Presentation Software – SS1 Digital Technologies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Presentation software is a computer program used to show key points and visuals on digital slides while you speak to an audience. Examples are Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides and Keynote. A slide is a single page of the presentation, and a good presentation uses short text and clear pictures to help the audience understand your speech.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• State what presentation software is and name three common presentation apps.
• Identify the slide pane, placeholders and notes section of a slide.
• Choose a suitable slide layout for a given purpose.
• Apply the Rule of 6×6 and the design tips for a professional slide.
• Differentiate between transitions and animations.
• Deliver a presentation using the F5 key and Presenter View.

What is presentation software?

A teacher or a businessman may stand in front of a screen, showing pictures and text while they talk. They are using presentation software.

In the past, people used large cardboard posters to show information to a group. Today, we use “digital slides”.

Common presentation apps

1. Microsoft PowerPoint: The most famous one used worldwide.
2. Google Slides: A free version that lets you work with classmates online.
3. Keynote: The version made specifically for Apple/Mac users.

The goal of a presentation

The goal of a presentation is to show key points and visuals that help the audience understand your speech. Do not put every word you want to say on the screen.

What are the parts of a slide?

When you open PowerPoint, you do not see a long continuous page like in Word. Instead, you see a slide. Think of a slide as a single “page” in your digital flipbook.

Key parts of the interface

• Slide Pane: The small thumbnails on the left that show you the order of your slides.
• Placeholders: The dotted boxes on the main screen where you click to type your text or insert a picture.
• Notes Section: A hidden area at the bottom where you can type your “cheat sheet”, which is the things you want to say out loud but do not want the audience to see on the screen.

What are slide layouts?

Different slides have different jobs. You can choose layouts like:

• Title Slide: For the name of your topic and your name.
• Title and Content: For a heading and a list of bullet points.
• Two Content: For comparing two things (like a photo on the left and text on the right).

How do you create a professional slide?

The biggest mistake students make is putting too much on one slide. If a slide is crowded, the audience will get tired of reading and stop listening to you.

The “Rule of 6×6”

A good rule of thumb is to have no more than 6 lines of text per slide, and no more than 6 words per line.

Design tips

• Contrast: Use dark text on a light background, or light text on a very dark background. Never use yellow text on a white background.
• High-quality images: One big, clear picture is better than five small, blurry ones.
• Consistency: Use the same font and colours on every slide so the presentation looks like one single story.

What is the difference between transitions and animations?

Many people confuse these two, but they are different.

Transitions (between slides)

A transition is the “special effect” that happens when you move from one slide to the next.

• Examples: Fade, Push, Wipe or Morph.
• Tip: Keep it simple. If you use a different transition for every slide, the audience might get dizzy.

Animations (inside a slide)

An animation is a movement you give to a specific object (like a single bullet point, a title or a picture) inside one slide.

• Entrance: How the item appears (e.g., “Fly In”).
• Emphasis: How it grabs attention (e.g., “Pulse” or “Spin”).
• Exit: How it leaves the screen.

How do you deliver a presentation?

Once your slides are finished, you need to show them to your audience.

The presentation view

• F5 key: The shortcut to start your presentation from the very first slide.
• Presenter View: If you have your laptop connected to a projector, this view lets you see your “Notes” and the “Next Slide” on your screen, while the audience only sees the “Current Slide” on the big screen.

Tips for success

1. Do not read the slides: Use the slides as a guide. Look at your audience, not the screen.
2. Practise: Go through your slides at least three times before the “big day”.
3. The “Thank You” slide: Always end with a slide that says “Thank You” or “Any Questions?” so the audience knows you are finished.

Class activity

1. Design challenge: If you were making a presentation about “The History of My School”, what would you put on the Title Slide?
2. Comparison: Open a blank slide and try a “Wipe” transition and then a “Honeycomb” transition. Which one looks more professional for a business meeting?
3. Discussion: Why is it a bad idea to have text flying in from every direction with loud sound effects?

Evaluation

1. What is presentation software? Name three examples.
2. State the Rule of 6×6.
3. What is the difference between a transition and an animation?
4. What is the Notes Section used for?
5. Which key starts a presentation from the first slide?

Assignment

Describe three design tips for a professional slide. For each tip, explain how it helps the audience.