Presentation Skills in the Classroom

Presentation software offers a motivating and comprehensive way for students to demonstrate their learning by creating a slideshow. A slideshow presentation is a formal display of information organized onto slides to show or explain a concept to an audience. Students apply technology skills to arrange text, pictures, diagrams, graphs, sound, and video onto slides. Animations and transitions can be included to add interest to the show. A presentation can act as a visual aid during a lecture or speech. In Microsoft PowerPoint, the presentation file can also be viewed as a kiosk, video, web page, or handout.

Students can learn presentation skills by completing a variety of projects.

slideshow speech book report illustrated story

collage post card timeline advertisement

graphic organizer animated cartoon strip digital art gallery interactive map

interactive quiz collaborative debate

When selecting a product you want students to create using a presentation program it is essential to determine the technology skills that are required. In addition, you must consider the students’ grade level and previous computer experience prior to selecting a task. Presentation skills can be grouped into basic and advanced levels of difficulty.

Basic Presentation Skills:   insert text into a placeholder format text: font, style, size, and color select a slide layout apply a slide design customize the color scheme customize the font scheme apply a background to a slide insert and format WordArt insert and format clip art insert and format picture draw and format shapes scale, move, and rotate objects spell check a presentation play the slideshow apply transitions apply simple animations print a slideshow as a handout create speaker notes

Advanced Presentation Skills   save a slideshow as a web page save a slideshow as a kiosk create a slide master display information in a graphic organizer insert and format tables narrate a slideshow set slide timings insert video or audio and adjust settings add action buttons group and align slide objects sort slides in Slide Sorter view use screen navigation tools use the pen during a presentation apply custom animation customize headers and footers add screen tips bookmark a location on a slide create a hyperlink to a bookmark

Integrate presentation technology skills into curriculum to create meaningful learning experiences for your students. Presentations are a creative and relevant way to hook students’ interest as they demonstrate their knowledge using multimedia.