Fact Sheet: How To Use Powerpoint or Canva

By JPUncategorized

Introduction

In today’s digital age, the ability to create engaging and professional presentations is a crucial skill for students across various disciplines. PowerPoint and Canva are two powerful tools that offer a range of functionalities to enhance the visual appeal and effectiveness of your presentations.

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on using both platforms, covering essential tasks such as changing themes, fonts, and backgrounds, as well as adding and formatting images. As you work on this final project, mastering these tools will help you communicate your ideas clearly and impressively.

PowerPoint Presentation

1. Changing the Theme:

  • Open your PowerPoint presentation.
  • Navigate to the Design tab on the ribbon.
  • Browse through the Themes gallery.
  • Click on a theme to apply it to all slides.

2. Changing Font Style and Size:

  • Select the text you want to modify.
  • Go to the Home tab.
  • Use the Font drop-down menu to change the font style.
  • Adjust the size using the Font Size drop-down menu.

3. Changing Font Color:

  • Highlight the text whose color needs to be changed.
  • Under the Home tab, click on the Font Color button.
  • Choose a new color from the palette.

4. Changing Background Color:

  • Right-click on the slide background.
  • Select Format Background.
  • Choose Solid Fill and pick a color, or select Gradient Fill for a gradient effect.

5. Adding and Formatting Images:

  • Go to the Insert tab.
  • Click on Pictures to add images from your computer.
  • Use the formatting tools that appear on the Picture Format tab to adjust the image as needed.

6. Saving and Exporting:

  • Click File > Save to save your work.
  • To export, click File > Export and choose the desired format (e.g., PDF).

Canva Presentation

1. Changing the Theme:

  • Log in to your Canva account and open your presentation.
  • Click on Templates on the sidebar.
  • Browse through the themes. Click on one to apply it to your entire presentation or select individual pages to apply different themes.

2. Changing Font Style and Size:

  • Click on the text you wish to edit.
  • A text editor toolbar appears above.
  • Select a new font style and size from the drop-down menus in the toolbar.

3. Changing Font Color:

  • Select the text.
  • Click the Text color (A) icon in the editor toolbar.
  • Pick a new color or use a custom color code.

4. Changing Background Color:

  • Click on the background of the slide.
  • Select the colored square (background color) from the toolbar.
  • Choose a new color or create a custom color.

5. Adding and Formatting Images:

  • Click Uploads on the sidebar, then Upload an image or video.
  • Once uploaded, click on the image to add it to your slide.
  • Drag the corners to resize or use the toolbar to crop and adjust the image.

6. Saving and Sharing:

  • Canva auto-saves your work. You can also click File > Save to ensure all changes are saved.
  • To share, click Share on the top right, choose Present or Download, and select your preferred format.

These notes should help students understand the basic functions needed to create professional and visually appealing presentations using both PowerPoint and Canva.

Conclusion

By following the detailed steps outlined for both PowerPoint and Canva, you can elevate the quality of your presentations and ensure they stand out. Practicing these skills will allow you to harness the full potential of these versatile tools, enhancing both your academic and professional endeavors. Keep experimenting with different styles and features to find what works best for your specific needs and audience.