- course details
- Dates and time: 6 – 8:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb 25 - Mar 6, 2025
- Format: Online, instructor-led live sessions on Zoom
- Number of sessions: 4
- Instructional fee: $325, reduced fees available (see Cost section below for details)
Mastering PowerPoint is a vital skill in today’s world, where effective communication and visual storytelling are key to success. Whether you’re delivering a business pitch, teaching a class, or presenting your ideas, PowerPoint helps you organize your thoughts, engage your audience, and convey complex information clearly and professionally.
This course will help you master the art of designing and delivering impactful presentations. Each topic will contain a short presentation of the concepts followed by step-by-step, hands-on demonstrations by the instructor. You will be following the steps to practice on your computer along with the instructor.
The course assumes limited or no prior background in PowerPoint.
Do I need Microsoft PowerPoint© for this course?
Yes, you need to have access to PowerPoint on your computer to follow the lectures. If you don't already have PowerPoint, you can use the free online version that runs in a web browser. All you need is a free Microsoft account.
What you will learn
- How to design eye-catching slides with text, images, tables, charts, and more
- Advanced tools like animations, multimedia integration, and action buttons
- The secrets of crafting presentations that are clear and engaging
- Tips and tricks to prepare, rehearse, and deliver with confidence
Who should attend
Working professionals, engineers, managers, marketers, consultants, and team leaders whose job involves presenting data, leading meetings, or pitching projects.
Course content
A typical course covers the following:
- Introduction to PowerPoint & Fundamentals of Presentations
- Principles of a good presentation, creating a new PowerPoint presentation, navigating the interface, working with text
- Enhancing Slides with Visuals
- Slide templates and layouts, adding tables, charts, images, shapes, video, icons, and SmartArt
- Advanced Tools and Techniques
- Adding and editing animations, slide transitions, audio elements, hyperlinks and action buttons, timing slides for a slideshow
- Presentation Delivery
- Structuring a presentation, slide show modes, engaging the audience, turning your presentation into a video
Instructor
Aref Majdara received his Ph.D. from Michigan Technological University. Currently, he is an assistant professor of Electrical Engineering at Washington State University Vancouver. He teaches a wide range of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science courses. His areas of interest include machine learning, density estimation, and embedded systems. Dr. Majdara uses PowerPoint extensively for lecture presentations and technical presentations at professional meetings.
Cost
The instructional fee is $325. There are limited number of seats available for employees of small businesses with fewer than 150 employees ($245), non-profits and educational institutions ($179), and for current WSU students ($75) and employees ($179). All instructional fees are per person and include a nonrefundable administrative fee of $75. See Registration for details.
The registration fee is the same regardless of residence.
Meetings and format
The course is delivered via Zoom videoconference with live instruction. To attend, you need a computer with webcam, microphone and high-speed internet.
Each Zoom session allows for live interactions with the instructor and other students via chat, web conferencing or phone, all in real time. Assignments and other materials will be available online through a web-based learning management system.
Certificate completion
- Attend at least 3 of 4 sessions