Happy All Hollows Eve!

[**Happy Halloween~]

Today in class we finished up our Interactive presentations, and then we had a chance to browse through each others presentations. I enjoyed all of the presentations I looked at, some of the scares really got me too!

Interactive Presentations are a great tool to use if you can't be there when the presentation will be viewed. They can help you convey information such as instructions or make for a fun experience. The best thing that I liked about this assignment was that we could use our imaginations to come up with any kind of Interactive Presentation that we wanted to. It really did open up a wide range of possibilities to look at.

Although I'm not 100% satisfied with my work for this presentation...I sure have learned a thing or two from this PowerPoint as well as all our previous assignments.

I look forward to future assignments and hope to learn lots more from this course!
--Amna

Interaction Contraption

With halloween just around the corner, Mr.Case has assigned us with the very last assignment for our PowerPoint unit. We are to create an interactive presentation that enables the audience to browse through a story, while making different choices to what happens next. Interactive presentations are great oppurunity to tell scary stories, while readers and or spectators get to choose their own fate!

I can't wait to get started!

Realization of Ignorance and Hyperlinking PowerPoint Hotlist Assignment!

So Amna Hashmi has realized her dedication to the efforts on this blog are dropping! Yes, this isn't good, thus here are some calculations she has made:

Approx. 4 weeks in a Month
= 5 Days in a school week
= 4 weeks(5days)
= 20 Days in a School Month
= Minimum 2 posts every class
= 20/2
= 10 POSTS EVERY MONTH ...At least.

...And she will try to maintain the given amount of posts above for the upcoming months throughout the school year... GANBATTE NE?

Moving on, I did really well on that PowerPoint test and hope to do just as well in the future.

Now towards today's lesson ( More like last week's lesson but I was away with on the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Trip!): Hyperlinking and viewing hyperlinks on PowerPoint.

How to create a hyperlink in PowerPoint:
Select object/text> Insert> Hyperlink...(Ctrl + K)

To view the hyperlinks you've made save the PowerPoint as a web page:
File> Save as Web page...

To use what we've learned about hyperlinks we were given the assignment of creating a PowerPoint that links to sites that we use frequently and to use that to our convenience.

Until Next Time ( Soon, Soon hopefully =p)
--Amna

[Extra!] PowerPoint [Extra!]

Our PowerPoint test is tomorrow! So this post will just be going over everything we've learned about a PowerPoint, that I haven't already posted about.

Tool bars:
Standard toolbar

[Icons from left to right]

New Blank Document: This icon allows you to open a new blank presentation in a new window.
Open: This icon allows you to open another presentation into the already opened PowerPoint document.
Save: The save button enables you to save your work at the touch (click) of a button. =D
Permission: Allows you to set restricted access to your PowerPoint
E-mail: E-mails the PowerPoint presentation to the given e-mail adress as an attachment.
Print: Allows you to print your presentation slides, however it doesn't give you as many options with printing as File>Print.
Print Preview: Enables the user to see the slide as it will look like when printed. So if you want to make sure that everything fits etc. this feature is a good tool to use.
Spell and Grammar: A feature in most if not all Microsoft applications that checks the spelling throughout your document and gives options to fix your errors.
Research: Allows you to search for the topic of your choice through either supported Reference books, Research sites, and Business or Financial sites.
Cut: The cut tool allows you to remove an object you've placed on to a slide. The good part of the cut option is that you can paste all objects you've cut back into the slide if you are needed to do so. [ Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl + x]
Copy: Allows the user to select an image and copy it to be pasted. The copy tool can create a duplicate of the object, or paste it into a different slide/place or area. [Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl + c]
Paste: Works with the cut and copy tools. Allows you to paste images you have cut from the presentation but also ones you have copied [Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl + v]
Format Painter: This icon selects the formatting from a particular text and then applies (paints) it to another part of text where we want it to be applied.
Undo: Reverses last edit to the slide
Redo: Repeats last change that was reversed
Chart: Allows you to insert different types of data-based charts into PowerPoint.
Show/Hide Grid: When clicked displays a grid on the slide. This is used to help align objects on the slide, or for consistency with the placement of objects. When clicked again the grid will be hidden.
Inset table: Allows the user to insert a table 4 rows by 5 columns. If the table needs to be larger the 'Tables and Borders' tool bar can help customize the table, from drawing the table yourself to changing colours etc.
Draw Table: This icon enables the user to draw the table or chart of their liking. It changes the cursor to a pencil that shows that you can draw out the table, and opens up the 'Tables and Borders' tool bar for customization.
Hyperlink: Allows the user to insert a URL Link into the presentation. The hyperlink allows you to link text or images to existing web pages on the internet.
Expand All: Displays the titles and body of text in one slide. Works alongside collapse.
Show/Hide Grid: When clicked displays a grid on the slide. This is used to help align objects on the slide, or for consistency with the placement of objects. When clicked again the grid will be hidden.
Colour/Greyscale: Changes all slides to be colour or grayscale based.
Zoom bar: Allows you to view the presentation at a selected percent when in 'Normal View'.
Help: Opens options within PowerPoint from which you can access the help questions and how to's. You can also search for questions you are having with PowerPoint using the Help tool.

Formating toolbar:

[Icons from left to right]

Font bar: Allows you to select a font for text on the slide.
Font Size Bar: This icon enables the user to change or choose a font size for the text on the slide.
Bold: The bold icon creates the selected text thicker to create an emphasis or give the selected text more importance.
Italic: Slants the text again to create an emphasis or importance to the selected text.
Underline: Adds an underline to the chosen text.
Shadow: Adds a shadow to uplift text off of the slide slightly.
Left Alignment: Aligns text to the right side
Center Alignment: Centers selected text
Left Alignment: Aligns text to the left of the slide.
Distributed: Distributes text evenly througout a text box.
Change text direction: Changes the text direction (vertical, horizontal etc.)
Numbering: Used to add numbering before text. Can be used when listing something, answering questions, or anything that would need text to be numbered.
Bullets: Add points before text. Good for when writing in point form. Bullet appearance can be customized.
Increase Text Size: Makes text slightly larger every time it's clicked.
Decrease Text Size: Makes text decrease in text every time it's clicked.
Decrease Indent: Changes indent size to be smaller.
Increase Indent : Changes the indent size to be larger.
Font Colour: Allows the user to change the selected font's colour.
Design Slide: Opens premade templates on the right task-pane, that can be used in a PowerPoint presentation. [Mr.Case does not reccomend these! Creating your own can do better for all presentations]
New Slide: Inserts a new slide into the presentation.
Slide Layout: Opens premade layouts or placement of slides for a user to choose from. [ Again, Mr.Case recommends to create personalized layouts.]

Drawing toolbar:

[Mr.Case has already explained this toolbar, along with the picture toolbar on the Wiki -- see link!]

Important Keyboard Shortcuts:
Blank Screen: B(Black)
Switch Pointer to Pen: Ctrl+P (In Slide Show View)
Move to Next Slide: Mouse click, right arrow key, page down
Move to Specific Slide: Enter
Insert New Slide: Ctrl + M
Print: Ctrl + P

Important How To's:
How to add an animation:
File Menu> Slide Show> Custom Animation> Select Animation from animations given> Preview> Apply.

How to create slide transitions:
File Menu> Slide Show> Slide Transitions> Select transition from transition choices> Preview> Apply.

Thats all for now! I hope I do well on my PowerPoint test~

--Amna

'Don't Hold a Cold in Your Pocket!'

I chose to do Kleenex for our Brand assignment. Having a cold made me realize the usage of the word Kleenex, and that's what made me choose Kleenex for this assignment. Ever since Kleenex the word 'facial tissue' has become really obsolete. This word has become so generalized that most people refer to any kind of tissue as a 'Kleenex'. Not only that but it's also been featured in famous dictionaries like Oxford and Webster's!

Today we all presented our chosen brands, and for the most part all the presentations were quite successful.

Some interesting facts I shared with the class about Kleenex were:

- The Kimberly Clark Corporation started the Kleenex brand in 1924, and marketed the world FIRST facial tissue.
- Before marketing the facial tissue, the same material was used in gas masks during World War I.
- Kleenex is famous for it's great ways of marketing and advertising. One of their promotions, 'The Eye Glass Tissue', was even featured in MOMA ( Museum of Modern Art)
- Kleenex also introduced the world's first paper towel, napkins, printed tissues and many more!
- Kleenex and the Kimberly-Clark Corporation own Huggies Diapers.
- Currently Kleenex is encouraging people around the world to let it out with Kleenex. They say all you need to do that is a good listener and Kleenex. To get started with 'letting it out' or learn more about Kleenex you can visit their official website : www.kleenex.com

I also picked up a lot of information from the other presenters! I found this assignment very entertaining and knowledgeable all at the same time.

I look forward to what Mr.Case has prepared to teach us next!

Branded!

One door closes another three open! Our next assignment in BTT is going to use all that we've learned about PowerPoint associating it with a specific brand. The purpose of the assignment will be to incorporate any brand into an interesting PowerPoint, while remembering Mr.Cases Rules to a successful PowerPoint presentation. The PowerPoint should not be longer than 2 minutes! If everything we've learned about PowerPoint can be used properly in this assignment there's nothing that can stop the presentations from being successful.

The Superior Powers is the Point

For the second article we were supposed to summarize I looked up an article about PowerPoint Heaven. PowerPoint Heaven is a website that wants to go beyond the normal purpose of using the program PowerPoint for presentations. Instead it focuses on using PowerPoint to create games, artworks, animations etc. At the site, many willing users work with PowerPoint to show the world that there's a lot more to PowerPoint than just presentations. Click here for the official website. Some of the PowerPoint works on that site were originally part of the Korea's PowerPoint Expert Club. Since I have a great interest in Anime, I found this animation posted by a user, Zzangdol on PowerPoint heaven, the user is part of the Korea's PowerPoint Experts Club as well, it was quite well-done. The user re-created Ayu from the Anime Kanon and Yuki Nagato from the Melacholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Check out the Video below! They've also created a game on PowerPoint called Rewrite, it has anime based characters and works as a text RPG game.

A PowerPoint Suicidal

Presentations tend to be get people nervous, however sometimes it's not only the presenter who is dreading the presentation ahead of them. Yes, we've all been there -- the PowerPoint presentation. A program that was originally designed to assist the presenter, but for most users it becomes a one-way ticket to completely killing their audiences. ''Death By PowerPoint-- By Andrew Wahl" is an article that explains how to avoid misusing PowerPoint. In this post I'll be using that article to summarize the rights and wrongs of using PowerPoint.

There's no point in putting down the program though, since the problem isn't usually PowerPoint itself, it's how effectively the user uses it to create a good presentation. One sign that points towards a successful PowerPoint presentation is the audiences reaction. If there's no reaction at all, you know you've done something wrong. The article talks about many flaws with PowerPoint, but there are 5 major points, I find that can stop you from destroying what could have been something great.

1) Boredom is the world's best silent killer
The format in a PowerPoint is usually the same. A title, and information in point form following it. Now imagine endless slides following that same format...BORING. Keep your audience entertained, switch the format around. Try putting down supporting details on one slide and a conclusion on the next slide. Changing presenters every few slides is a good idea as well.

2) Point form isn't for Essays so why right a report on PowerPoint?
Anyone can read a book or a report on the subject of your presentation. They can also read the paragraphs written on your PowerPoint for that same point, but then they wouldn't be called PowerPoint presentations would they? The focus of the audience should be on the presenter not what's written on the PowerPoint slide. Instead the PowerPoint should have points summarizing what the presenter says.

3) If you DO 'know it all' keep it to yourself.
Don't talk endlessly on ONE slide. You don't to include every tiny detail into your presentation. Only state information that is necessary and move through your presentation at a good pace. This will help keep the audience interested and result in a well-presented presentation.

4) Reading off of the slides is a Big No-no.
The PowerPoint is there to help the presenter not the other way around, and that's how it should be. If you end up reading right from the slide, the audience won't get much from the 'presentation' itself. The slides should have smooth transitions right from one topic to the next supporting what goes along with them, and before and after them.

5) Get them involved!
Interacting with your audience even before the presentation gives the presentation a good base to start with. Question and answer sessions between the presenter and the audience is always good. It shows that you know your stuff, but also it gets the audience involved. It also helps everyone remember the information being given. A good strategy to this would be, having a friend sitting in the audience that could ask questions about your PowerPoint.

The article suggests that with these 5 key points, and your own creativity, your PowerPoint can wow many and do wonders for both you and your audience.