You’re on the bus to work. You have an important pitch to make today. But, you’ve remembered that you also need a presentation – which you don’t have yet. What do you do? Luckily, you can create a slideshow with PowerPoint on your Android device – in a couple of minutes. So you still have time to learn how to make one!
According to Wikipedia, a slideshow is a series of images in a prearranged sequence. So, simply put, it’s the information that you wish to transmit to the public, intuitively. The data on your slides should be displayed systematically. Also, the design of your slideshow should be clean and subtle. This is why it’s better to use a premade template. But we’ll get to these details a little bit later.
How to Use the PowerPoint App on Android
First of all, you should know what PowerPoint is and how it works, before you use it. PowerPoint is a program created by Microsoft. It allows you to make slideshows to support your presentations. You can find the app in Google Play, and it’s free to use. To save your presentations to OneDrive, connect your Microsoft account to the app.
Now let’s talk about the app itself, all its features, and what each icon does. For the top icon bar, there are a few important ones you should know about:
- Edit Text
The first icon on the top bar is the edit text button. If you tap on it, it will open the text-editing options on the bottom of your screen. If you want to close it when you’re finished, tap it again.
- Search
The second in line is the search icon. With it, you can look for a certain word or phrase in the existing text in the presentation. Note that it doesn’t work for images.
- SlideShow view
With this one, you can see how your whole slideshow looks, as a finished product. You should know that the slideshow is always horizontal. To switch between slides, you need to swipe left or right.
- Share
You should be familiar with this one. Tap on it, and you will see your options for sharing the file with other people. You can either send it as a link, as a full document or just the current slide, as a stand-alone picture or presentation.
- Three dots menu
By tapping this one, you get access to a separate set of features. With Notes, you can add commentaries for yourself to each slide if you need to. You can also Rehearse your presentation, by recording and timing yourself. You can simply Save your work, or Save As a different type of file. Additionally, there’s a History button that lets you see all the changes made to the presentation. You can also Print your slideshow if you need to.
Moving on to the bar on the bottom of your screen, there’re a few features worth mentioning:
- Layout
Using this you can choose the layout for your selected slide. There are a few premade layouts to help you display your information in the best way possible.
- Comments
If you’re working with a team, you can leave feedback on part of your presentation by leaving comments. They are visible to everyone and they can help you have a conversation about a certain element.
- Tables and Images
This one is straightforward. You can create tables and customize them in any way you need to. To move your table or image, just drag it with your finger in your desired place.
- Shapes
There are a few shapes you can choose from and they can help create an information flow in your slideshow. You shouldn’t overuse them though, as they can get your audience distracted easily.
Now we’re familiar with the basic features of the PowerPoint Android app. There are a couple of basic steps you need to go through to create your presentation:
- Create the actual slideshow
On the Recent page (the one the app opens on) just click the “+” button to create a new presentation. If you’re editing an older one or working with a template, you can tap on the Open icon, and select what file you want to work on.
- Add your information
You can add text, images, charts, or tables—anything that would help you to systematically display your data. You shouldn’t overdo any of those elements so that your slides won’t get too crowded and hard to read.
- Editing
After you’re done adding your information, you should edit everything. This means checking your spelling, the way your data is displayed, all the details. To zoom in, all you have to do is pinch the screen on the element you want to see better.
- Previewing
After you feel that everything is in it’s best shape, you should preview your work. This way, you can see your slideshow as a final product—just like your audience will see it. By doing this, you can notice if something is out-of-place or can be improved.
How to Make Your Slideshow Great – Some Tips and Tricks
- Use a template
By using a premade template, you don’t have to worry about the design of your presentation. There are plenty of free PowerPoint templates online. All you have to do is download the template and open the file in PowerPoint. Just add your data and you’re done!
- Keep it simple
Almost all the time, more is less. Don’t try to fit all you have to say in your slideshow. Your presentation should be a guide. It should emphasize your most important points, rather than a display of your whole work.
- More images, fewer words
Sometimes, an image equals a thousand words. Information is easier to assimilate in the form of a picture or a chart, rather than long paragraphs. So when you can replace the text with images, don’t hesitate.
- Few or subtle animations
It’s tempting to use lots of animations, they look kind of cool. Attention should be on the information you present and not on the way your slides wiggle. Be mindful if you use animations—they should highlight your content.
- Organized information
Try to display your information methodically. Use arrows to create a flow, insert tables where you can, or use charts. Arrange your information visually, so that it’s easier to understand and remember.
PowerPoint On Android—Great or Overkill?
The PowerPoint app is a great option if you’re on the run. It’s easier to put together something on your phone if you have to present something in the next 10 minutes. It’s great for simple presentations and it has most of the features the desktop app does. Yet, as you’d expect, a few things are missing, like animations. If you want to make complex, edited-to-perfection presentations, you will need your computer for that.
