Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations

Microsoft PowerPoint is considered to be one of the most ubiquitous tools for corporate presentations as well as a rapid e learning authoring tool in the classroom. I have witnessed how it became part of learning and training as it replaced the need for blackboards, whiteboards and overhead projectors with acetate sheets. The user-friendly presentation software program made teaching and training a lot easier and lessons more engaging with its animation features and variety of graphics available.

I was interested in finding out if this extremely easy rapid e learning authoring tool have something more to offer than just your garden variety presentations so I researched about this application to see if we can somehow improve the way we use it.

elearning development tools

A little background. Steve Jobs jokingly (or maybe not) accused Bill Gates of stealing concepts from the original Macintosh computer. He’s right of course. And PowerPoint is just one of it. It was originally developed by Dennis Austin and Thomas Rudkin from Forethought, Inc. to be used by the Macintosh but in 1987, Microsoft acquired the company and continued to improve upon the software. This resulted to PowerPoint 97 which is pretty much close to what the present version is like. Only a few changes were made in subsequent versions.

In using the PPT, I’ve always focused on a single slide – adding text, graphics, and animation before moving on the next slide. However, it seems I was doing it all wrong. It is advisable to arrange and organize the outline of the texts first before adding graphics and animation. At the core of every presentation is the content so it’s important for a presenter to make sure the sequencing of the content makes sense.

If you can use graphs and visual elements instead of text, then do so. In a presentation, a visual representation often gives a more dynamic impact and increased retention if trainees and students can comprehend concepts visually. Having more graphics decreases the chance for boredom and let’s face it, no one likes to read that much especially on screen or on projection.

Check your text format. It’s important to choose colors that contrast with the background so that text is easily visible especially on projectors. Also, check the size of the font and don’t use anything lower than a 24 point size.

Cloud Computing as Cost Effective Training Solutions

Aside from social networking, cloud computing was another buzzword that flies around the IT industry bringing with it innovations that could determine where the next computing evolution is headed.

What the heck is cloud computing? You may ask. I’ve been talking with a couple of my friends who are in the IT field. One is working for a pharmaceutical company and the other a software outsourcing firm. The first one didn’t know what I was talking about and the second knew only the term but does not know the entire concept. Well it’s surprising to me as I’ve been suing my Google Docs for almost two years now. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that cloud computing has crept into our lives without us even realizing it. This cloud innovation blended seamlessly with the Internet that we are not aware of how applications have been migrating to this virtual place. A cloud is just another name for a remote server where applications and data are stored. While in the past, you need to install software on your computer to run program, today, you only need a browser and reliable computer to operate applications.


e learning development tools

This brings me to applications of the cloud to elearning. Elearning has been around for quite some time. In the past, cost effective training solutions like work manuals came in CD ROMs. You can learn new programming languages through programming simulations stored in multiple CDs. Since the broadband connection of the Internet allows for massive file transfers like streaming videos and audio, educators and trainers are not capable of delivering their lectures over the Internet where online learners and trainees can access their content anywhere in the world.

I marvel at this innovation and aim to use the technology even in informal or non traditional learning. Using Google Docs for example, I can collaborate with classmates in different locations through sharing my documents and worksheets. I’ve experienced learning through Moodle, an open source elearning website. Moodle is fully customizable and what’s more amazing is that it’s free for everybody.

The cloud has allowed cost effective training solutions not only for companies but for kids to learn outside the conventional brick and mortar schools. I believe that the future of elearning is already here and in the clouds.