Get Started with Presentation Applications: PowerPoint from Coursera

Presentation applications are an essential part of productivity at work and school. Understanding how to use presentation apps such as Microsoft PowerPoint can make you a more efficient and valuable worker.

In this mini-course, you will learn the essentials of effectively using presentation apps to work with slideshows. You will learn how to open, save, share, and print presentation files and present, record, and preview slideshows. This course will teach you how to customize presentations by using templates, images, and animations, and it will also explain how to work collaboratively with online presentations.

Throughout this short course, you will complete numerous hands-on labs to gain practical experience. Once complete, you will take a graded assessment to demonstrate your knowledge of presentation applications.

Demonstrations in this course use Microsoft PowerPoint for the web. The skills learned from PowerPoint for the web can be applied to other presentation applications, such as the desktop version of PowerPoint, Google Slides, and others.

This course is designed for beginners who want to get started with the basics of presentation applications such as Microsoft PowerPoint. It is appropriate for those looking to improve their skills with office productivity software to work more productively. Completion of this course will prepare you to work with presentation applications in an office setting.

This mini-course is one of a series of courses aimed at helping learners become more proficient in using office productivity applications.

What's inside

Syllabus

Presentation Application Basics

Presentation applications are an essential part of productivity at work and school. Understanding how to use presentation apps can make you a more efficient and valuable worker. In this module, you will learn the essentials of effectively using presentation apps to work with slideshows. You will also learn how to open, save, share, and print presentation files and present, record, and preview slideshows.

Working with Presentation Applications

In this module, you will learn how to customize presentations by using templates, images, and animations. You will also learn how to work collaboratively with online presentations.

Course Summary & Assessment

In this module, you will get a summary of the course and information on the next steps to take, and you will be tested on your knowledge of the topics covered in this course through a graded multiple-choice quiz.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers foundational elements of interacting with presentation apps

Tackles applications that are standard across industries

Provides foundational knowledge and skills

May require additional knowledge of software to apply lessons

Does not teach advanced skills or industry-specific applications

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Get Started with Presentation Applications: PowerPoint with these activities:

Read 'Presentation Zen' by Garr Reynolds

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This book provides practical advice and inspiration for creating effective presentations.

View Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation... on Amazon

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Read the book.
Take notes.
Apply the principles to your own presentations.

Compile your presentation materials

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Keeping your presentation materials organized will make it easier to prepare and deliver your presentations.

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Gather your slides.
Compile your notes.
Create a presentation outline.
Practice your presentation.

Attend a presentation workshop

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Attending a workshop can provide you with the opportunity to learn from experts and practice your skills.

Browse courses on Presentation Skills

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Find a presentation workshop.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop.
Take notes and participate in the exercises.
Apply what you've learned to your own presentations.

Four other activities

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Develop a presentation template

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Creating a presentation template will help you become more familiar with the features and capabilities of presentation apps.

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Gather inspiration and ideas.
Choose a design theme.
Add your own personal touches.

Practice giving presentations

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Regular practice will improve your comfort level and confidence when presenting.

Browse courses on Presentation Skills

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Choose a topic that you're passionate about.
Write out your presentation.
Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend.
Record yourself and watch it back.

Learn about advanced presentation techniques

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Exploring advanced presentation techniques can help you create more engaging and impactful presentations.

Browse courses on Visual Storytelling

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Find tutorials on advanced presentation techniques.
Watch the tutorials and take notes.
Try out the techniques in your own presentations.
Share your work with others and get feedback.

Create a presentation on a topic that you're passionate about.

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Putting together a presentation on a topic you care about can help you demonstrate your skills and knowledge.

Browse courses on Presentation Creation

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Choose a topic.
Research the topic.
Create a presentation outline.
Design your slides.
Practice your presentation.
Deliver your presentation.

Career center

Learners who complete Get Started with Presentation Applications: PowerPoint will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is a professional who helps organizations improve their business processes and systems. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and then develop and implement solutions that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Business Analyst by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that communicate your findings and recommendations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Consultant

Consultants help organizations improve their performance by providing advice and guidance on a variety of topics, including strategy, operations, and technology. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their findings and recommendations to clients. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Consultant by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help organizations make better decisions. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their findings and recommendations to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Data Analyst by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that communicate complex data in a way that is easy to understand.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their marketing plans and results to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Marketing Manager by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products and services. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their product plans and results to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Product Manager by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects to achieve specific goals. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their project plans and results to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Project Manager by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead and motivate sales teams to achieve sales goals. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their sales plans and results to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Sales Manager by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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Teacher

Teachers develop and deliver lesson plans to students in a variety of settings. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their lesson plans and materials to students. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Teacher by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that engage and inform students.

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Trainer

Trainers develop and deliver training programs to employees in a variety of settings. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their training materials to employees. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Trainer by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that engage and inform.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop and deliver learning materials to students in a variety of settings. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their learning materials to students. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Instructional Designer by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that engage and inform students.

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Learning and Development Manager

Learning and Development Managers develop and deliver learning and development programs to employees in a variety of settings. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their learning and development plans and results to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Learning and Development Manager by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers develop and implement human resources policies and procedures. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their human resources plans and results to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Human Resources Manager by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers plan and execute operations to achieve specific goals. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their operations plans and results to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Operations Manager by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Managers develop and implement quality assurance procedures. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their quality assurance plans and results to stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Quality Assurance Manager by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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Risk Manager

Risk Managers develop and implement risk management plans. They often use presentation applications to create presentations that communicate their risk management plans and results to stakeholders. This course may help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Risk Manager by teaching you how to use presentation applications to create clear and concise presentations that persuade and inform.

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