MICROSOFT 365 (OFFICE): POWERPOINT
"The world is a global village and all of us are its citizens"
-Steve Jobs

There has not been any day when the impact of digitalization has not been felt and there is hardly any sector that has not seen the need or felt the impact of digitalization. Sectors such as education, medicine, engineering, science and technology, arts, business among other sectors have felt and seen the need and impact of digitalization. Digitalization has helped to improve the effectiveness of man, provide job for man and save time, resources and energy for man.
In as much being aware of digitization is important, it is not enough to be aware alone; it is imperative that one should have a digital skill.
Microsoft corporation have been in the forefront of digitalization. With the Microsoft 365 (Office) packages including; PowerPoint, Excel, Word etc. have been very useful in all industries. Due to the importance of the Microsoft 365 packages, institutions both private and public, employees and employers of labour are mandated to learn how to use them.
The Microsoft 365 Packages have created jobs, enhanced productivity, reduce workload, saves time and allow work to be done conveniently and easily.
Today, I would talk about PowerPoint extensively and in subsequent articles, I would explain other packages.
What is PowerPoint?
PowerPoint is a graphical presentation software created by Microsoft. It offers functionalities and features that makes it a popular choice for conveying information effectively both for individuals and professionals.
The main aim of creating a PowerPoint Presentation is for effective conveyance of information. The entire design and build-up of PowerPoint allows information to be communicated from the sender (a presenter) to the receiver (an audience).
PowerPoint has many advantages that makes it an excellent presentation software. We will discuss ten (10) reasons why it is advantageous.
Advantages of using PowerPoint
1. Visual appeal and aesthetic design: With a vast array of design templates, colour schemes and graphical elements, PowerPoint allows you to add visual appeal to your slides. This visual enhancement can captivate your audience’s attention and make your presentation more engaging.
2. Easy to use and Accessible: PowerPoint is known for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users of all kinds and any level. Its intuitive design and straight-forward navigation enable users to create presentation easily and efficiently. Moreover, PowerPoint is compatible with various operating systems ensuring broad accessibility across different devices.
3. Efficient Information Organization: PowerPoint has the capability to organise information effectively. With features like bullet points, numbered lists and hierarchical structures, you can present your ideas in a logical and organised manner. This helps your audience understand and retain the information more easily.
4. Enhanced Audience Engagement: PowerPoint offers various features to enhance audience engagement during presentations. Animations, transitions and multimedia elements can make your slides dynamic and captivating.
5. Versatility and Compatibility;
a) Support for various media formats: PowerPoint provides support for a diverse range of media formats, allowing you to incorporate different types of content into your presentations. You can seamlessly integrate images, videos, audio clips, and charts, enhancing your slides visual appeal and interactivity. You can create engaging and immersive presentations that resonate with your audience by leveraging these multimedia elements.
The ability to incorporate various media formats in PowerPoint allows you to leverage different modes of communication. Visual elements, such as images and charts, can help illustrate complex concepts or data, making them more understandable and memorable. Videos and audio clips, on the other hand, can add a dynamic and interactive element to your presentation, allowing you to deliver information in a more engaging and captivating way.
b) File conversion and sharing Options: PowerPoint Presentations can be easily converted to different file formats, offering flexibility in sharing and distribution. Whether you need to share your presentation with colleagues, clients, or a wider audience, PowerPoint enables you to save your slides in formats such as PDFs, video files, or even images. This versatility ensures that your presentation can be accessed and viewed on various devices and platforms, making it convenient for your audience to engage with your content.
Converting your presentation to PDF format can be particularly useful when you want to share a finalised version of your slides while preserving the formatting and layout. PDF files are widely compatible, allowing anyone to view them using a PDF reader without the need for specific presentation software.
6. Collaboration and Sharing Options: Multiple users can work on a presentation at the same time, making it ideal for team projects or group presentations. With cloud storage and sharing platforms, such as OneDrive or SharePoint, you can share your PowerPoint Presentations with others, enabling seamless collaboration and feedback exchange.
7. Multimedia Integration: Incorporating multimedia elements is a breeze with PowerPoint. You can easily insert images, videos and audio clips into your slides, making your presentation more dynamic and engaging. Visual and auditory aids can significantly enhance the audience's understanding and retention of information.
8. Presenter Support and Notes: PowerPoint offers several features to support presenters during their delivery. The presenter view provides a helpful tool for managing your presentation, displaying speaker notes, and previewing upcoming slides. You can also add speaker notes to individual slides, ensuring that you don't miss any crucial points during your presentation.
9. Professionalism and Credibility: PowerPoint's professional look and vibes contribute to the overall credibility of your presentation. The polished design and layout options help create a sense of professionalism, which can enhance your message's impact. By using PowerPoint, you can convey your ideas with authority and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
10. Convenient and time saving: PowerPoint features makes it convenient to use and time saving.
Limitations of PowerPoint
Accessibility Challenges: PowerPoint Presentations may pose accessibility challenges for individuals with disabilities. Issues such as small font sizes, lack of alt text for images, or inadequate colour contrast can make it difficult for visually impaired or hearing-impaired individuals to fully engage with the content. It's important to follow accessibility guidelines and make accommodations to ensure inclusivity.
Dependency on the Presenter: PowerPoint Presentations often rely heavily on the presenter's ability to deliver the content effectively. A presenter who lacks public speaking skills or fails to engage the audience may negatively impact the overall effectiveness of the presentation. Developing strong presentation skills and practising delivering your presentation is important to ensure a successful outcome.
Not suitable for all presentation types: While PowerPoint is a versatile tool, it may not be the best choice for all presentation types. For instance, highly technical or data-heavy presentations may require more specialised software or tools that offer advanced data visualisation capabilities. It's important to assess the specific requirements of your presentation and choose the appropriate tool accordingly.
Tendency for boring presentation: PowerPoint Presentations have earned a reputation for being boring if not designed and delivered effectively. The reliance on bullet points and text-heavy slides can result in a lack of variety and engagement. It's important to employ storytelling techniques, incorporate multimedia elements, and vary the presentation format to keep the audience interested and attentive.
Copyright and Intellectual property concern: When using images, videos, or other media in PowerPoint Presentations, it's essential to respect copyright and intellectual property rights. Failure to obtain proper permissions or give proper attribution can lead to legal issues. It's crucial to use licensed or royalty-free media or obtain explicit permission from copyright holders before including them in your presentations.
To learn more about the Advantages and Limitations of PowerPoint, visit https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com
Applications of PowerPoint
PowerPoint is used in all spheres of life. However, we would look at few places where PowerPoint is used;
1. PowerPoint in Education
Teachers can use PowerPoint to teach subjects lessons and chapters of books. They can create or delegate to produce a complete presentation of a book. It gives the opportunity to the teacher to cover a topic in the different slides.
2. PowerPoint in Business
Business is all about creating a plan, marketing strategies, execution, and making methods to follow and integrate. PowerPoint helps people in business to create a plan, structure related to the business or organization.
3. PowerPoint for Housewives
Housewives can easily invest their time in learning PowerPoint presentations. They can create slide shows in which they can generate numbers, calculations, alphabets, or all kinds of lessons they want to teach their kids in slideshows.
4. PowerPoint for Job Seekers
Through PowerPoint, job seekers can create digital resumes or multimedia resumes and it will become a unique way of presenting skills and knowledge in front of interviewers.
In this age and time, the need to learn how to use PowerPoint cannot be overstated but unfortunately, many people do not know how to.
I cannot discuss everything about PowerPoint in this article but to the best of my abilities, I have discussed a bit about PowerPoint; its definition, its advantages, limitations and applications. Read on as I will tell you where you can learn and master PowerPoint.
So where do I learn PowerPoint?
Online: Yes, as a matter-of-fact YouTube is the best place to learn how to use PowerPoint from a beginner’s level to an advanced level. YouTube is the best place to learn because you learn at your pace and convenience.
Check out this channel (Excelsior)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXS0-lmZvp5SNasb6Kxtv_g
Some Instructors sometimes host classes on Zoom and other online medium (LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Facebook).
On-site: You can enrol yourself in a computer school around your vicinity where you would be required to attend classes physically.
Next time we will talk about another Microsoft 365 Package. Until then stay safe and out-of-trouble.

Hosanna Asele Ayas,
Teacher and Writer.