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Creativity Unleashed

Learn Microsoft PowerPoint.

Have you ever wanted to create your own professional presentations? In the era of digital literacy, we constantly need to present information in professional, academic, and even casual settings. Maybe you want to give a presentation to propose a new project at your job, or perhaps you want to discuss an academic topic in your classes. Whether you’re a student or a professional, creating presentations isn’t only for the pros. You can take your presentations from zero to a hundred with a few handy hacks and techniques-and we’re here to teach you how.

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Learn Microsoft PowerPoint.

Have you ever wanted to create your own professional presentations? In the era of digital literacy, we constantly need to present information in professional, academic, and even casual settings. Maybe you want to give a presentation to propose a new project at your job, or perhaps you want to discuss an academic topic in your classes. Whether you’re a student or a professional, creating presentations isn’t only for the pros. You can take your presentations from zero to a hundred with a few handy hacks and techniques-and we’re here to teach you how.

In this course, you’re going to learn everything about creating and designing presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint, from creating a simple and basic outline of slides, to designing objects, text, charts, and images at an advanced level to present your information. You’ll even learn how to create and design slides, objects, text, and graphics like a professional. You will also learn how to bring these elements into life using smooth and eye-catching animations and transitions.

Our instructor has years of experience not only in designing, but also in teaching and the expertly crafted syllabus is designed to be easy to follow and thorough. We’ve even included plenty of examples explained and created on-screen for you to study. That’s why this is the only Microsoft PowerPoint course you’ll ever need to create awesome presentations and master this software.

Start using PowerPoint today.

After taking this course, you will be able to:

  • Create slides and presentations from scratch

  • Work professionally with Microsoft PowerPoint

  • Develop slides following design principles

  • Use new tools to speed up the creation of presentations

  • Engage your audience using questions and programs such as Kahoot or Mentimeter

  • Give a coherent storytelling to your presentation

  • Differentiate and apply several design styles

  • Create carousels and background presentations

  • Create complex animated videos

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to use microsoft powerpoint and its basic functions
  • How to create slides
  • How to use the animation functions
  • Color theory
  • How to create tables, charts, and figures
  • How to use the photo, text, and object functions
  • How to insert media (videos, audio, photos)
  • Basic keyboard shortcuts
  • How to create advanced presentation designs
  • How to create casual and professional presentations
  • Ux principles
  • How to make your presentation accessible to everyone
  • How to use data analysis functions for business presentations
  • How to create digital art
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Introduction
Introduction to PowerPoint
PowerPoint Download
Interface Overview
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers UX principles, which are essential for creating engaging and user-friendly presentations that resonate with audiences
Explores advanced photo editing techniques within PowerPoint, enabling users to enhance visuals directly within the software
Teaches how to create animated videos, expanding PowerPoint's capabilities beyond static presentations into dynamic visual storytelling
Includes instruction on using external programs like Kahoot and Mentimeter to increase audience engagement during presentations
Discusses accessibility considerations, ensuring presentations are usable by individuals with disabilities, promoting inclusivity
Focuses on PowerPoint, which may not translate to other presentation software such as Keynote or Google Slides

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive powerpoint course: beginner to expert

According to learners, this course offers comprehensive coverage spanning from the basics to more advanced features of Microsoft PowerPoint. Students appreciate the clear explanations provided by the instructor, particularly praising the step-by-step approach which makes the material easy to follow. Many found it very helpful for building a strong foundation, especially for beginners. While largely positive, some feedback indicates that for learners already familiar with the software or seeking truly expert-level depth, certain sections might feel slow-paced or not sufficiently advanced. Nevertheless, the course is frequently described as a valuable resource for mastering PowerPoint for various applications, from professional presentations to design tasks.
Strong emphasis on visual design and aesthetics.
"I particularly enjoyed the sections on design principles and making slides look good."
"Learned a lot about using PowerPoint as a design tool, not just for bullet points."
"The animation and transition lessons were fantastic for making presentations more engaging."
"Great coverage of color theory and layout that improved my visual skills."
Provides useful skills for real-world use.
"I can now apply what I learned to create professional presentations for my job."
"The tips and tricks for design and animation are very practical."
"Helped me improve the quality and impact of my presentations immediately."
"The project-based examples were helpful for understanding how to use the tools."
Excellent starting point for new users.
"As a complete beginner, I found this course incredibly helpful to get started."
"Starts from scratch and builds up, perfect if you're new to PowerPoint."
"It gave me a solid foundation to start creating presentations."
"Highly recommended if you've never used PowerPoint before or only know the absolute basics."
Instructor's explanations are easy to follow.
"The instructor explains everything very clearly, making even complex topics understandable."
"His teaching style is great, I could follow along easily with the demos."
"I really liked the way he breaks down the steps."
"The lessons are well-structured and easy to digest thanks to the clear instruction."
Offers thorough material from basic to advanced.
"This course covers everything from the very basics to the more advanced features I didn't even know existed."
"I feel like I got a complete overview of PowerPoint, way more than I expected."
"Covers a lot of ground, feels like a one-stop shop for learning PowerPoint."
"The syllabus is very comprehensive and seems to cover most topics someone would need."
Pace may vary; expert level might lack depth.
"Some parts felt a bit slow, especially the beginner sections, which is understandable but worth noting for intermediate users."
"I was hoping for more in-depth coverage on the 'expert' topics, some felt a bit brief."
"The course is great for beginners, but the 'expert' part didn't quite meet my expectations for advanced techniques."
"Needed to supplement some sections with other resources to get truly advanced insights."

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 Complete PowerPoint Megacourse: Beginner to Expert with these activities:
Review Basic Design Principles
Reinforce your understanding of basic design principles to create more visually appealing and effective PowerPoint presentations.
Browse courses on Design Principles
Show steps
  • Read articles or watch videos on design principles like balance, contrast, and hierarchy.
  • Analyze existing PowerPoint presentations, identifying good and bad design choices.
  • Practice applying design principles to sample slides.
Review 'Presentation Zen' by Garr Reynolds
Learn to apply Zen principles to your PowerPoint designs for clarity and impact.
Show steps
  • Read 'Presentation Zen' and take notes on key concepts.
  • Identify examples of Zen principles in existing presentations.
  • Redesign a sample presentation using Zen principles.
Review 'Slide:ology' by Nancy Duarte
Study the principles of visual storytelling and slide design to create more persuasive presentations.
Show steps
  • Read 'Slide:ology' and identify key takeaways.
  • Analyze presentations based on Duarte's principles.
  • Apply the principles to your own presentation designs.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Presentation on a Topic of Your Choice
Apply the skills learned in the course by creating a full presentation from scratch, incorporating design principles, animations, and transitions.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic that interests you.
  • Outline the key points you want to cover.
  • Design visually appealing slides using PowerPoint's features.
  • Incorporate animations and transitions to enhance engagement.
  • Practice delivering the presentation.
Recreate Advanced Animation Techniques
Master advanced animation techniques by replicating examples from the course, focusing on trigger buttons and multiple animations.
Show steps
  • Select a complex animation example from the course.
  • Break down the animation into individual steps.
  • Recreate the animation in PowerPoint, paying attention to timing and effects.
  • Experiment with variations of the animation.
Create an Interactive Quiz in PowerPoint
Build an interactive quiz using PowerPoint's features, incorporating buttons, logic, and feedback mechanisms.
Show steps
  • Plan the quiz questions and answers.
  • Design the quiz slides with clear instructions and answer options.
  • Use hyperlinks and trigger buttons to create interactive elements.
  • Implement feedback mechanisms to provide immediate results.
  • Test the quiz thoroughly.
Design a Presentation Template for a Specific Industry
Develop a reusable PowerPoint template tailored to the visual style and content needs of a particular industry, such as healthcare or technology.
Show steps
  • Research the visual preferences and branding guidelines of the chosen industry.
  • Create a master slide with consistent fonts, colors, and layouts.
  • Design a variety of slide layouts for different content types.
  • Test the template with sample content.

Career center

Learners who complete Complete PowerPoint Megacourse: Beginner to Expert will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Presentation Designer
A presentation designer creates visually compelling and effective presentations for various purposes. This role requires a strong understanding of design principles, software proficiency, and the ability to translate complex information into engaging visuals. A course on PowerPoint, which covers a wide range of topics from basic slide creation to advanced animations, helps build a solid foundation for this career. This course specifically teaches the creation of professional slides using design principles and also discusses accessibility, all of which are important skills for a presentation designer.
eLearning Developer
An elearning developer creates online courses and interactive learning materials. This career requires skills in visual design, presentation, and multimedia integration. The course teaches how to create professional presentations, and in addition, it covers how to use animations, transitions, and interactive elements, all of which are useful to an elearning developer. The course also teaches the use of design principles to create content that engages learners, which is a key need for an elearning developer. Additionally, this course includes material on the use of programs like Kahoot and Mentimeter.
Public Relations Specialist
A public relations specialist manages the public image of an organization or individual through communications, media relations, and other strategies. Creating impactful presentations is critical when communicating with stakeholders. Since this course teaches how to create professional presentations from scratch, including using design principles, animations, and data presentation, a public relations specialist may find this course very useful. This course also covers creating accessible presentations for a diverse audience, which is vital for this role.
Instructional Designer
An instructional designer creates learning experiences that are both engaging and effective. This role involves designing courses, training materials, and interactive learning content. A course covering PowerPoint is a useful tool for this task, as it covers design principles, slide creation, animation, the use of images and video, and overall visual communication. An instructional designer may use these skills to create visually appealing training modules that enhance the learning experience of their audience. The course’s lessons on storytelling may also be valuable.
Training Specialist
A training specialist develops and delivers training programs to educate employees or clients on various topics. This role requires excellent presentation skills, including the ability to create visually engaging and informative materials. This course offers a complete approach to creating presentations, teaching not only how to make slides but how to use elements such as charts, colors, and animations. For a training specialist, the course may also be useful for learning how to create engaging content for interactive sessions, a feature which will enhance their teaching abilities.
Academic Instructor
An academic instructor teaches courses and presents lectures in academic settings. This course, which offers a complete guide to creating presentations, may be useful to an academic instructor. This is because it teaches the creation of effective presentations, including how to use animations, transitions, and custom designs. The course also covers how to create engaging and accessible content, all of which are useful for instructors when creating effective lectures and educational materials. The course also teaches story-telling, a skill essential for an academic instructor.
Consultant
A consultant provides expert advice to organizations, often needing to deliver presentations to clients. The course on PowerPoint is helpful, as it covers creating effective presentations from scratch, using design principles, and incorporating engaging content. It also provides instruction on data visualization and storytelling, which are valuable for a consultant when communicating their analysis and recommendations. The course’s emphasis on how to use complex animations and transitions may also be useful for the consultant.
Business Analyst
A business analyst analyzes data and business processes to identify areas for improvement. They present their findings to stakeholders using presentations. Since this course fully covers creating detailed and professional presentations, this would be a helpful course for a business analyst. It teaches the use of charts, graphs, and data analysis functions within PowerPoint, which are valuable for a business analyst when presenting data-driven insights and recommendations. This course teaches how to tell coherent stories with presentations, a useful skill in business analysis.
Marketing Specialist
A marketing specialist develops and executes marketing campaigns to promote products or services. They often use presentations to communicate their strategies and results to clients or stakeholders. This course on PowerPoint teaches skills in creating visually compelling presentations, which may be useful in this role. The course also covers creating slides that follow design principles, using animation, and incorporating engaging elements such as charts and graphics, all of which are valuable for a marketing specialist when creating reports and presentations.
Sales Representative
A sales representative presents products or services to potential clients. Strong presentation skills are essential for this role. This course on presentation design will help the sales representative create captivating presentations, including the use of animations, text, objects, graphs, and charts. The course teaches how to convey information effectively through visuals and storytelling, which can help a sales representative to pitch their offerings in a persuasive way. The course may also offer valuable insights into creating engaging presentations that capture the audience's attention.
Project Manager
A project manager oversees projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. They regularly communicate project updates to stakeholders, often using presentations. This course provides training in creating professional presentations with animation, charts, and graphs, which will be useful to a project manager when conveying project progress, risks, and plans. The course’s emphasis on storytelling may help this professional communicate complex information clearly and concisely.
Technical Writer
A technical writer creates documentation to explain complex information in a concise and understandable way. Though technical writing is distinct from visual presentation, this course may be useful to a technical writer who sometimes presents information to stakeholders. The course includes material on how to use animations, transitions, and visual aids, which a technical writer may find useful when presenting at conferences or workshops. The course also covers creating accessible presentations, which may be useful to technical writers.
Digital Marketer
A digital marketer designs and executes online marketing campaigns. While this course does not directly address digital marketing, this course may be useful to a digital marketer who must present reports or proposals to clients and stakeholders. This course on PowerPoint teaches how to create engaging presentations using charts, graphs, images, text, and animation. The course also covers design principles, which will help a digital marketer create visually appealing presentations that are also effective.
Content Creator
A content creator produces various forms of media, including video, for online platforms. While this course is about PowerPoint, and not traditional video editing programs, this course may be useful to a content creator who wishes to use PowerPoint to create animated videos and other visual content. The course teaches how to use animations, transitions, and interactive elements, which may be useful in the development of this content. The course also covers design principles, which are useful for a content creator to understand.
Graphic Designer
A graphic designer creates visual content for many different mediums, including presentations. A course like this may be useful for a graphic designer to improve their skills in presentation software. This course covers design principles, color theory, use of text, editing of images, and animation, all of which are helpful for a graphic designer when working with presentations. The course also goes into specific detail about the use of PowerPoint as a design tool, including creating custom design elements.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Complete PowerPoint Megacourse: Beginner to Expert.
Emphasizes simplicity and clarity in presentation design, aligning perfectly with the course's focus on effective communication. It provides a framework for creating visually engaging and memorable presentations. Reynolds advocates for a minimalist approach, encouraging presenters to focus on the core message and eliminate unnecessary clutter. This book valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their presentation skills and create impactful slides.
Delves into the art and science of creating compelling visual presentations. It provides a structured approach to designing slides that resonate with audiences. Duarte emphasizes the importance of storytelling and visual communication. This book is particularly useful for understanding how to craft a narrative through your slides and create a lasting impact.

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