PowerPoint
Official PowerPoint resources
Duke labs with PowerPoint
• CIT Lab (for faculty projects)
• OIT public Mac/Windows labs
• Language labs
CIT Workshops that use PowerPoint
• iPod Boot Camp
• Tools & Strategies for creating flash cards
Overview
What is it?
PowerPoint is an application in the Microsoft Office suite for Macintosh and Windows. It can be used to combine text, pictures, audio, video, animations and Web links into slides that can be displayed as part of a lecture, presentation or training session. Used well, computer-based presentations can help to present instructional materials in a clear, organized format. PowerPoint presentations can be easily archived on a course Web space for review. They can also be used to generate slides for flashcard applications, and they can be combined with audio narration to provide a self-contained lecture or instructional module for review by students outside of class or in the online setting.
Key features
- Built-in templates to create slides in a variety of different formats (e.g. title slide, slide with text and image, etc.)
- Options to include visuals such as photos, graphics and charts as well as digital audio and video
- Multiple settings for display of slide content during slide shows
- Possibility of exporting slides to image files that can be used to create flashcards in iPod format
Who uses it?
PowerPoint and similar presentation tools are widely used in business and educational settings. Instructors and students alike use them for class presentations and lectures, and PowerPoint slides are also used regularly to provide an outline for training sessions and focus groups.
How does it work?
Setup on the computer; projection out to an external display so others can see what's on the scren.
Things to consider before using PowerPoint
- You need to have administrative rights on your computer to install software, so you may need to ask your technical support staff member for assistance with this step.
- Before uploading PowerPoint files to a course Web space, it is important to make sure that any digital audio or video included in the presentation gets uploaded as well as part of the file.
Uses as an Instructional Technology
- For class presentations by students and instructors
- To prepare flashcard and other review materials
- To create narrated content summaries for longer lectures and units
Resources at Duke
- PowerPoint is available for use in the CIT Lab (for faculty projects), OIT's Public Macintosh and PC Computing Labs (locations on all campuses) and in CIT's language labs (locations on West and East campus).
- OIT's Student Technology Services offers free workshops to students on a variety of topics, including the use of PowerPoint.
- CIT's workshops on digital media production explore the use of PowerPoint to create flashcards for iPod use.
- Duke's Learning and Organizational Development offers regular workshops on PowerPoint for members of the Duke community (paid registration required).
