Better Than Bullet Points

Featuring a complete update of the previous edition to reflect the new and expanded tools of PowerPoint 2013. By providing in-depth guidance, specific instructions, and helpful exercises, the book helps everyday trainers to create potent e-learning through the readily available popular desktop application. Established expert Jane Bozarth guides readers through the powerful new and updated features of the soon-to-be-released 2013 version, covering everything from text to art, animation to interactivity. If you have PowerPoint, this book will immediately put free real-world tools in your hands. Also features many online tools, including relevant technical design elements from older PowerPoint versions as well as a wealth of additional tools, templates, and examples.

SECTION ONE: FOUNDATIONS
Chapter One: Creating E-Learning with PowerPoint
Chapter Two: It's About Design, Not Software

SECTION TWO: INTERFACE AND CONTENT
Chapter Three: The Graphic User Interface and Course Architecture
Chapter 4 Designing for Impact
Chapter Five: Creating and Editing Art
Chapter Six: Animation
Chapter Seven: Interactivity
Chapter Eight: Add-Ons, Blending, Performance Support, and Job Aids
Chapter Nine: Adding Narration and Multimedia

SECTION THREE: DELIVERY AND SUPPORT
Chapter Ten: Saving, Uploading, and Distributing
Appendix: PowerPoint Basics
References and Other Sources
Other Resources

Website Contents vii

List of Figures and Tables xi

Acknowledgments xxiii

Introduction xxv

Section 1 Foundations

Chapter 1 Creating e-Learning with PowerPoint 3

Examples 4

Let’s Get Started 10

Versions 11

One More Thing 15

Next Step: It’s About Design, Not Software 15

Chapter 2 It’s About Design, Not Software 17

Who Are Your Learners? 17

Objectives and Strategies 18

Cognitive Load 23

About mLearning 27

Choosing a Treatment 30

Writer’s Block? 33

Can You Find a Story? 34

From Classroom to Online: Think “Transform,” Not “Transfer” 37

Cut-n-Chunk 37

What’s Working? What’s Not? 38

Inventory Your Assets 38

Why Storyboard? 41

Types of Storyboards 42

Next Stop: The program Interface and Architecture 46

Section 2 Interface and Content

Chapter 3 Graphic User Interface and Course Architecture 51

Graphic User Interface 52

GUI Basics 53

Learner Control: Some Decisions 57

Navigation Tools and Action Buttons 57

Eye Movement and Placement of Items 62

Building the GUI 66

Architecture 76

Next Stop: Designing for Impact 79

Chapter 4 Designing for Impact 81

Use Graphics with Soul 81

Blunders 92

Text 98

Next Stop: Creating and Editing Art 100

Chapter 5 Creating and Editing Art 101

Bitmap or Vector? 101

Working with Shapes and ClipArt 103

Editing Photos in PowerPoint 115

MS Paint 119

File Size: Compressing Images 124

New Horizons 125

Next Stop: Animation 126

Chapter 6 Animation 127

Animation Basics 129

Animations That Teach 133

Next Stop: Interactivity 153

Chapter 7 Interactivity 155

It’s All About Hyperlinking 156

Quizzes—Some Shaped Like Games 162

Linking to External Games and Quizzes 181

Simulations 187

Case Studies and Stories 195

The Skinny on Hyperlinking 200

What About “Gamification”? 201

Mazes 202

Treasure Hunts 205

About Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) 206

Next Stop: Add-Ons, Blending, Performance Support, and Job Aids 207

Chapter 8 Add-Ons, Blending, Performance Support, and Job Aids 209

Other Documents 209

Site Samplers 210

Add-On Software 211

“Blending” 214

Performance Support, Job Aids, and the Nice to Know 215

Next Stop: Adding Narration and Multimedia 224

Chapter 9 Adding Narration and Multimedia 225

Adding Narration 225

Adding Sound Effects and Music 229

Adding Video 234

Next Stop: Saving, Uploading, and Distributing Your Program 240

Section 3 Delivery and Support

Chapter 10 Distributing Your e-Learning Program 243

Saving and Uploading Your Files 245

Tracking 251

Test, Test, Test—and Launch! 255

Summary 258

Appendix: PowerPoint Basics 261

References and Other Sources 273

Other Resources 277

Index 279

About the Author 287

Jane Bozarth is the e-learning coordinator with the North Carolina Office of State Personnel's Human Resources Development Group. She is the author of e-Learning Solutions on a Shoestring, From Analysis to Evaluation, and Social Media for Trainers. She can be contacted through her website www.bozarthzone.com.

Better Than Bullet Points is a practical, hands-on guide that offers the information and tools needed to make e-learning and PowerPoint® presentations stand out from the crowd. This second edition of the popular resource shows how to tap into the new robust and updated features of the latest version of PowerPoint®. Throughout the book, Bozarth includes specific instructions and helpful exercises that cover everything from text to art, animation to interactivity. If you have PowerPoint®, this book will immediately put free real-world tools in your hands. In addition, the book features online tools as well as a wealth of additional effective tools, helpful templates, and illustrative examples.

Praise for the Second Edition of Better Than Bullet Points

"Jane has done it again! Her straightforward style, emphasis on design over technology, and passion for helping instructional designers, trainers, and teachers create compelling, meaningful instruction sets this book apart. If you design any type of learning, you need to read this book."

—Karl M. Kapp, author, The Gamification of Learning and Instruction

"This is required text for all our graduate students. It combines excellent instructional design principles and technology to help practitioners produce engaging, effective, and timely e-learning in their organizations."

—Dr. Brenda S. Levya-Gardner, director, Human Resource Development Graduate Program Xavier University

"If you are an instructional designer or an instructor-led facilitator, this new edition is a must-have for any library and should be a must-read for anyone in the training industry."

—Kevin Thorn, Chief NuggetHead, NuggetHead Studioz

"Jane once again has made us all effective designers and developers by expanding our creative uses of PowerPoint®. Read this book and learn simplicity and engagement."

—Ray Jimenez, CEO, Stories to Learning System