Helpful Hints for Using PowerPoint®
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Working with PowerPoint

Remember the ‘Billboard Rule’ - they have to be able to get the message off the slide in 2-4 seconds

You put words on the screen to REINFORCE what you say – not to give them required reading. 
NEVER make them choose between listening to you and reading the screen.

Make it easy to read
- I generally use between 36-60 point size font – NEVER less than 24 point
- Aim for the highest contrast between text and background that you can achieve
- Remember – it will never look as clear on the projection as it does on your screen.
-  Dark print on a light screen will be easier to read than the reverse in a room with a high light level.

Why I use photographs
- They are more interesting and modern looking than most other options
-They are more graphic – particularly if I use a photograph that supports the words on the screen. 
Examples –
A mountain to background a message about goals, a clock to background a message about time management, hands passing a relay baton to background a message about teamwork

Don’t overuse the options in PowerPoint. Be careful with
- Slide Transitions (how each slide appears); use one style unless you have a good reason to change
- Builds (how the words appear); same rule as for slide transitions

Build up your message gradually to stop them reading ahead

Dim the words as new words or phrases appear – but make them still readable for the slower ones to take notes

Don’t’ spoil the ‘magic’
- Toggle the projected image off if you need to do any adjustments (Function + F5)
- Have a title slide as your last slide

Have both screens active so you don’t need to turn your back to the audience to read off the screen.

Turn your screen saver OFF.

Use the 'b' or '>' key to occasionally blank the screen and force the audience to look at you.

Have a cheat-sheet with the number of key slides so you can jump forward (or back) instantly if you need. Simply key in the slide number and hit ‘enter’.

Keyboard Controls in PowerPoint 'slide show' mode
During the slide show, the keyboard offers you many more controls than just clicking to the next slide

b

Makes the screen go black. In animated slide shows: pauses the show. (Hit ‘b’ or ‘>’ to restart)

n

In normal slide show: advances to the next slide In animated slide show: (If paused) recommences animation; (If stopped) advances to next slide & recommences animation

p

In normal slide show: reverts to the previous slide. In animated slide show: reverts to previous slide (or part of slide) and pauses animation. (Restart with ‘n’ or ‘p’)

s In animated slide show: freezes animation (hit ‘s’ again to restart)
w

Makes the screen go white. In animated slide shows: pauses the show. (Hit ‘w’ or ‘<’ to restart)

<

Makes the screen go white. In animated slide shows: pauses the show. (Hit ‘<’ or ‘w’ to restart)

>

Makes the screen go black. In animated slide shows: pauses the show. (Hit ‘>’ or ‘b’ to restart)

Page Up In normal slide show: reverts to the previous slide
Page Down In normal slide show: advances to the next slide
Home In both normal and animated slide shows: goes to first slide
End In both normal and animated slide shows: goes to last slide
Esc Takes you out of slide show mode back to the previous mode.
Enter
Space Bar
L Mouse button

à
â
In both normal and animated slide shows: goes to next slide (or part of slide)
ß
á
In both normal and animated slide shows: reverts to previous slide (or part of slide)
R Button Shows Index (Hit R button again or Esc to take it away)

Slide # + Enter

In both normal and animated slide shows: goes directly (forward or back) to that slide.

© 2002 Kevin Ryan
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