What you really need to know before you start

: For all versions of PowerPoint. Common sense Do's and Don'ts essential to avoiding that amateur look.

A really good presentation!

 

PowerPoint : Online Training and help

Microsoft

Microsoft has a lot of really good Web pages and videos to help ease into PowerPoint 2007. Here's a pick-list:

• Commands: Cool live online guide dynamically showing PowerPoint 2002/2003 commands and where to find them in PowerPoint 2007: http://tinyurl.com/2nlc37
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 home page: http://tinyurl.com/y4qw45
• What’s new in PowerPoint 2007: http://tinyurl.com/ypwuyx: A handy listing of new features.
• Quick Refence card for PowerPoint 2007: http://tinyurl.com/6d3884
• Guide to Microsoft’s online training for PowerPoint: http://tinyurl.com/2cw8v4 Descriptions of the training modules for the application on the Microsoft site with links to go directly to them.

• Microsoft PowerPoint Online Training: http://tinyurl.com/2mnpjf Training modules with text, pictures and video segments.

• PowerPoint 2007 Demos: http://tinyurl.com/36lwxr

Some other sources

Here are some of the best links I've been able to find:

• Florida Gulf Coast University: http://www.fgcu.edu/support/office2007/PowerPoint/index.asp Another Table-of Contents guide to virtually every aspect of PowerPoint 2007. Good ones include (but are not limited to): Customizing PowerPoint, Starting a Presentation, and Tips for Presenters.
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: http://www.uwec.edu/HELP/PowerPoint07.htm. If you are just starting out with PowerPoint, you can go to their basic tutorials (under the PowerPoint Basics heading on their index page). And if you are advanced, try the tutorials under the Customizing, Diagrams, or More Features heading.
• YouTube has many videos on the new versions of PowerPoint - just search in the site.

My Presentations

I have put together presentations that I use in my workshops. It's a bit odd, I suppose, but using a PowerPoint presentation to teach PowerPoint has a certain logic to it.

If you want an overview with step-by-step instructions on building a presentation, start here: PowerPoint Text and Graphics

To make a quick slide show out of a group of photos, try Making a PowerPoint Show.

For an Introduction to Animation, this presentation outlines the types and the first steps to introducing anmation into your presentations.

 

International Characters

Here's how to type common International characters on a Windows PC or a Mac.