide transitions for visual effects in the "Transitions" tab.

6) Add animations to objects in the "Animations" tab.

7) Preview your presentation by clicking "Slide Show".

8) Save your presentation and choose a format (.pptx or .pdf).

9) Share your presentation via email, cloud storage, or collaboration tools.

By following these steps, you can create a well-structured and visually appealing presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint. Remember to keep your content concise, use engaging visuals, and practice your presentation skills to deliver an impactful presentation .

Benefits of PowerPoint

1) Visual appeal : Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to create visually appealing presentations with its wide range of design tools and features. You can use templates, themes, and customisable layouts to make your slides visually engaging and professional .

2) Easy to use : PowerPoint has a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users of all levels. The intuitive tools and straightforward navigation make it easy to create, edit, and deliver presentations efficiently .

3) Flexibility : PowerPoint provides flexibility in terms of content creation. You can include various types of content, such as text, images, charts, graphs, videos, and audio files, to enhance your message and engage your audience effectively.

4) Organisation and structure : PowerPoint offers features to help you organise and structure your content. You can create multiple slides, use slide masters for consistent formatting, and arrange the sequence of slides to create a logical flow .

5) Presenter tools : PowerPoint includes built-in presenter tools that aid in delivering presentations smoothly. You can use presenter view to see your notes and upcoming slides while your audience sees only the presentation. Additionally, features like slide transitions and animations add visual interest and help you control the flow of information .

6) Collaboration and sharing : PowerPoint allows for easy collaboration and sharing of presentations. Several users can simultaneously work on the same presentation, making it convenient for team projects. You can also share your presentations via email, cloud storage, or online platforms, ensuring easy access for viewers .

7) Integration with other tools : PowerPoint can seamlessly integrate with other Microsoft Office applications, such as Word and Excel. You can import data and charts from Excel or copy and paste content between different Office applications, saving time and effort .

8) Presenter-audience interaction : PowerPoint provides features that facilitate interaction between the presenter and the audience. You can include interactive elements like hyperlinks, buttons, and quizzes to engage your audience and make your presentations more dynamic.

9) Portable and accessible : PowerPoint presentations can be saved in various formats, such as .pptx or .pdf, making them easily accessible on different devices. This portability allows you to deliver presentations on laptops, tablets, or even projectors without compatibility issues .

10) Time and effort savings : PowerPoint simplifies the process of creating presentations, saving you time and effort. The pre-designed templates, slide layouts, and formatting options enable you to create professional-looking presentations efficiently .

Unleash your creativity to deliver captivating presentations that leave a lasting impact with our Microsoft PowerPoint Masterclass – Sign up now!

Tips for Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations

What is PowerPoint Tips for creating presentations

1) Simplicity is key : Keep your slides clean and uncluttered. Use concise bullet points and simple visuals to convey your message effectively .

2) Visuals matter : Incorporate relevant, high-quality visuals such as images, charts, and diagrams to enhance understanding and engagement .

3) Limit text : Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive text on slides. Use brief phrases or keywords to communicate key points .

4) Choose legible fonts : Opt for clear and readable fonts that are easy to read, even from a distance. Maintain consistency in font styles throughout your presentation .

5) Consistent design : Maintain a consistent design theme, including colours, fonts, and layout, to create a visually appealing and professional presentation.

6) Emphasise important points : Use visual hierarchy techniques, such as font size, colour, and formatting, to draw attention to essential information .

7) Use transitions and animations sparingly : Incorporate slide transitions and animations thoughtfully, focusing on enhancing content and transitions without distracting the audience .

8) S lide notes for guidance : Utilise the slide notes feature to include additional details, explanations, or reminders for a well-prepared and confident presentation.

9) Practice and time yourself : Rehearse your presentation to ensure smooth delivery and stay within the allocated time. Practice helps you refine your content and delivery.

10) Engage the audience : Encourage audience participation through interactive elements, questions, or discussions to foster engagement and make your presentation more memorable.

By implementing these tips, you can create effective MS PowerPoint presentations that capture attention, communicate information clearly, and engage your audience effectively.

Conclusion

We hope this blog has helped you understand What is PowerPoint and how it can help you. It offers powerful features with a user-friendly interface for creating visually appealing presentations. With its tools for organising information, incorporating text and visuals, and delivering impactful content, PowerPoint is a valuable tool for beginners to communicate their ideas effectively .

Master the art of effective communication and productivity and unlock your potential with our comprehensive Microsoft Office Training – Sign up now!

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Business Jargons

A Business Encyclopedia

Presentation

Definition : A presentation is a form of communication in which the speaker conveys information to the audience. In an organization presentations are used in various scenarios like talking to a group, addressing a meeting, demonstrating or introducing a new product, or briefing a team. It involves presenting a particular subject or issue or new ideas/thoughts to a group of people.

It is considered as the most effective form of communication because of two main reasons:

Use of non-verbal cues.
Facilitates instant feedback.

Business Presentations are a tool to influence people toward an intended thought or action.

Parts of Presentation

Introduction : It is meant to make the listeners ready to receive the message and draw their interest. For that, the speaker can narrate some story or a humorous piece of joke, an interesting fact, a question, stating a problem, and so forth. They can also use some surprising statistics.
Body : It is the essence of the presentation. It requires the sequencing of facts in a logical order. This is the part where the speaker explains the topic and relevant information. It has to be critically arranged, as the audience must be able to grasp what the speaker presents.
Conclusion : It needs to be short and precise. It should sum up or outline the key points that you have presented. It could also contain what the audience should have gained out of the presentation.

Purpose of Presentation

To inform : Organizations can use presentations to inform the audience about new schemes, products or proposals. The aim is to inform the new entrant about the policies and procedures of the organization.
To persuade : Presentations are also given to persuade the audience to take the intended action.
To build goodwill : They can also help in building a good reputation

Factors Affecting Presentation

Audience Analysis

Communication environment, personal appearance, use of visuals, opening and closing presentation, organization of presentation, language and words, voice quality, body language, answering questions, a word from business jargons.

Presentation is a mode of conveying information to a selected group of people live. An ideal presentation is one that identifies and matches the needs, interests and understanding level of the audience. It also represents the facts, and figures in the form of tables, charts, and graphs and uses multiple colours.

Related terms:

Verbal Communication
Visual Communication
Non-Verbal Communication
Communication
7 C’s of Communication

Reader Interactions

Abbas khan says

October 2, 2022 at 11:33 pm

Thank you so much for providing us with brief info related to the presentation.

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February 23, 2023 at 9:45 am

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July 3, 2023 at 2:04 am

it was helpful👍

How to Make a Presentation on a Computer: Effective Guide

In our work or study, we often need a presentation to make a report, prepare a speech, present a task as completed, even to present ourselves favorably for a CV or portfolio. If you struggle with creating presentations or want to clarify or delve into some aspect of the presentation making process, then our instruction article on how to make a presentation on a computer will help to answer the main questions: What to start with? What a presentation must include? What software may be used? Where to find inspiration, cool examples and lifehacks?

Getting prepared: What to consider?

We have collected the best tips in our detailed guide on how to make a presentations more professionally so that they achieve their goals. But what do you need to consider at the very beginning?

Before opening your presentation program and adding a new slide, it’s important to answer questions that will define the composition, structure and style of your future presentation. Let’s discuss them one by one.

What is your presentation for? Here, elaborate for yourself on why you are creating the presentation, what its purpose is, what you want to change by these words or slides. Perhaps, this is the main question to ask in order to define your subsequent work.
Who is this presentation for? A lot of depends on who will see your presentation, the presentation’s structural logic, the arguments to be used and the graphic style. Before preparing the presentation, define who you viewers will be and what they expect to see on your slides.
How are you going to present? You also need to realize what is going to happen with the presentation after you finish the last slide: Will you distribute it by email and wait for a reply or will you present in person? That influences the amount of text on slides, the design and your preparation.
Are there host or client requirements for the presentation? An important point that is often forgotten. Before making a presentation, inquire what the required format is, if there are restrictions for slides or a fixed structure, how long the presentation shall take, and other organizational issues. If you check for it in advance, you will have time to comply and will be confident about your material.

Writing down ideas is an important step in making an engaging presentation

Presentation ideas and important notes can be conveniently gathered in Miro or other similar services

Basic components of a presentation

Having answered the questions above, you can proceed to the presentation preparation itself. And if you have already clicked ‘New Slide’, please wait. Don’t hurry. We have cool lifehacks for you to facilitate you further work. Let’s start with discussing the basic components of any presentation.

Structure of a presentation

Nice presentations are not created spontaneously. Talks by TED speakers are a huge work that is prepared and perfected long before they come on stage. The resulting simplicity, irony and fascination of presentations by professionals of such level are achieved owing to the perfected structure – the control of the listeners’ attention is exercised naturally and consistently. So, what do you need to elaborate to be listened to with the same fascination? 1. Basic problem What do you talk about in your presentation, i.e. , what pain, problem, statement? It is important to describe in a literally single sentence the specific problem you’re going to talk about and call to solve, so that a person who has attended or read your presentation would get solid understanding. 2. Plan of the presentation Now, compile a plan for your presentation – anything that can be used as a framework for your argumentation and scenario, you may even us the approach taught to us back in school at literature classes: exposition, developments, climax, resolution. First, define the major sections, then elaborate on your statements within each section. The beginning of your presentation is the entry point for your story and problem, here you can have an introduction and describe the subject briefly. The last slide is good for the speaker’s contact details, main idea, acknowledgements or emotional conclusion. 3. Arguments To have the audience dive into the problem and come to the decision, idea or conclusion that you need, you have to carefully choose your arguments for every item on your plan. Appropriate arguments would be facts from studies, various projects, quotes, opinions by experts, case studies (as experienced by you or other people involved). Visualized data would work well here, since it’s always easier to comprehend — as well as speaker’s experience or stories that are relatable to anyone. This helps put the audience in the particular context.

Lifehack 1: Barbara Minto Pyramid The Minto pyramid principle is an argumentation system invented by Barbara Minto from McKinsey. This system is based on a strict principle: We structure our points in the form of a pyramid and move from the basic idea, issue or problem to arguments, stating conclusions in the end of each group of arguments. This versatile approach helps structure either compelling short meetings or full-featured addresses.

Lifehack 2: Put your plan on paper Researches and empirical observations show that information on physical media is easier comprehended and structured by our brain. This also matters when you think of how to make a presentation more engaging. In the process of coming up with the plan and arguments, it’s usually easier and more efficient to deal with paper: you strike through, draw, arrange sheets in a different order and experiment — electronic environment will not pressure you to promptly compose a slide layout and perfect design, so the process will move faster.

The preparation of the text for a presentation on business or studying issues depends on your chosen purpose, as discussed above, and whether you are going to present in person or the presentation is for reading only.

If your presentation is for reading only: It is important here to have your ideas understood as accurately and correctly as possible. Therefore, work on your arguments and information visualization – diagrams, hyperlinks to supplemental materials, clearly structured text, fully covering the presentation’s subject and problem — this is what a good presentation for reading must have. Depending on the situation, such presentation may be built from a report, your portfolio, or a completed task. 2. If you are to present in person: You have 2 tools at your disposal: the text on your slides, and your speech. The basic rule is that they shall differ and not duplicate each other. Otherwise, the audience will not appreciate your work at all and will lose their focus at the 3 rd slide already. The text in the presentation should better be shortened and in separate statements, emphasizing only main points, while the conclusions and some details should be spoken out. It is most convenient to prepare it when you already have at least draft presentation – try to tell it in usual and simple words on a voice recorder. A couple of such rehearsals will help to get rid of excessive words, phrases and terms that would be challenging for you to articulate during your speech.

Visual design

The finishing touch for every presentation is its visual design. It is the design of slides that helps us hold and control the viewers’ attention, and it’s also what may put off a person and provoke mistrust. How to make a presentation look nice and sound? The points below will help with that:

Colors Choose several, like 2 or 3, harmonious colors. Typically, these are the background color, the body text color and the color for accents in headers and graphics. You can pick cool combinations with the help of some tool like Paletton.com , ColorPalettes . Example selection of a three-color scheme for a presentation

Selection of colors for the presentation, useful tools

Fonts You shouldn’t overdo the fonts, too — better limit them to 1 or 2, one for body and one for headers or accents. Pick fonts that are easy to read, like Century Gothic, Muller, Roboto, Monserrat, Oswald. Even a single font might be enough, if it has various variations: Bold, Italic, Regular, and their combinations. It can help emphasize your main points and form easy-to-read text blocks.

Google’s font selection service

Images Cool pictures in your created presentation help convey the main idea without words, create a bright visual image that will highlight your arguments. To find quality images, use stocks ( e.g. , pexels.com , unsplash.com ) or specialized services, like Popsters : if you authorize in Flickr on it, you can search for the most popular images by key queries that suit you (make sure to check the license to use).

Graphics Data visualization is the power of a presentation. Anything that can be presented visually is better to form into visual elements rather than text. To find cool templates and blanks for diagrams and plots, also use specialized services and stocks, such as Freepik , flaticon.com .

How to make your presentation look pretty

The design and formatting of presentations, as we have already found out, are a complex subject where a lot can be perceived subjectively. To avoid such an approach, assume that design has to solve a certain problem, for example, to effectively and simply get your ideas across to the listeners. The following principles may also help you throughout all the steps of presentation creation:

Express yourself briefly and point by point The clearer is your thought from a slide, the better. Try to remove excessive phrases and words at all, read it out loud to check that no meaning is lost. And, of course, add new slides, use bigger font sizes and, if necessary and the number of slides is not limited by the requirements, you shouldn’t try to fit everything in one slide.
Don’t be afraid to use a template If you have little time to prepare or you are not confident in your skills, take a presentation template and focus on working out the structure and text. Thus, you will get much more detailed and quality result. However, there’s always a chance that your template was already used by someone, so, if possible, you should customize it or work on the design by yourself.
Less is better This principle is applicable to texts, images, fonts and colors in presentations. A frequent mistake made by beginners when creating slides is to use all at once. Remember that your best beginner’s kit to help create a really stylish presentation is point-by-point narration, few same-style quality illustrations, 2 fonts and 2 to 3 colors at most.

Presentation services and software

Presentation preparation and formatting is quite a common task, which is often has to be done in a wide variety of areas. A lot of services have been developed to facilitate this task, so we are going to discuss the major ones below. They offer a convenient and simple way of creating a presentation on your computer.

PowerPoint This is, perhaps, the best-known presentation software, from the Microsoft Office suit. Therefore, it is quite natural to have a desire to know the features of how to make a presentation in PowerPoint. PowerPoint’s advantages include wide functionality, clear and user-friendly interface; newer versions, starting 2019, also use automatic tips and settings that make your work easier, for example, accelerate alignment to grid. It is distributed on a paid basis, however there’s a 1-month trial version available.

The guide on how to make a presentation in PowerPoint

PowerPoint’s initial interface

Lifehack: Check with the organization where you work or study, if they have Microsoft Office subscription available for their employees/students — quite possibly, they have.

Google Slides Google’s cloud presentations for teamwork — a convenient platform for those who work on a project in team or remotely. Google Slides has a simple interface, which is clear and easy to learn from scratch, however the set of fonts, transitions and visual elements is limited.

Keynote A standard presentation application by Apple. It offers simple and clear basic functionality similar to Google Slides. One disadvantage is platform restriction, so you’ll have to convert you presentation to PDF or PPTX to be able to open it in another program.

Canva An online platform for slide preparation with a large set of various templates that are suitable for both work and study. There are paid functions but the free functionality and set of templates are sufficient to make a nice presentation.

Prezi A website for creating animated presentations with many transitions and animation effects. It offers clear functionality and possibility to work online. Drawbacks include controversial perception that may be caused by continuous animation, the necessity to present information very briefly, limited visualization capabilities.

Where to find useful materials and inspiration?

To make your presentation interesting and engaging, your visual experience also matters, as well as the ability to quickly find a certain useful tool, get a tip or advice. We have collected for you several recommendations on where to get those.

TikTok and Instagram Social media have long become not just a place for likes and pictures but a real tool for education. The format of quick educational videos and posts more and more rapidly takes over these platforms, so TikTok and Instagram now already have many cool accounts with useful tricks, analyses, secrets and tools that are helpful in creating presentations. On TikTok, for example, this is @Thatrelatablestudent talking on how to quickly create stylish slides, useful services and lifehacks for presentation structuring, colors and fonts; and on Instagram — @deardatapostbox with her selections of tools, simple and bright ways to visualize table and data.

Accounts on presentation creation: @Thatrelatablestudent and @Nandovtwork

Slideshare The best-known presentation hosting website — you can find here presentations on very different subjects, from TED talks to educational materials and portfolios. It is useful to follow companies who are particularly specialized in presentations, to draw ideas, experience and inspiration.

Behance A website for designers that exhibits a lot of graphic works and illustrations from all over the world. It helps to develop your visual experience, find trends and ideas for presentations and interior designs.

Pinterest Perhaps, the best-known platform for inspiration. If you use a search query associated with presentations and design, you can get nice selections on various subjects, find illustrations, get inspiration from examples of working with fonts and prepare a mood board for your presentation.

Slide Bank by Bonnie & Slide The bank of free slides from the Bonnie&Slide Presentations Academy will help to find specific sample slides for numerous topics, check what similar tasks others solved in presentations, and get inspired to create effective and bright works.

Creating a nice presentation for your study, work or public talk seems an uneasy task at first glance. However, constant training, use of advices and lifehacks will provide you with the needed experience. So, now that you have all the knowledge on how to make a presentation interesting and engaging, it's time to start with the very first step. Try, experiment, present – and we’re sure you’ll be able to make cool and effective presentations on any subject.

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presentation

Definition of presentation

fairing [ British ]
freebee
largess

Examples of presentation in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presentation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing presentation

breech presentation

Dictionary Entries Near presentation

present arms

presentation copy

Cite this Entry

“Presentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presentation. Accessed 13 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of presentation, medical definition, medical definition of presentation, more from merriam-webster on presentation.

Nglish: Translation of presentation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of presentation for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about presentation

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Create a presentation

Create a presentation in PowerPoint

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Create presentations from scratch or start with a professionally designed, fully customizable template from Microsoft Create .

Tip: If you have Microsoft Copilot it can help you create a presentation, add slides or images, and more. To learn more see Create a new presentation with Copilot in PowerPoint.

Open PowerPoint.

In the left pane, select New .

Select an option:

To create a presentation from scratch, select Blank Presentation .

To use a prepared design, select one of the templates.

To see tips for using PowerPoint, select Take a Tour , and then select Create , .

Add a slide

In the thumbnails on the left pane, select the slide you want your new slide to follow.

In the Home tab, in the Slides section, select New Slide .

In the Slides section, select Layout , and then select the layout you want from the menu.

Add and format text

Place the cursor inside a text box, and then type something.

Select the text, and then select one or more options from the Font section of the Home tab, such as Font , Increase Font Size , Decrease Font Size , Bold , Italic , Underline , etc.

To create bulleted or numbered lists, select the text, and then select Bullets or Numbering .

Add a picture, shape, and more

Go to the Insert tab.

To add a picture:

In the Images section, select Pictures .

In the Insert Picture From menu, select the source you want.

Browse for the picture you want, select it, and then select Insert .

To add illustrations:

In the Illustrations section, select Shapes , Icons , 3D Models , SmartArt , or Chart .

In the dialog box that opens when you click one of the illustration types, select the item you want and follow the prompts to insert it.

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Sometimes abbreviated as PP or PPT , PowerPoint is a presentation program developed by Microsoft that creates a slide show of important information, charts, and images for a presentation. PowerPoint is frequently used for business and school presentations.

Where do you find or start PowerPoint?

PowerPoint example.
Benefits of PowerPoint.
Related information.

If you have Microsoft PowerPoint or the entire Microsoft Office package installed in Microsoft Windows, you can find PowerPoint in your Start menu .

Realize that new computers do not include PowerPoint. It must be purchased and installed before it can run on your computer.

If you do not have PowerPoint and don't want to purchase Microsoft Office to get it, you can try using Google Slides , a free online presentation program similar to PowerPoint.

If PowerPoint is installed on your computer, but you can't find it in your Start menu, use the following steps to launch PowerPoint manually:

Open My Computer .
Click or select the C: drive . If Microsoft Office is installed on a drive other than the C: drive, select that drive instead.
Navigate to the Program Files (x86) folder, then the Microsoft Office folder.
If there is a root folder in the Microsoft Office folder, open that folder. Then open the OfficeXX folder , where XX is the version of Office (e.g., Office16 for Microsoft Office 2016). If there is no root folder, look for and open a folder with "Office" in the name.
Look for a file named POWERPNT.EXE and double-click that file to start Microsoft PowerPoint.

Start PowerPoint without using a mouse

Follow these steps to launch PowerPoint without using a mouse.

Press the Windows key .
Type powerpoint .
Select the PowerPoint entry in the search results using the arrow keys and press Enter to launch the PowerPoint application.

PowerPoint example

The picture below is an example of how Microsoft PowerPoint appears, with a red description in each major area.

PowerPoint slides may contain only text, or they can include pictures, videos, or animated text and images. Text may be formatted in the same ways as Microsoft Word , with custom color, size, and font type.

While the look and feel of PowerPoint has changed over the years, the functionality has remained mostly the same.

Microsoft PowerPoint files have the file extension .ppt or .pptx .

Benefits of PowerPoint

PowerPoint provides multiple benefits to users, including:

It is widely used and considered the "standard" for presentation software. If you create a PowerPoint presentation, it's more likely to be easier for others to open and view.
It includes many optional presentation features, including slide transitions, animations, layouts, templates, etc.
It offers the option to export its slides to alternative file formats, including GIF (graphics interchange format) and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) images, MPEG-4 video, PDF (Portable Document Format), RTF (rich text format), WMV (Windows Media Video), and PowerPoint XML (extensible markup language).

Related information

How to create or add a slide in Microsoft PowerPoint.
How to insert a picture in Microsoft PowerPoint.
How to add a video to a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
How to insert a sound file into a PowerPoint presentation.
How to add or remove animations in a PowerPoint slide.
How to start and stop a PowerPoint slide show.
Microsoft PowerPoint help and support.
Software help and support.

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What are Presentation Graphics?

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Pre-requisites: Introduction to Computer Graphics

Graphics are defined as any sketch or a drawing or a special network that pictorially represents some meaningful information. Computer Graphics is used where a set of images needs to be manipulated or the creation of the image in the form of pixels and is drawn on the computer. Computer Graphics can be used in digital photography, film, entertainment, electronic gadgets, and all other core technologies which are required. It is a vast subject and area in the field of computer science. Computer Graphics can be used in UI design, rendering, geometric objects, animation, and many more.

Presentation graphics provides predefined backgrounds and simple page layouts to help in the creation of slides. These slides can be moved automatically within seconds.

Slides:

Slides mean we have text, graphics, audio clips, video clips, animations, and other effects Presentation graphics is also known as Presentation Software. The best example of presentation graphics is Microsoft PowerPoint.

In recent days we have a new presentation tool that is: our Web browser and that is for creating Web pages, like Microsoft’s FrontPage and Adobe’s PageMill.

Rules to Design Presentation:

Keep it simple: Make it simple to understand. It only contains information regarding your topic.
Correct Spelling: We have to be careful with the spelling that we have written.
Consistency: There is need to be continuous flow from one slide to another.
Don’t put too much on a Slide: Don’t write too much. just give a brief description and important points.
Use Fonts Properly: Only you can use two font styles in the presentation.
Find Your Equipment: First, you have to be confident with your topic and details about it.

Uses:

Presentation graphics programs are mainly concerned with the display of graphs and charts but now allow users to attach anything from text to animations. When Compared to other programs like Excel, PowerPoint follows a slideshow format.

Applications:

In the following areas we can use presentation software:

Google Slides
Microsoft Office
WPS Office
Photo Slideshow with Music

Advantages:

Less Cost: The cost is low to use presentation software
Logical Ideas: Tables and graphs are used to represent information then a logical order is created to give a clear idea for viewers.
Acceptability: By using this busy person can easily get an idea about the topic.

Disadvantages:

Time-taking process. It needs more time to prepare.
Data can sometimes be lost.
Errors and Mistakes can occur during design.

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What is a Presentation Program?
A presentation program is a program that helps create a slideshow that addresses a topic. Presentation programs can be used in businesses and schools for discussing a topic or for teaching. Often, the presenter uses a projector to project the slideshow up on to screen that everyone can see. Below is an example of Microsoft PowerPoint, a ...
What is presentation software?
presentation software (presentation graphics): Presentation software (sometimes called "presentation graphics") is a category of application program used to create sequences of words and pictures that tell a story or help support a speech or public presentation of information. Presentation software can be divided into business presentation ...
Presentation Software Definition and Examples
Benefits of Presentation Software. These programs make it simple and often fun to create a presentation for your audience. They contain a text editor to add your written content; they support charts and graphic images such as photographs, clip art or other objects to enliven your slideshow and get your point across crisply.
Presentation program
In computing, a presentation program (also called presentation software) is a software package used to display information in the form of a slide show. It has three major functions: [1] an editor that allows text to be inserted and formatted. a method for inserting and manipulating graphic images and media clips.
What is Presentation Software?
Presentation software is a category of application software that is specifically designed to allow users to create a presentation of ideas by stringing together text, images and audio/video. The presentation tells a story or supports speech or the presentation of information. Presentation software can be divided into business presentation ...
Computer
computer, device for processing, storing, and displaying information. Computer once meant a person who did computations, but now the term almost universally refers to automated electronic machinery. The first section of this article focuses on modern digital electronic computers and their design, constituent parts, and applications.
Computer Basics: What is a Computer?
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use a computer to type documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web. You can also use it to edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.
What Is a Presentation? Definition, Uses & Examples
What is a Presentation? A communication device that relays a topic to an audience in the form of a slide show, demonstration, lecture, or speech, where words and pictures complement each other. Why should you think of presentations as content? The beauty of content creation is that almost anything can become a compelling piece of content. Just ...
Presentation Software
Presentation software is designed to allow the user to present information in an engaging way with text, pictures, sound, and video. It is a way to communicate ideas in a powerful, organized manner. It utilizes sequences of slides that accompany a spoken presentation. The presentation may also be recorded and posted online.
PowerPoint Definition
PowerPoint is a presentation program developed by Microsoft. It is included in the standard Office suite along with Microsoft Word and Excel . The software allows users to create anything from basic slide shows to complex presentations.
What Is a Digital Presentation & How to Get Good At It
Use high-quality images: Using high-quality images is like adding a layer of delicious, rich frosting to your cake. It makes your presentation more visually interesting and helps support your key message. 3. Use consistent fonts: Using consistent fonts throughout your presentation can make it easier to read.
What is PowerPoint?
With PowerPoint on your PC, Mac, or mobile device, you can: Create presentations from scratch or a template. Add text, images, art, and videos. Select a professional design with PowerPoint Designer. Add transitions, animations, and cinematic motion. Save to OneDrive, to get to your presentations from your computer, tablet, or phone.
What is a Presentation?
A Presentation Is... A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team. A presentation can also be used as a broad term that encompasses other 'speaking engagements' such as making a speech at a wedding, or getting a point across ...
What is PowerPoint?: Introduction, Features, Uses & Benefits
PowerPoint is a versatile and popular presentation software developed by Microsoft (MS). It is a part of the Microsoft Office Suite and offers various features and tools to create visually appealing and engaging presentations. MS PowerPoint allows users to combine text, graphics, multimedia elements, and animations to convey information ...
What is Presentation? Definition, Parts and Factors
Definition: A presentation is a form of communication in which the speaker conveys information to the audience. In an organization presentations are used in various scenarios like talking to a group, addressing a meeting, demonstrating or introducing a new product, or briefing a team. It involves presenting a particular subject or issue or new ideas/thoughts to a group of people.
Computer
A computer is a machine that can be programmed to automatically carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations ( computation ). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic sets of operations known as programs. These programs enable computers to perform a wide range of tasks. The term computer system may refer to a nominally ...
How to Make a Presentation on a Computer: Effective Guide
The following principles may also help you throughout all the steps of presentation creation: Express yourself briefly and point by point. The clearer is your thought from a slide, the better. Try to remove excessive phrases and words at all, read it out loud to check that no meaning is lost.
Presentation Definition & Meaning
presentation: [noun] the act of presenting. the act, power, or privilege especially of a patron of applying to the bishop or ordinary for instituting someone into a benefice.
Create a presentation in PowerPoint
Create a presentation. Open PowerPoint. In the left pane, select New. Select an option: To create a presentation from scratch, select Blank Presentation. To use a prepared design, select one of the templates. To see tips for using PowerPoint, select Take a Tour, and then select Create, . Add a slide.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Archived from the original on October 8, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2017. Microsoft PowerPoint, virtual presentation software developed by Robert Gaskins and Dennis Austin for the American computer software company Forethought, Inc. The program, initially named Presenter, was released for the Apple Macintosh in 1987.
What is PowerPoint?
PowerPoint. Updated: 09/12/2023 by Computer Hope. Sometimes abbreviated as PP or PPT, PowerPoint is a presentation program developed by Microsoft that creates a slide show of important information, charts, and images for a presentation. PowerPoint is frequently used for business and school presentations.
what is computer
A computer is an electronic device that can accept data as input, process that data, and produce information as output based on stored instructions. It comprises input devices like keyboards and mice, a central processing unit, memory to store data and instructions, output devices like monitors and printers, and storage devices like hard disks ...
What are Presentation Graphics?
Presentation graphics provides predefined backgrounds and simple page layouts to help in the creation of slides. These slides can be moved automatically within seconds. Slides: Slides mean we have text, graphics, audio clips, video clips, animations, and other effects Presentation graphics is also known as Presentation Software.

Presentation Software Definition and Examples

Benefits of Presentation Software

Other Forms of Presentation Software

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Computer Basics - What is a Computer?

Computer Basics: What is a Computer?

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Presentation

What is a Presentation?

Why should you think of presentations as content?

The long and short of it

A general guide to presentation length:

Popular use cases for presentations…

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Presentation Examples – Short Form

Presentation Examples – Standard Form

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POWERPOINT PRACTICE 2

POWERPOINT PRACTICE 3

MASTER ACTIVITY 1

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What Is a Digital Presentation & How to Get Good At It

Short answer

Why people hate presentations (including yours)

What is the main purpose of a presentation?

What are the 2 main types of presentations?

Digital presentations (Reading presentations)

Speech presentations (Face to face)

What are the main types of digital presentations?

Business presentations

What makes a good presentation?

1. Establish trust and credibility

2. Interact with the audience

3. Tell a good story

How to create a good digital presentation?

Good presentation example

What should a presentation include?

How to start and how to end a presentation?

What are the essential building blocks of a successful presentation?

6 biggest mistakes to avoid when creating a presentation

How to design a presentation?

Where to find presentation templates?

What tools to use to create presentations?

How to give a presentation?

1. Start with a strong hook

2. Make your objectives and agenda clear

3. Leverage storytelling

4. Ask questions, use humor, give simple directions that prove a point

5. Direct the audience's attention

6. Work on the delivery

7. Add interactive elements

8. Close with a CTA

9. Leave time for a Q&A session

Create amazing digital presentations from templates