PowerPoint presentations

 

Microsoft PowerPoint presentations are used in classrooms and companies all over the world each and every day. They are used to share information, gain support, move projects forward, and sell. Knowing how to put together a presentation that is engaging, focused, and clear is a challenge that many of us face.

In this assignment, you will use Microsoft PowerPoint to create a multimedia presentation showcasing what you have learned in this course about information systems, digital literacy, and Microsoft Office tools.

Assignment Requirement:

To successfully complete this assignment, submit a Microsoft PowerPoint template that includes the required information and edits.

Steps:

1. Review the Assignment 3 Sample to see a completed version of this assignment for reference. Note: You may not copy any information from this sample into your own assignment. Select the “Read-Only” option when the password window appears as you open this sample.
2. Download the Assignment 3 Template (with directions inside). You will complete and submit your assignment on this template.
3. Follow the directions that are listed in the template.
4. Submit your assignment through the submission button.

Details That Will Be Inside the Template:

• Slide 1: Edit the title slide to include your name, date, the course ID and course title, the assignment title, and a relevant graphic.
• Slide 2: Create one (1) slide describing the main Information Systems terms and concepts you learned from this course.

  Add the three bullet points on the slide.
  Add one sub-bullet for each first level item.
  Change the font color to a color of choice.

• Slide 3: Create one (1) slide describing the main things you learned about using the Internet from this course.

  Add the three bullet points.
  Add sub-bullets if needed.
  Insert a relevant, high quality graphic or image in the slide.

• Slide 4: Create one (1) slide describing the main things you learned about academic integrity, ethics, and plagiarism from this course.

  Add the three bullet points.
  Add sub-bullets if needed.
  Insert a relevant, high quality graphic or image in the slide.
  Insert an entrance and exit animation of any type (ex: Fade, Fly In, etc.) in this slide.

• Slide 5: Create one (1) slide describing the main things you learned about managing digital assets from this course.

  Add the three bullet points.
  Add sub-bullets if needed.
  Insert a hyperlink to an outside source in this slide.

• Slide 6: Create one (1) slide describing the top skills you learned from the Microsoft Word portion of this course.

  Add the three bullet points.
  Change the bullet style.

• Slide 7: Create one (1) slide describing the top skills you learned from the Microsoft Excel portion of this course.

  Add the three bullet points.
  Add sub-bullets if needed.
  Change the bullet style to a numbered list.
  Insert a relevant chart, table, or SmartArt element into the slide. For example, you could add a bar chart to the slide on Excel in which you rate the Microsoft Excel skills you learned in this course in terms of difficulty or usefulness.

• Slide 8: Create one (1) slide describing the top skills you learned from the Microsoft PowerPoint portion of this course.

  Add the three bullet points.
  Add sub-bullets if needed.
  Change the bullet style to a numbered list.

• Slide 9: Create one (1) slide describing the main things you learned about social media from this course.

  Add the three bullet points.
  Add sub-bullets if needed.
  Insert a relevant, high quality graphic or image in the slide.

• Slide 10: Create one (1) slide describing one of your personal or professional accomplishments and milestones for this term (aside from taking this course).

  Add the three bullet points.
  Add one sub-bullet for each bullet point.

• Slide 11: Create the conclusion slide identifying how you can use the tools, skills, and knowledge you gained in this course going forward.

  Add the three bullet points.
  Add one sub-bullet for each bullet point.

Customize ALL slides:

• Insert a transition of any type (ex. Cut, Fade, Push, etc.) into ALL of the slides in your presentation. Make the duration of this transition shorter than the default transition time.
• Insert text into the Notes section of each slide indicating what you would consider saying when presenting your content. Note:Students should check with their instructors to see if they will need to present to the class.
• Organize the presentation so that the information is clear and visually appealing.
• Record your own audio narration on Slide 1 through Slide 10 as well as text narration in the Speaker Notes bottom area of each slide.

CIS105 Assignment 3 Customization Requirements for ALL SLIDES

Note: Your Assignment 3 template .pptx file provides the directions for each slide within that slide. You will replace these directions with your own content for this assignment, and then upload your finished assignment to the Week 10 Assignment 3 submission area in your Blackboard course shell. This document spells out the additional customization requirements that you must make to ALL SLIDES in your presentation:

· Insert a transition of any type (i.e., Cut, Fade, Push, etc.) into ALL of the slides in your presentation. Make the duration of this transition shorter than the default transition time.

· Insert text into the Notes section of each slide indicating what you would consider saying when presenting your content.

Note: Students should check with their instructors to see if they will need to present to the class.

· Organize the presentation so that the information is clear and visually appealing.

· Record your own audio narration on Slide 1 through Slide 10 as well as text narration in the Speaker Notes bottom area of each slide.

Hints for recording audio: With PowerPoint 2016 on your student laptop, you have the ability to record audio from within PowerPoint and include it in the presentation. You can also upload previously recorded audio files into your PowerPoint presentation instead. If you have access to a headset microphone, we recommend you use it for recording your audio, as the quality will be improved. If not, you may use your laptop’s internal microphone to record your audio narration. Please try to record from a quiet environment with little to no background noise.

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LEARN

SAY IT WITH STYLE
Now that we have started to learn the lay of the PowerPoint land,
we can take a closer look at how to use this powerful software
to build a successful presentation. Think back to the various
presentations you’ve heard and seen. What made them successes
or failures? What captured and held your interest? Which details
were convincing or illuminating, and which made the presentation
hard to follow?

A successful presentation is:

1) Coherent: Clear, logical, and easy to follow structure

2) Engaging: Hold attention with compelling visuals, such
as images and videos that are related to the content
and give life to it

3) Memorable: Show supporting facts and figures
without having to give that information verbally

4) Persuasive: Reinforce important points while you’re
speaking and show examples of your own work

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WHAT’S THE POINT?
A successful presentation should help you communicate a
message. That’s why the most important questions you need to
ask yourself when beginning to design a PowerPoint presentation
are: What’s the Point? What do you need the presentation to
achieve? Are you trying to sell something? Report information?
Get approval on a concept?

As an example, many companies need to share results of how
they’re doing with stakeholders, partners, and employees.
PowerPoint is a popular tool for sharing reports, such as quarterly
profits, new initiatives, or customer surveys. An informative
report would include different materials than a persuasive pitch
intended to secure funding for a new kid’s video game app, or a
presentation to get a client’s approval on design concept for a
marketing campaign.

Each of these examples has a different objective, and therefore
needs to use different words and pictures to make its point.

Once you figure out the point of your presentation, the next step is
to think about WHAT you need to say, and WHO you need to say it
to.

What is the best way for the audience to view and hear the
information you’re sharing, so that they can successfully
understand your point?

Next you want to start thinking about HOW to communicate your
point in the most effective way. Do you need graphs, reports,
charts, design samples, illustrations, storyboards, or video?

Finally, and probably most importantly: Get to the point and stick
to it! Just because you can add all kinds of images and graphics
doesn’t mean that you should. If a slide isn’t moving you toward
your point in a clear and impactful way, keep it out.

What you leave out is just as important as what you put in. But
remember, some details that seem minor, such as font colors,
backgrounds, or text placement on a slide, can have a significant
effect on the audience.

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Let’s take a closer look at some of the best ways to make an
effective presentation.

BEST PRACTICES FOR CREATING SLIDESHOWS
USE SIMPLE DESIGNS
It may sound funny, but a successful design shouldn’t be noticed.
You want your audience to be able to focus on your content
without getting bored—or distracted. Readability, consistency, and
relevance are key. Make sure to be thoughtful about choosing
what text, images, graphics, animations, and transitions you
include. Think about Goldilocks: Make a presentation that is not
too boring and not too busy, but just right!

USE THEMES
In addition to making designing and formatting easy, you can
be confident that the elements in a theme work together well.
They provide consistency and visual interest, which minimizes
distraction and maximizes the content delivery for audiences.
Variants are available within each theme so that you can
customize colors and other small details, but still stay within the
same style.

UNDERSTAND LAYOUT OPTIONS
With built-in layout options, the formatting of individual slides is
done for you automatically. Once you select the layout that best
matches your needs, you can quickly type in text or insert media
into the placeholder boxes. The layout options can also help you
determine the best way to organize your information in a concise
way. Options include:

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BUILD-IN LAYOUT OPTION SLIDE CONTENT AND PURPOSE

Title Only • Title

Title Slide • Title and subtitle

Title and Content • Title

• Bulleted list of what the presentation will
be about

OR

• Related graphic

Section Header • Section title and short description

Two Content • Title and content

• Displays two side-by-side content place-
holders to show a comparison

• Content can include a bulleted list or a
graphic

Comparison • Same as Two Content, plus text placehold-
ers above each section to label compared
content

Content with Caption • Title placeholder

• Content placeholder (e.g. photograph or
graphic)

• Text placeholder (caption) to label content

Blank • No built-in placeholders

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GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS
When creating slides, think about the best way to present your
information. If you’re discussing the steps in a process, is a
bulleted list the best option, or would a diagram be better? What
is the best way for your audience to see the information laid
out? Using graphics in a thoughtful way can help you present
information concisely, and variety can also help you keep your
audience’s attention.

Pictures and Clip Art: Adding images you already own, images
you find online, or images from the PowerPoint library can bring
the content of your presentation to life. Images are the most
common multimedia element added to a presentation. When
looking for images online to add to your presentation, you must
ensure that the images you are selecting are not subject to
copyright claims, meaning that they are work created by and
belonging to someone else, and are royalty-free, which means you
don’t have to pay a charge to the person who is providing them.
PowerPoint also has a Clip Art collection you can choose from.
Clip Art pieces are simple pre-made illustrations searchable within
the PowerPoint interface by subject, and which do not require
paying royalties.

Screenshots: Taking a screenshot and including it in your
presentation allows you to capture what is on your computer
screen in one or more images. This can be a very effective
way to showcase a website or another digital tool within your
presentation. The PowerPoint Screenshot tool allows you to
take a screenshot and include it right from within PowerPoint.
Remember again to make sure that you have permission to use
the image.

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SmartArt, Charts and Shapes: These
pre-designed diagrams allow you to
provide information visually. They
include text placeholders that help
describe or label information. SmartArt
graphics are helpful in displaying a
process, cycle, hierarchy, or other
relationship. Charts are a great way
to display data visually within your
presentation, and come in many forms
(column, pie, bar, line, and doughnut or
circle). Shapes are singular objects—
lines, arrows, boxes, ovals, equations
and callouts—that can be added to
call attention to content within the
presentation.

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Tables: A table can easily be inserted into a content placeholder.
Once you insert the table, working with it is the same as working
with one in Word. You can choose the number of columns and
rows needed, and format the table as you wish.

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USE YOUR DIGITAL SKILLS
Importing: Now that you have worked with all of the major digital tools in the Microsoft
Office Suite, it’s important to note that you don’t always need to recreate things in
PowerPoint that you already created in Word or Excel. If you want to include documents or
spreadsheets as part of your final presentation, there are a few different ways to go about
it. If you have kept all of your files and folders organized as suggested in Week 4, it will be
easier to grab the content you need and import it into your presentation:

• You can copy and paste portions of a word document, a chart
from a spreadsheet, or images from either, using the CNTRL-C
and CNTRL-V keys (or right-clicking your mouse and selecting
Copy and then Paste) to transfer items from these tools to
PowerPoint. These shortcuts are important to know because
many online forums only allow you to insert using keyboard
commands.

• You can also save items like images or charts from the original
file to your local computer and use the Insert Object or Insert
Picture tool to import them into PowerPoint.

• You can insert a partial or whole Excel spreadsheet by using the
Insert Table tool. Instead of creating a new table, select “Excel
Spreadsheet” from the dropdown menu. You can import a
completed table, or edit the data within the imported table right
in PowerPoint.

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GOOD HABITS TO HELP YOUR PRESENTATION
As with any work you do on a computer, remember to SAVE often!
PowerPoint has an autosave feature that automatically saves your
work every ten minutes. However, you can make a lot of changes
in ten minutes. Save regularly so you don’t have to waste time
redoing work if something unforeseen happens.

Audio: If you are recording narration for your presentation, instead of delivering it in a live
environment, the Audio tool allows you to insert an audio clip that you have recorded, or a
pre-recorded Clip Art audio clip (such as cheering or a telephone ringing).

Video: Embedding video on a slide of your presentation is a game-changer. Relevant, high-
quality video can bring your ideas to life in a larger way than graphics and text, even when
combined with the best live presentation skills. You can use the Video tool in PowerPoint to
insert a video clip that you have recorded yourself, one from a website such as YouTube, or a
pre-recorded Clip Art video clip.

Tip: Multimedia elements like audio and video files often make great additions to a
presentation, but you should always remember that they increase your presentation’s file size.
This can be a problem when you are trying to email or upload a presentation. You also need
to insure that your multimedia elements are compatible with different interfaces and will load
and play correctly. For example, some multimedia elements will not always play correctly over
conference call or online meeting software.

Transitions: A transition controls how one slide moves into the next slide within a
presentation. Some are simple and barely noticeable, while others are more fun and
animated. Transitions are an extra touch that can help make slideshows more visually
interesting. Some common transitions used in PowerPoint are Cut, Fade, Dissolve, Push, and
Wipe.

Animations: An animation controls how content appears and disappears from a slide.
Animations are often used accompanying bulleted text or images on a slide to time certain
content to appear as it is being presented by the speaker or in the audio narration. Some
common animations used in PowerPoint are Fade, Fly In/Out, Float In, Split, and Wipe.

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SAVE IN MORE THAN ONE FORMAT
If you’re sending a slideshow to someone, keep in mind what
software they may or may not have. Slideshows can be saved to
PDF to allow users without PowerPoint to view them.

CHOOSE CORRECT SLIDE SIZES
Be aware of the screen on which your presentation will ultimately
be shown. If you design your slides in the incorrect size, some
information might be cut off when you present it. Check out the
Slide Size dialog box to choose the applicable slide proportions.
The default options are set for a widescreen.

MANAGE THE LENGTH OF SLIDESHOWS
Slideshows with a large amount of slides can be hard to work
with. Try these options to make them more manageable.

Group Slides: Consider grouping related slides together. This will
make organizing and editing your slides easier.

Hide Slides: The option to select and hide slides is a great feature.
Perhaps you have a slideshow that will be shown to different
groups of people. You have the option to hide slides that apply
to one group but not another. You can also hide a group of slides
while you’re working so that your slide pane is easier to scroll
through.

BEST PRACTICES FOR PRESENTING
Let’s go back to recalling our experiences as audience members.
Now, instead of thinking about the presentations, think about the
presenters. What did the presenters do that drew you in? What
did the presenters do to turn you off? How did they interact with
the slideshow? Did they read each slide aloud, or use the slides as
visual support?

The person leading a presentation is integral to its effectiveness.
Here we’ll go over some tips for maximizing the most important

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element in a presentation—YOU.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
The best way to ensure that you’ll give an excellent presentation is
to repeatedly rehearse it. Practice out loud, while looking around
and making eye contact. After you’ve done it a few times, evaluate
your performance.

• Were there any sections that tripped you up?

• Do you need to add notes for yourself to help you
explain something more clearly?

• Are you relying too heavily on the notes you have?

• Are you able to make eye contact with the audience?

• Are you talking too quickly or too slowly?

• Are you speaking loudly enough?

TEST YOUR TECH
It may seem obvious, but it bears reinforcement. During your
rehearsals, make sure to practice with your slideshow.

• Can you access the PowerPoint file easily from the
computer you are working from?

• Do you have adequate power?

• Do you have wifi if needed? Are any accompanying
websites accessible and ready to view?

• Is the presentation displayed clearly so that the
audience can see it?

• Can you read all the text and graphics?

• Are any images getting cut off?

• Can you hear the audio?

• Is your video playing successfully, without a lag?

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• Are you comfortable navigating the controls while
speaking?

• Are the slides in the right order?

PROOFREAD
Avoid looking unprofessional by proofreading your slides. If
possible, have someone else look them over, too. Fresh eyes can
help you identify misspellings, grammar mistakes, and typos.

REVISE
Rehearsing and proofreading are valuable to help you get
comfortable, and to identify problems, so that you can fix them
before you present.

• Do you need to add a slide to provide more detail about
something?

• Do you have a slide that can be taken out because its
content is redundant?

• Do you need more practice pronouncing any
terminology?

• Would a graphic provide a better explanation than a
verbal description?

Let’s return to the qualities that make a great presentation. When
you evaluate your slides and your delivery, ask yourself these big-
picture questions related to each quality:

1) Coherent: Does my presentation make sense? Will my
audience understand my message?

2) Engaging: Is my presentation interesting?

3) Memorable: Is my presentation memorable? What will
my audience remember a week from now?

4) Persuasive: Did I achieve my goal? Will my audience
do what I want them to do?

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After you evaluate your presentation on these qualities, make
adjustments and edits as needed. Then, practice again.

GOOD HABITS FOR PRESENTATION DAY
When the time comes for your actual presentation, make sure to
wear appropriate clothing. Dress for success!

Audiences are more comfortable around, and more receptive to, a
confident speaker. Showing confidence will be easier after you’ve
put in your time practicing.

YOUR ONLINE PERSONAL BRAND
We’ve reviewed important best practices for presenting during a live presentation with a
physical audience, but these skills can transfer to your digital presence. How you portray
yourself online is just as important as how you look, speak, and behave in real life. If
someone searched for you on the Web, what would they find? Whether you are cultivating
a specific personal brand consciously or not, others can put together ideas about you
based on your online life. This can work to your advantage or disadvantage. Take control by
following these tips:

1) We can’t say it enough: be aware of your privacy settings! Are
your social media accounts set to private or public? If public,
would you want a potential employer or collaborator to see
everything you’ve posted? If you are trying to develop a strong
social media presence to promote yourself or a business,
evaluate your social media accounts to make sure they are
projecting the qualities you want.

2) Be conscious of what kind of information you share. When you
post on social media, do you want your location to be shared?
Also, keep in mind what information or image you are displaying
through photos. You might inadvertently be sharing details you
wish to remain private. A quick way to find out what’s out there
about you is to Google yourself to make sure the first results are
what you want potential employers to find.

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3) Think twice before posting negative opinions or publicly lashing
out. Think about how potential employers and collaborators
would view your comments.

4) Communicate clearly. Reread and proofread your professional
profiles, bios, and websites. Spelling and grammar errors have
an effect on the reader and could change someone’s perception
of you.

5) A picture’s worth a thousand words! Make sure that profile
pictures for sites like LinkedIn, or work and school websites, are
recent, clear, professional, and show you in your best light.

COMING UP
You’ve made it to week 10, congratulations! Throughout this
course, you’ve been building your digital literacy toolbox. You have
an understanding of how computers work, you’ve practiced your
skills in foundational software–the Microsoft Office Suite. And you
can support your growing knowledge and skills by efficiently and
accurately searching the Internet. You can feel confident that you
are on your way to achieving your goals because you’ve learned
how to embrace digital technology.

Next week, we’ll talk about how to sustain your growth, and how to
continue adding to your toolbox during your Strayer courses and
beyond.

COMPLETE THE WEEK
Your next stop is the TESTOUT section, where you will continue working with PowerPoint
and complete videos, materials and skills labs on formatting illustrations, pictures, media,
and applying animations and transitions. After that, head over to the ASSIGNMENTS section,
where you will complete and submit Assignment 3. Finally, answer this week’s REFLECT
questions. Make sure to mark off each item on your TO-DO list.

Assignment 3: Presenting With PowerPoint

Jane R. Doe 9/3/

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CIS105 Intro to Information Systems

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Hello, my name is Jane Doe and today I will be presenting my Assignment 3: Presenting with PowerPoint presentation, all about everything I learned in CIS105 Intro to Information Systems in my first term here at Strayer University.
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Information Systems Terms and Concepts
Digital Literacy
Knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed for the effective use of digital devices and effective participation in an information-based society
Hardware
The physical components of a computer that you can touch
Software
The coded instructions that tell the computer’s hardware what to do
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We started the course by learning some basic information systems terms and concepts. This was important to get us started learning all about the world of computers. I work in the security field so I didn’t have very much experience with computers at all coming into this course, other than knowing how to download an app on my phone.
One thing I learned about was digital literacy—this means the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed for the effective use of digital devices and effective participation in an information-based society. Being digitally literate is an essential skill for being an online student, working in today’s information-based job market, and just being a citizen of the modern world and being able to do what you need to do as far as taking care of your family, paying your bills, ordering things online, and everyday actions like that.
I also learned the difference between your computer’s hardware and software. The hardware is the physical parts of a computer that you can see and touch, like the keyboard, the monitor, the tower, the mouse, the webcam. The software is the programs that run it – the coded instructions that tell the computer’s hardware what to do. The Microsoft Office Suite that we learn later in the class is an example of computer software.
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Internet
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
A company that provides Internet access for a fee
Protocol
Standard set of rules, requirements, and criteria for all devices and networks to follow
Search Engine
Software system that relies on algorithms to process data and search for content on the Web
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NOTE: In this sample only the first two (2) slides contain sample audio, remember to add audio to each slide.

Next in Weeks 2 and 3 we learned all about the Internet—what it is, what it does, and how to best use it most effectively and efficiently for your needs.
One of the main things I learned here was that an Internet Service Provider, or ISP, is a company that provides Internet access for a fee. Service Electric and Verizon in my home area of Pennsylvania are our main providers.
I learned that protocol refers to the standard set of rules, requirements, and criteria that all devices (computers, iPads, phones, etc.) and networks follow. This allows the devices and networks to communicate with each other.
A search engine is a software system that relies on algorithms to process data and search for content online. Google, Bing, Ask, and Yahoo are all types of search engines. I had used search engines in the past without really understanding what they were or how they worked, so this was really interesting and informative.

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Academic Integrity, Ethics, & Plagiarism
Plagiarism
The act of taking someone else’s ideas, words, or work and passing it off as one’s own
Citations
Widely accepted styles or methods for crediting sources in an academic assignment (such as APA or MLA)
CRAAP Test
List of 5 criteria you can use to check the quality and usability of content found online (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose)
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NOTE: In this sample only the first two (2) slides contain sample audio, remember to add audio to each slide.

The next area we focused on in CIS105 was academic integrity, ethics, and plagiarism. This was an area I was very concerned about when I decided to go back to school. I was afraid of committing plagiarism without realizing, which I know is really common, but now I understand how to avoid it.
Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else’s ideas, words, or work and passing it off as one’s own. It can be done either intentionally or accidentally, but it’s illegal and unethical no matter how it comes about.
One good way to avoid plagiarism in your academic work is by including citations—these are widely accepted styles or methods for crediting sources in an academic assignment. This course didn’t require American Psychological Association (APA) citations, but other courses at Strayer do, so I was glad to be introduced to the process here. Another widely used citation method is Modern Language Association, or MLA.
In week 3 we learned what the CRAAP test is. Although you might laugh at the name, this test is super serious—it allows you to put any online or paper source you find through a series of questions in order to find out if it is a good resource that you should use for an academic assignment. The criteria are: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.

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Managing Digital Assets
Data Management Plan
A system for organizing and storing your digital assets
File
A unit of digital data that has an individual name
Cloud Storage
Remote storage accessed online, such as Google Drive

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NOTE: In this sample only the first two (2) slides contain sample audio, remember to add audio to each slide.

In Week 4 we studied how to manage digital assets. We learned that a data management plan is a system for organizing and storing your digital assets. We learned how important it is to develop and maintain a data management plan for your digital life—how being organized can help you succeed in school, work, at home, and in basically anything you want to do, like starting your own business down the road.
A file just means a unit of digital data that has an individual name. For example, when I save this assignment, it will be as a .pptx file named CIS105_Assignment3_Jane_Doe_9-3-17.pptx.
Another important thing I learned about was cloud storage. I had heard the term “in the cloud” before but never really understood what it meant. Cloud storage just refers to remote storage that you access online instead of on your local device. Some really popular examples are Google Drive, Box.net, OneDrive, and DropBox.
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Microsoft Word
Formatting
Modify text, paragraphs, page layout, headers and footers, and text boxes
Editing
Use Spell Check, Dictionary, Undo, Redo, and Find and Replace features
Collaboration
Add, Edit, and Delete comments and track changes on a document
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NOTE: In this sample only the first two (2) slides contain sample audio, remember to add audio to each slide.

In Week 5 we were introduced to the Microsoft Office Suite, and started with our first tool—Microsoft Word. This is a basic tool that everyone needs to feel comfortable using, especially if you will be returning to college, as you will need it time and time again for writing papers.
I learned how to format a Microsoft Word document—modifying text, paragraphs, page layout, headers and footers, text boxes, and more. I learned how to use the major editing features in Microsoft Word, such as Spell Check, Dictionary, Undo, Redo, and Find and Replace. Using these tools will greatly improve the quality of your assignments.
Finally, I learned about the collaboration features that Microsoft Office has, which allow others to review your work and provide feedback (like your instructor or your coworkers). You can Add, Edit, and Delete comments inside a document and you can enable track changes to let someone see what you changed on the document.
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Microsoft Excel
Workbooks
Create new workbook, open existing workbook, add sheets/tabs to a workbook
Templates
Different templates available based on the data being displayed and analyzed
Formatting
Adjust sizes of columns and rows in a workbook, add/delete, format text
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NOTE: In this sample only the first two (2) slides contain sample audio, remember to add audio to each slide.

In Weeks 7 and 8 we learned how to use Microsoft Excel, an important spreadsheet tool that allows you to present, track, record, analyze, and share data in many different ways.
Excel spreadsheets are called workbooks, and you can add multiple sheets or tabs within them. I learned how to create, open, and edit workbooks and all of the different components within them.
I learned that there are different pre-formatted templates in Excel that you can choose from based on the data you want to work with. For example, if you wanted to create a weekly personal budget, you would need a different template than if you needed to make a project budget at work.
Formatting is a very important skill in Excel. I learned how to adjust the sizes of columns and rows, add new ones or delete existing ones, and format the text and information that goes into the cells in an Excel workbook.
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Formulas

Functions

Pie Charts

Bar Charts

Autocomplete

Microsoft PowerPoint
Slide Master
Stores information on design, theme, and layout
Views
Normal, Slide Sorter, Notes Page, Slide Show, Presenter, and Reading
Layouts
Title and Content, Comparison, Content with Caption, etc.
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NOTE: In this sample only the first two (2) slides contain sample audio, remember to add audio to each slide.

Next, in Weeks 9 and 10, we moved to Microsoft PowerPoint, which is my favorite of the tools that I learned! You can be so creative with PowerPoint, and I hope my creativity came across in this assignment!
The Slide Master is an important feature in PowerPoint—this is like your style guide. Whatever changes you make in the Slide Master automatically affect every slide in your presentation. You use it to store information on your design, theme, and layout and having this guide makes changes to your presentation much easier.
I also learned about the various Views you can use in PowerPoint. There is Normal, Slide Sorter, Notes Page, Slide Show, Presenter, Reading, and several more, depending on what you need to access and why.
You can also switch up your layouts between different slides in a presentation. I learned how to use the different layout options such as Title and Content, Comparison, and Content with Caption, to give my presentations some variety.
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Social Media
Blogs
A regularly updated web page written in a personal, conversational style
Platforms
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Snapchat, Pinterest
Best Practices
Use privacy settings
Be cautious about sharing personal information
Monitor children’s social media use
Be mindful about what you post—is it appropriate? What does it say about you?
Protect your passwords
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NOTE: In this sample only the first two (2) slides contain sample audio, remember to add audio to each slide.

Social media was an area of this course that I was already somewhat familiar with and very interested in. I have heard of people starting blogs and have even read some before. I loved hearing about Naomi Bishop, the writer who travels around the world and uses different social media platforms to keep her fan base up to date and feeling like a community.
A blog is a regularly updated web page written in a personal, conversational style. It’s pretty much like an online public journal.
Some very popular current social media platforms that are widely used for different career and personal purposes are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Snapchat, Pinterest, and many others.
The best practices that we learned were very valuable to keep in mind when using social media, whether you use it professionally, for school, or just personally, or all 3! We learned about privacy settings, making sure to use caution when sharing personal information online, how important it is to carefully monitor your kids’ use of social media, thinking about repercussions and appropriateness before posting something online, and password protection.
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Personal and Professional Accomplishments
Family
My youngest child went to kindergarten this year—what a milestone!
Work
I got a part-time job two nights a week in private security that will help my family financially and will help me get through school.
School
I am just proud of myself for sticking with my first two classes this term. I made it past the hardest part and am well on my way to a degree!
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NOTE: In this sample only the first two (2) slides contain sample audio, remember to add audio to each slide.

During these last few months, my family and I have had several changes and accomplishments to celebrate! My youngest daughter went to kindergarten this year, which was a huge change! She loves her teacher and is doing great! Her big brothers are also in elementary school, so now they are finally all together in the same school and this also helps me have a bit more control over my time. This is the reason I decided to return to college now, since the timing was right!
This change also allowed me to return to work a few nights a week as a security guard at the same company where I used to work before I had my kids. I feel great about helping out more financially, and although it has been tough balancing work, family, and school, I know it will be worth it in the long run.
The biggest accomplishment, though, I think, is just making it through my first semester back to school at Strayer University. Every time I got frustrated, stressed out, or felt like I couldn’t do it all, my family encouraged me to keep going. Now I am signing up for my next semester’s classes and I know I will make it through to my degree and a better future!
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Conclusion
TestOut Desktop Pro
I plan to keep going to finish the entire TestOut Desktop Pro course and take the certification exam.
MS Office Tools
I plan to keep practicing and actively using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in order to be more efficient in my Strayer courses next term.
Digital Management
I plan to continue with the digital management system I created for my schoolwork and add to it as needed. I am determined to stay organized with all files and materials needed for school in order to better my chances of doing well and graduating.
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NOTE: In this sample only the first two (2) slides contain sample audio, remember to add audio to each slide.

In conclusion, I plan after this course ends on finishing out the TestOut program, since I will still have access to it through their website for over a year! But I plan on finishing it in the next few months, while it’s still fresh in my mind, and going for my Desktop Pro certification. I know this will be a great addition to my resume, since I plan on eventually pursuing a career in office administration or some area in business. For the same reason, I will keep my Microsoft Office skills fresh because I know I will need them for all of my classes here at Strayer as well as for my future career.
Finally, I will continue to maintain the digital management system I created for my schoolwork for this class. I have already added the files I used in my other course this semester, and will keep building with my next term’s courses and up through until graduation! Staying on top of my classwork and getting good grades will be easier if I stay organized!
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