Information and Communication Technology (0417) | Create a presentation

IGCSE ICT 0417 Study Notes: Presentations – Creating a Presentation

Hello IGCSE stars! This chapter is all about making your presentations truly shine. Presentations (like PowerPoint or Impress) are essential tools in the ICT world for communicating information clearly and engagingly. Mastering these skills is not just for the exam; it will help you communicate professionally in the future! Let's dive into how to build a powerful presentation from the ground up.

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1. Getting Started: Creating the Presentation File

1.1 Starting a New Presentation

The first step is simply opening your presentation software and starting a new file. However, sometimes the exam requires a specific method for creation:

• Creating a new presentation using a text file: This means you often start with an existing document (like a Rich Text Format or plain text file) that already contains your headings and content, and the software automatically converts the structured text (based on indentation or formatting) into individual slides.

1.2 Consistency is Key: Using the Master Slide

The Master Slide (sometimes called the Slide Master) is the most important tool for ensuring your entire presentation looks professional and consistent. Think of the Master Slide as a template or a cookie cutter; whatever you put on the Master Slide appears on every single slide in your presentation automatically.

Why use the Master Slide? It saves huge amounts of time and guarantees consistency of presentation, which is a key requirement in IGCSE practical tasks.

Objects to Insert and Edit Consistently (on the Master Slide):

• Logos and Images: Placing your company logo in the same corner on every slide.
• Text: Consistent placement of slide headers and footers.
• Shapes: Adding decorative lines or borders.
• Placeholder Position: Ensuring that standard boxes for titles and content appear in the exact same spot across all slides.
• Automated Slide Numbering: Making sure the page numbers appear correctly and consistently.

Formatting Master Slide Objects:

You must be able to format the default text and background styles on the master slide:

• Headings and Subheadings: Setting the font face, size, and colour for all titles.
• Bullets: Defining the shape and indentation of bullet points used in the presentation.
• Background Colour: Setting a consistent background colour or image for the slides.

Quick Tip: If the question asks you to ensure a logo appears on all slides in the same position, you must use the Master Slide!

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2. Editing and Populating Individual Slides

2.1 Basic Slide Management

Before adding content, you need to organise your structure:

• Apply Slide Layout: Choosing the specific arrangement of text and objects (e.g., Title Slide, Two Content, Comparison).
• Insert a New Slide: Adding slides where necessary.
• Move or Delete a Slide: Changing the order or removing unwanted slides.

2.2 Inserting and Editing Objects on a Slide

This is where you bring your presentation to life!

You must be confident in inserting and editing a variety of objects, including:

• Text: Headings, subheadings, and bulleted lists.
• Images: Still images, video clips, and animated images (GIFs).
• Data: Inserting Charts, Tables, or data extracted from a spreadsheet or database.
• Multimedia: Inserting audio clips (sound).
• Visual Aids: Adding symbols, lines, arrows, call out boxes, and other shapes.

Important Accessibility Feature:
Always remember to add Alternative text (often called Alt Text) or a screentip to an object (like an image or chart). This is vital for users who rely on screen readers or for when the image fails to load, ensuring they still understand the object's purpose.

2.3 Presenter Notes

The presenter notes section is a private area linked to each slide that is only visible to the presenter (or when printed as "Notes Pages"). Use this space to add reminders, key facts, or detailed talking points that you do not want the audience to see on the screen.

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3. Making the Presentation Interactive and Dynamic

3.1 Transitions and Animations

These effects control movement and visual appeal. Crucially, they must be applied consistently.

• Transitions: Control how one slide moves off and the next slide moves on. (e.g., Fade, Push, Wipe).

  You must apply consistent transitions between slides.

• Animations (Effects): Control how individual objects (text, images, charts) appear or move *within* a slide. (e.g., Fly In, Spin).

  You must apply consistent animation effects on text, images, and other objects.

Did you know? Using too many different, complex animations and transitions can distract the audience and make your presentation look unprofessional! Stick to consistent, simple effects.

3.2 Hyperlinks and Action Buttons

These features allow the presenter (or user) to jump easily between different parts of the presentation or access external information.

• Hyperlink: Linking text or objects (like an image or shape) to:
  • Another slide within the same presentation.
  • An external file (e.g., a PDF document).
  • An email address (using a "mailto:" link).
• Action Button: A shape (often an arrow or house icon) that is modified to navigate to a specified slide or file, giving a clear visual cue to the user. You can modify their settings, for example, to jump back to the first slide or open a video file.

3.3 Hiding Slides

You can Hide slides within a presentation. The slide remains in the file but will not appear during the normal slide show. This is useful if you have extra backup information ready just in case the audience asks a specific question.

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4. Outputting and Displaying the Presentation

4.1 Displaying the Presentation

You need to be able to set up the slide show based on the purpose of the presentation.

• Presenter Controlled: This is the standard method, where the speaker manually clicks or uses a remote to advance the slides.
• Looped On-Screen Carousel: The presentation runs automatically and continuously, repeating once the final slide is reached. This is often used for displays at trade shows, reception areas, or exhibitions where no speaker is present.

4.2 Printing the Presentation

Presentation software offers various printing layouts, each serving a different purpose:

• Full Page Slides: Prints one slide per page. Used for detailed review or when the presentation *is* the document.
• Handouts: Prints multiple slides on a single page (e.g., 2, 3, 6, or 9 slides per page). This is efficient for saving paper and giving the audience a summary.
• Presenter Notes (Notes Pages): Prints one slide along with its corresponding presenter notes on the same page. This is used by the speaker during their talk.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first—practical presentation tasks are highly structured. Practice creating presentations using the Master Slide first; once your design is consistent, adding content and hyperlinks is much simpler!