Microsoft PowerPoint is a slides-based presentation tool that comes as part of Microsoft's Office 365 package. It can be used by teachers and students as a way of creating slideshows.
PowerPoint allows users to share the presentations live, in the room, as well as digitally online via a video conference interface. Students can also work through a presentation in their own time, making this a versatile way to communicate.
But with lots of complex functionality, designed for more than classroom use, is this a tool that can be difficult to learn, and is it better than free alternatives from the likes of Google?
Read on to find out everything you need to know about Microsoft PowerPoint for education.
What is Microsoft PowerPoint?
Microsoft PowerPoint is a slideshow presentation tool; in fact, it was one of the first and is still one of the most famous and widely used. Mainly aimed at business use, PowerPoint is crammed full of powerful features.
For schools already using the Microsoft ecosystem of software, this is a very easy tool to integrate and allows for simple sharing of presentations with students, other teachers, and parents. Go beyond the Microsoft world though and that can become more difficult unless you're using the online specific version of PowerPoint, as opposed to the more feature-rich full software – but more on that in the cost section below.
Microsoft PowerPoint can be used from scratch but also offers a broad library of templates that allow for quick and easy construction of presentations with a high-quality finish. That means the end result can be more engaging and can take far less time and effort to create, both for teachers and students.
Collaboration, in real-time, is also an option in the case of the online version of PowerPoint, making this useful as a place for students to work together even when physically distanced.
How does Microsoft PowerPoint work?
Microsoft PowerPoint follows the layout you may have experienced before in Word or Excel. You start with a selection of template options, or a blank start, which brings you into the editing mode. This has the slides down the left of the screen with a larger central part showing the current slide. Above that are the options in word and icon formats.
Editing is very easy, as when you select a section of the slide, that element will then be available to customize with prompts popping up to help. Drag and drop is also an option for moving items about or adding images into your slides, for example.
So the basic use of Microsoft PowerPoint is simple enough but there are lot of options. This could be daunting but Microsoft offers plenty of support so you can dive into those options to explore more. The Microsoft 365 support center has how-to articles, step-by-step video tutorials, an active community forum and even a 24/7 live chat support team.
Once you're happy with your presentation, you can share it using a simple link, or you can present it to the class in the room or digitally by simply hitting the play icon. This also lets you see one screen, behind the scenes if you like, while the students just see the slides as each comes up – ideal if you want to keep notes and answers hidden.
What are the best Microsoft PowerPoint features?
Microsoft PowerPoint ease of use makes it a great tool for education. The ability to drag and drop images, music, video, files, and more into the slide and have the software do the work of converting and fitting it is an often underrated feature.
Collaboration is a great feature that allows students to work together on projects. Since students can see one another's changes, live, they don't need to be in the same room or in communication to work effectively together. Of course, having a bit of a plan of who does what also helps avoid any overlap.
Thanks to the wide use of Microsoft tools there is a broad array of devices on which PowerPoint will work, from desktop computers and laptops to tablets and smartphones. It also plays nice with lots of projectors and smartboards, making presentations in varying locations an easy option, all using digital content stored in the cloud.
Microsoft PowerPoint offers great 3D support, making it a useful tool for sharing images, renders, and more. From physical objects in design or science class to virtual interactive maps, there's lots you can integrate into a Microsoft PowerPoint slide.
How much does Microsoft PowerPoint cost?
Microsoft charges for PowerPoint in varying ways, including a free option.
The Office 365 A1 plan gets you a host of online (slightly limited) versions of the apps, including PowerPoint, for free. This also comes with Outlook, Word, Excel, OneNote, Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and more.
Step up to the Office 365 A3 plan, at $3.25 per user per month for staff or $2.50 per student, and you get all the above. You also get access to the full desktop apps as well as additional management and security tools.
Go for the top Office 365 A5 plan and it's $8 per user per month for staff and $6 per student. This gets you all the above plus "best-in-class intelligent security management", advanced compliance and analytics systems.
