PowerPoint was first created by the software company Forethought. Microsoft then acquired PowerPoint for $14 million. Interestingly, PowerPoint was originally created for macOS as a way to design overhead transparencies.
The first recognizable form of PowerPoint was designed to be used for graphics and visual presentations. However, today the possible applications of the program are much greater.
What Is PowerPoint?
PowerPoint is a program used by individuals and businesses to create presentations. In it, users can create slides featuring charts, images, and text. Together, these slides can convey a complete idea and provide the viewer with new information.
What Is PowerPoint Used For?
PowerPoint is used to create thoughtful presentations and has many tools and features to help the user achieve this goal. Below are some of the primary uses of the software.
- Present data. In PowerPoint, you can present information using text, diagrams, images, shapes, and transitional effects. This data is usually in the form of a series of slides.
- Edit pictures. You don’t have to use a third-party software to edit your pictures. Just head over to the picture editing tool in PowerPoint to make necessary changes.
- Collaborate. When working as part of a team, use the collaboration feature on PowerPoint to design slides simultaneously with your teammates. This will help streamline the process and save time.
- Create a digital portfolio. PowerPoint can also be a cool way to present your portfolio of work. Once you have included the relevant graphics and images, you can publish your portfolio online at slideonline.com.
- Create a slideshow. When entering the main office building of a company or organization, you will sometimes see a photo slideshow providing information about the company. PowerPoint is great for creating these basic slideshows.
- Add audio/video files. If your presentation includes audio or video files, you can easily insert them into your slides. You can also create transitions so the slides change according to the audio.
Types of PowerPoint Slides
PowerPoint slides can be split into three main parts. Choosing the parts helps define the purpose of each slide.
Title Slides
The title slide is the first slide you will see in a presentation. It contains a title box, where you can write the name of your project, and a smaller box on the bottom where you can write the name of the presenter. Title slides only appear at the beginning of a presentation. You can also add a date or subtitle to the slide.
Standard Slides
Standard slides make up the meat of the presentation. Most of your slides will follow the standard format, which includes a title and body text to elaborate on the topic you are going to cover in that slide. You can also add images and graphics.
Miscellaneous Slides
These slides can be in the form of a table of contents, two-column comparisons, a video or audio clip, or a mixture of text, video, and other features. You can scroll through a whole library of miscellaneous slide layouts to choose the ones that fit your needs.
Learning PowerPoint
Learning PowerPoint is an exciting process. Whether you are planning a presentation for school, college, or work, PowerPoint is a great Microsoft Office tool.
Luckily, to learn PowerPoint, you don’t need to enroll in a formal college course. Taking short online or in-person PowerPoint courses will suffice. You can even learn this skill by watching a few hours of YouTube tutorials.
How Long Does It Take to Learn PowerPoint?
If you are a beginner, it can take between three and four hours to learn the basics of PowerPoint. Then, you’ll be ready to create engaging presentations.
How to Learn PowerPoint Presentations: Step-by-Step
This step-by-step guide will help you begin your journey toward mastering PowerPoint.
- Purchase PowerPoint. The first step in learning PowerPoint is to download the program. You can either purchase it as part of the Microsoft 365 package if you want to learn Microsoft Office or purchase Microsoft PowerPoint as an individual program.
- Choose a design. Once you download the program, open it to create your first presentation. Go to the design tab on top of the application and select from the provided themes.
- Create slides. Now you can start creating slides. Practice with title, standard and miscellaneous slides to get an understanding of how the program works.
- Add charts, images, and graphs. Go to the insert tab if you want to add photos, clip art, shapes, or charts. You can also apply animations to your graphics using the animations tab next to the design tab.
- Save your file. After you are happy with what you have created, save your file as a .pptx file.
- Present. To review or present your slides, click on the slide show button at the top and select “from beginning” or “from current slide.” Alternatively, you can also click on the slide show icon on the left of the zoom bar in the bottom left corner of the screen.
The Best PowerPoint Courses and Training
Here are some of the best PowerPoint courses to help you get an overview of how the program works. Through these courses, you will gain a thorough understanding of PowerPoint.
Best Online PowerPoint Classes
Below are some online PowerPoint classes that you can enroll in at any time.
Coursera
- Course: Effective Business Presentations with Powerpoint
- Where: Online
- Time: 11 hours
- Prerequisites: PowerPoint software
- Price: $39 to 79 per month
This course will teach you how to structure the information in your PowerPoint presentation. You will learn the principles of design behind effective visuals. It also includes hands-on exercises where you will be asked to create a presentation based on information provided about a client and a business problem.
Udemy
- Course: Microsoft PowerPoint – PowerPoint from Beginner to Advanced
- Where: Online
- Time: 13 hours
- Prerequisites: PowerPoint software
- Price: $116
This course will give you a complete overview of Microsoft PowerPoint from beginner to advanced concepts. You will learn tips that will help you create slides using shortcuts. Advanced animations, speaker notes, and image modifications are also covered in the course. Students will also learn how to record narrations, and how to record the presentation on your screen.
Udemy
- Course: Ultimate Guide to Microsoft PowerPoint for All Levels
- Where: Online
- Time: 6 hours
- Prerequisites: PowerPoint 2007 or later
- Price: $116
This course will provide you with all the information you need to start making your own presentations. Students will learn how to design themes and styles for their slideshow. The class also teaches how to use a quick access toolbar and keyboard shortcuts. Transitions, animations, and video upload processes are also covered in this course.
Best Free PowerPoint Courses
Below are some of the best free PowerPoint courses offered online.
Udemy
- Course: Powerpoint Presentation – design PowerPoint slides
- Where: Online
- Time: 1 hour
- Prerequisites: PowerPoint software
- Price: Free
This quick and effective course will teach you how to create quality presentations. You will learn useful tips and tricks to organize your content into compelling slides.
- Course: PowerPoint
- Where: Online
- Time: Self-paced
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
These free courses on LinkedIn are great for learning PowerPoint at the beginner or intermediate level. You will learn how to design engaging presentations and how to add and edit images. This series of courses will also teach you how to apply shortcuts and advanced techniques to make your work exceptional.
Alison
- Course: Microsoft PowerPoint 2010
- Where: Online
- Time: 4-5 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
This free online course will guide you through the features and tools of PowerPoint. You will learn how to create strong presentations using techniques such as chart customization, adding text to images, and keyboard shortcuts.
Bright Carbon
- Course: PowerPoint training
- Where: Online
- Time: 4 weeks
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
This course will help you focus on visuals. For example, you will learn how to replace bullet points with visuals. This four-week course features tutorials that will help you make your presentations more visual. You will learn how to format shapes and use advanced animation techniques.
Best PowerPoint Books
The PowerPoint program has many unique features. Below, you will find a variety of books that will help you learn everything from beginner to advanced techniques.
Office 365 All-in-One For Dummies, Peter Weverka and Timothy L. Warner
This handbook offers tools and features to enhance your productivity while using PowerPoint. It will help you learn how to navigate through the program and make the most out of its features.
In addition to PowerPoint, this book also covers Microsoft Word and Excel. As an individual or a business owner, this can come in handy for all your Microsoft Office suite needs.
PowerPoint Basics In 30 Minutes, Angela Rose
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
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This short guide will teach you all the basics of building a presentation. You will learn how to work with pre-made PowerPoint templates, and how to create custom layouts, fonts, and designs to fit your personal or corporate image.
In this book, you can also learn how to create animations, shapes, graphs, and smart art. As an added bonus, it also covers PowerPoint’s collaborative features and proofreading tools for peer review.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 Step by Step, Joan Lambert
This guide is designed to help you practice the newer features of PowerPoint. This book covers content creation for both online and print presentations. Using the tips in the book, you will be able to incorporate professional design elements into your presentations.
Furthermore, it also covers how to add video and audio elements to your slides. Diagrams, tables, smart art, and charts are essential in creating appealing presentations. This book covers all the important elements in a step-by-step guide.
Best PowerPoint Certifications
Getting certified will validate your expertise in a certain field. Below is a PowerPoint certification that will help you get hired.
Microsoft Office Specialist: PowerPoint Associate
This certification from Microsoft certifies your proficiency in PowerPoint. It demonstrates that you know how to use the software to create, edit, and produce presentations.
To be eligible for this certificate, you must have at least 150 hours of hands-on experience with the program. In addition, you should be able to complete the required tasks independently and demonstrate the correct application of PowerPoint’s tools and features.
Best Online PowerPoint Resources
Many websites and organizations provide free and paid online resources on PowerPoint. Below are some of our top picks.
Speckyboy
Specky boy offers some of the best PowerPoint tutorials, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. They cover concepts such as animation, funnel diagrams, and decision trees.
Other tutorials cover more unique functions, such as how to create a puzzle diagram or a poster in PowerPoint.
EnvatoTuts
Besides offering a library of images, pictures, and animations, Envato also has useful advice on a variety of tech topics. This beginner’s guide to PowerPoint will help you get started. The guide includes a free ebook covering all aspects of PowerPoint.
In the guide, you will learn how to use PowerPoint ribbons, and other tips to make your presentations stand out.
HubSpot
HubSpot is one of the best tech resources around. In this PowerPoint guide, you can find creative ways to make your presentations unique. Don’t follow the norm. Instead, bring an edge to your work by showing your own innovative style.
The website also offers access to three free templates that you can work with.
Should You Study PowerPoint?
Knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 is an essential skill. According to a study on the use and evaluation of presentation software, Microsoft PowerPoint was considered the market leader among all presentation programs.
Many jobs require PowerPoint skills. Some of these include graphic designers, executive assistants, marketing assistants, teachers, and office managers. Even entrepreneurs use PowerPoint to pitch their ideas and proposals.
So, studying PowerPoint is a simple way to make your office skill set more well rounded. Choose one of the courses or resources above and get started presenting.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
