Brigham Young University Homepage
Route Y Secure Sign In

MSE

Presentations Tutorial

Presentations

In the Presentations portion of the TSA, you will be required to use Microsoft PowerPoint to produce a document similar to the example shown on this page. We have identified 11 basic skills that are tested by this assessment. The skills are numbered in the list below. The corresponding number appears on the example shown on this page. Click the skill for help on how to do it.

PowerPoint Help

Never used Microsoft PowerPoint before? Here are some great tutorials created by Microsoft that will teach you the basics of presentations:


Sample Presentation


Specific Tasks for the TSA:

Applying a slide design

It can be effective to add some style to your presentation. Luckily, most presentation applications provide well-designed templates with pre-defined text and background styles.These styles are called templates, designs, or design templates

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Slides
  • Designs
  • Templates

Adding slides with text

Adding text to slides, and adding new slides is as easy as typing new lines.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Adding new slides
  • Add text to slide

Adding images to slides

Images are usually called graphics or pictures. It is important to know where the image, you want to place in your presentation, is stored on your computer.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Insert a picture or a clip art
  • SmartArt Graphics

Adding hyperlinks to slides

Hyperlinks are usually found on webpages, and are usually text that you can click on to visit another page. You can also insert them into presentations. It's a good way to give the necessary credit to the source of information, images, etc. in your presentation.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Create Hyperlink

Adding shapes to slides

Most office suites offer a wide library of shapes you can insert into documents and presentations. They are often called autoshapes.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Add Shapes

Addding animations to images

Any object on a slide, including images, can be animated to move, or other fun effects. This can be used to highlight certain information, or to only reveal the information at a specific point in the presentation.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Animate Text
  • Custom Animation

Addding slight transitions

Moving to the next slide doesn't have to be boring. Slides can fade-in, push in, etc. These are slide transitions.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Slide Transition

Addding sound effects to slides

Each slide, and each object in a slide can include audio.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Adding Sound
  • Play Sound Clips

Automatically advancing slides (timed slides)

It is possible to have each slide advance to the next slide on its own, after a time limit.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Timing Slides

Recording a narration

If you will not be present when an audience is viewing your presentation, or you want to put your presentation on the web for download, burn it to CD, etc., you will need to put a narration on your slide show. Recording a narration as you advance your slide manually will also time your slides to your voice.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint's help file or Microsoft's Online Assistance, search using any of these key phrases:

  • Add Narration
  • Time the Delivery