Presentations

PowerPoint

The easiest way to put together a presentation is to use PowerPoint.

Some tips:

• Use large text so that it can be read from the back of the room.
• Don't put too many words on each page.
• Use a text color which contrasts with the background color
• DON'T USE ALL CAPS, IT'S HARD TO READ

Pictures can be added to PowerPoint slides to create a slideshow by going to the Insert menu and choosing New Slide, then choose a blank layout for the slide. Go back to the Insert Menu and select Picture, then choose From File (then locate the file containing the picture you want to use.) If necessary you can resize the picture by clicking on it and then dragging the corner.

To begin your PowerPoint presentation, click the projection screen icon

or go to the Slide Show menu and choose View Show

You can use a left mouse click to advance to the next slide, and a right click to go back one slide. Hit the ESC key on the keyboard to end the show.

Simple Slideshow

Not all computers have WindowsXP, but the classroom PCs do. WindowsXP has a slideshow mode built in which allows you to turn a folder of images into a slideshow by opening the folder (browse to it from My Computer) and double clicking on the first picture in the folder. This will start the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer. You can start a slideshow of all the pictures in the same folder by clicking on the projection screen icon.

Use the controls in the top right of the screen to control the slideshow.

Click on the pause (2nd) button to stop the slides changing. The play (1st) button will start the show again. For more control over when the pictures change you should first pause the slideshow, then use the forward (4th button) or back (3rd button) at the top to navigate. Clicking on the picture will also cause it to show the next slide. Move the mouse up to the top right and click the X (last button) to exit the slideshow.

Overheads

It's best if you can convert overheads to PowerPoint slides, but if you can't we have an Elmo (document camera) in each classroom which can display overheads on the video projector. Actual transparancies tend to reflect room lights, so paper copies work best.

In the regular classrooms, select ELMO on the panel above the touchscreen to send the document camera to the screen. In Room 100 the faculty member or student running the equipment will need to select the document camera for you.

Slides

Again, it's best if you can convert slides to digital form (Kinkos and Wal-Mart can probably do that for you) and insert the digital versions into a PowerPoint presentation. This is especially true of distance classes, where we have no means of showing slides to students at the distance site.

Computer Media

Floppy Disk

The systems in all of the classrooms can read regular floppy disks from a PC. These drives are very slow, so it is best to copy your presentation from the floppy to the PC hard drive before starting your presentation. The presentation will run more smoothly if you do this.

CD

All of the classroom systems can read CD media. Note that they cannot read CDs setup to work like floppy disks (using software like In-CD or Direct-CD.) Try your CD in the LRC to make sure you can read it on other computers.

Thumb Drive

The classroom systems can read "thumb drives" (memory cards with USB connectors.) The USB ports are on the front right side of the PC.

DVD

The systems in the classrooms can read finalized DVD media and DVD-ROM.

Video Media

VHS Tape

All of the classrooms have VHS tape players. In the regular classrooms you change the input on the projector from RGB to Video in order to view a tape. In Room 100 the faculty member or student running the room will need to send the VCR output to the center screen for you.

DVD

In the regular classrooms there is a combination DVD/VCR which can be used to play a DVD. Change the input on the projector from RGB to Video in order to view a DVD.

In room 100 you will need to use the DVD drive in the PC to view a DVD.