Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 in the Classroom

In this lesson, you'll learn about the File Tab, the Ribbon, Tabs, and Task Groups in PowerPoint, and what all of them do. You'll have an opportunity to explore different functions in the Task Groups using a presentation template. You'll also work with the Clipboard, Font, and Drawing groups. You'll create some basic slides and learn about different slide views. In addition, you'll explore objects on slides and how to move, resize, and delete them. This will give you a great foundation for beginning your own presentations.

In this lesson, you'll explore how to add, format, and manipulate text in PowerPoint. You'll insert text boxes; experiment with different colors, fonts, and styles; and add bullets to important information. In addition, you'll try out WordArt, which will help you add colors, patterns, and fill effects to WordArt titles. To polish up your text, you'll take a look at alignments, colors, and placements, and finish with a Spelling and Grammar Check.

Have you heard of JPEGs, GIFs, and BMPs and wondered what these letters mean? Well, wonder no more! In this lesson, you'll learn the origins and purposes of different graphic formats. You'll look at the Picture Tools and practice applying effects to pictures. Finally, you'll explore sources of clip art, and you'll see how to use options on the Insert tab to add images from digital devices. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to add all kinds of images to your presentations!

Do you enjoy drawing shapes and experimenting with fill colors? Can you think of some ways you could use shapes in a PowerPoint presentation to teach concepts in class? In this lesson, you'll continue your exploration of the Drawing group. You'll look at Shapes, Shape Fill, Outline, line and arrow styles, SmartArt, and 3-D effects. You'll have fun rotating, flipping, and distributing objects on your slides.

You might think of PowerPoint as a great way to make visual presentations in your classroom, but you can do a lot with audio, too! In this lesson, you'll discover how to locate, save, and insert sound files from the Internet. While you're at it, wouldn't it be great to customize a presentation with your own voice? You'll also learn how to record and add your own sounds and narration to a PowerPoint presentation.

Would you like to know how to play a video in a PowerPoint presentation? In this lesson, you'll explore different video formats, as well as sources of videos and motion clips. You'll learn how to insert videos using links, saved video files, and embed codes and then explore a variety of play and formatting options you can apply to videos in a slide show. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to add educational clips to your presentations!

When you've watched television or listened to the radio, you've probably noticed all the transitions broadcasters use. Transitions help people move seamlessly from one idea to the next. In this lesson, you'll learn how to make your slide show more interesting and exciting by using the many visual and auditory transitions available in PowerPoint.

Putting objects in motion is one sure way to get your students' attention! In this lesson, you'll discover how animating text and graphics in your PowerPoint shows can help you bring any show to life. You can animate objects in a PowerPoint presentation with a wide variety of motions and sounds. You'll practice animating objects and see which effects work best in your show.

Have you ever wanted to create a self-paced presentation to show students at a computer station? In this lesson, you'll create an interactive slide show that allows your students to explore information at their own pace. You'll also learn how to design a home slide with hyperlinks to as many individual slides as you need.

If you've ever given a speech, you know how helpful speaking notes are. Did you know that you can add notes to a PowerPoint presentation to help you give a talk that goes with it? In this lesson, you'll learn how to create both notes and handouts to go with your slide show. In addition, you'll practice using the Rehearse Timings and Record Slide Show options to set up a show to automatically advance. You'll see how all these tools can make presenting your shows a snap!

In the final lesson, you'll see how PowerPoint's Package Presentation for CD feature allows you to take your slide show wherever you want! You'll also learn how to email a presentation, create a video of your slide show, discover how to upload a slide show to a Web server, and present a slide show online in real time. Get ready to share your presentations just about anywhere!