Terminologies Used In Powerpoint Presentation
In today’s digital world, presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and others have become essential tools for communication, education, and business. Whether you’re a student delivering a project, a teacher preparing a lesson, or a professional presenting to clients, understanding the key terminologies used in presentation software is crucial for creating clear, effective, and visually engaging slideshows.
Presentation Software Terminologies
Slide
A slide is a single page within a presentation, typically used to display information such as text, images, graphs, and other multimedia elements.
Slide Layout
Slide layout refers to the structured arrangement of content elements on a slide, such as titles, text boxes, images, and charts.
Common slide layouts include:
-
Title Slide
-
Blank Slide
-
Content Slide
Animations
Animations are visual effects applied to individual slide elements (e.g., text, images, charts).
They control how and when items appear, move, or disappear during a presentation, often triggered by time or a click.
Design Theme
A design theme is a pre-set combination of colors, fonts, and graphical effects that gives the entire presentation a consistent look and feel.
Themes help maintain visual uniformity and set the mood for the presentation.
Transition
Transitions are visual effects that occur when moving from one slide to the next. They enhance the flow of the presentation.
Default Design Template
This refers to the plain white slide that appears by default when a new Microsoft PowerPoint presentation is created.
Design Template
A design template provides a pre-designed style for the entire presentation, ensuring a cohesive and professional appearance.
Watermark
A watermark is a semi-transparent image or text displayed in the background of a slide, often used for branding or security purposes.
Master Slide
The master slide controls the overall design and formatting (e.g., fonts, background, layout) of all slides in a presentation. Changes made here apply to all linked slides.
Slide Notes
Slide notes allow the presenter to add additional information or speaker cues for each slide. These are not visible to the audience during the slideshow.
Slide Views
Slide views provide different ways to work with and manage slides. Accessible via the View tab, the main types include:
-
Normal View – Main editing interface with a full-size slide.
-
Outline View – Displays only slide text in a list format.
-
Slide Sorter View – Shows thumbnail versions of all slides for easy reordering.
-
Slide Show View – Runs the presentation in full-screen mode.
-
Notes Page View – Displays slides with their corresponding speaker notes.
-
Slide Master View – Edits the master slide and layouts.
-
Handout Master / Notes Master – Customize how handouts or notes appear when printed.
Normal View
This is the default editing mode, showing the full slide in the center along with a sidebar of slide thumbnails.
Outline View
Displays the textual content of all slides in a list format, excluding images and graphics—useful for focusing on content structure.
Slide Show
A full-screen, sequential display of all presentation slides, as the audience would view them.
Slide Sorter View
This view presents all slides as thumbnails in a horizontal arrangement, ideal for reordering or reviewing the slide sequence.
Speaker Notes
Additional notes written for the presenter, not shown to the audience. They help guide the speaker during delivery.
Summary Slide
This feature generates a new slide listing the titles of all other slides, providing a summary or table of contents for the presentation.
PowerPoint Viewer
A lightweight application that allows users to view PowerPoint presentations on a computer without needing to have Microsoft PowerPoint installed.
Rehearse Timings
A tool that lets presenters practice and record the timing for each slide, including associated audio or narration.
Principles for Creating an Effective Presentation
-
Keep it Concise: Present key information clearly and avoid overcrowding slides.
-
Enhance with Formatting: Use bold, italics, or underlines to emphasize key points.
-
Readable Text: Select legible fonts and ensure the text size is large enough for distant viewers.
-
Relevant Visuals: Use images and graphics that support your message. Avoid clutter.
-
Subtle Animation: Use animations sparingly to maintain audience attention without distraction.
-
Background Contrast: Ensure text is readable by choosing contrasting colors. Avoid color combinations that strain the eyes.
Responses