Microsoft PowerPoint 365 for Beginners

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Details

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Paid Certificate Available
Duration & workload

11 hours 27 minutes
Sessions

On-Demand
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

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A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Mastering presentations starts here. This beginner-friendly course helps you unlock the full potential of Microsoft PowerPoint 365 through practical, hands-on lessons and real-world examples. Whether you're building slides for work, school, or personal projects, you'll gain a solid foundation in design principles, content creation, and professional delivery techniques. You'll begin by exploring the differences between PowerPoint 365 desktop and online, followed by modern slide design, templates, and quick-start tools. As you move through the course, you'll build presentations from the ground up—working with layouts, text, shapes, images, and AI-powered design features. Each section ends with an exercise to reinforce what you've learned. Next, you'll dive into creative visuals, animations, video and audio integration, as well as accessibility tools. You’ll also learn to prepare and deliver your presentation effectively using tools like Presenter View, PowerPoint Live, and real-time feedback forms. This course is ideal for students, educators, professionals, and entrepreneurs looking to build visually compelling and functional slide decks. No prior experience with PowerPoint is necessary. The course is designed for beginners and moves at a comfortable pace with guided exercises. By the end of the course, you will be able to design, build, and deliver professional-grade presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint 365 with confidence—leveraging templates, multimedia, animations, and AI-powered tools like Microsoft Copilot to enhance your impact.

Syllabus

Course Introduction

In this module, we will introduce the course structure and key learning outcomes to set the stage for your PowerPoint journey. You'll explore the differences between the desktop and online versions of PowerPoint 365, helping you choose the best tool for your needs. To build confidence, you'll complete a hands-on exercise that gets you started with the application.

Modern Slide Layouts

In this module, we will explore the foundational rules of presentation design that ensure clarity and visual appeal. You’ll discover where to find free tools and creative ideas to inspire your slides. A guided exercise helps you apply these principles in real time.

Quick Start

In this module, we will help you kickstart your presentation-building process with built-in PowerPoint features. You'll learn to leverage themes, templates, and the Quick Starter tool to create structure quickly. You'll also discover how to save and manage presentations in the cloud using OneDrive.

Essential Basics

In this module, we will guide you through the core PowerPoint interface and show how to tailor it to your workflow. You’ll learn to boost efficiency with keyboard shortcuts and the customizable Quick Access Toolbar. Bing Copilot integration will also be introduced as a smart assistant for content creation.

Work with Slides

In this module, we will dive into the essentials of creating, organizing, and managing slides. You’ll explore layout tools, background options, and AI features like Designer. From Slide Master to section grouping and inter-deck slide transfer, you’ll gain full control of your slide structure.

Get Creative with Images and Shapes

In this module, we will explore how to enrich your presentations using images, shapes, and visual effects. You’ll learn to control object placement, fill shapes with images, and apply stylistic enhancements. A hands-on exercise helps you practice these creative techniques.

Modern Text Effects

In this module, we will focus on transforming basic text into attention-grabbing design elements. You’ll explore effects like image-filled text, gradients, and layered styles. A practical exercise will help solidify your ability to apply these modern text enhancements.

Diagrams, Charts and Screenshots

In this module, we will introduce tools for creating data-driven visuals using charts and SmartArt. You’ll also learn how to enhance presentations with screenshots and clippings. A dedicated exercise ensures you can apply these techniques effectively.

Video, Audio and Animation

In this module, we will elevate your presentations with rich multimedia. You’ll learn to insert video and audio, animate content, and use transitions for smoother flow. You'll also create interactive navigation with Zoom features and practice your skills in an engaging exercise.

Create Accessible Presentations

In this module, we will focus on making presentations accessible for all audiences. You'll explore dictation features, subtitles, and how to add alt text to visuals. The module ends with an exercise to reinforce accessibility best practices.

Prepare a Presentation for Delivery

In this module, we will prepare your presentation for live delivery. You’ll rehearse with Presenter Coach, organize slides with speaker notes, and create custom shows for specific viewers. You'll also explore how to share and manage presentation versions with ease.

Deliver the Presentation

In this module, we will help you deliver your presentation smoothly and professionally. You’ll learn how to use Presenter View and present within Microsoft Teams. You'll also gather live audience feedback using integrated forms and reinforce your skills in a delivery-focused exercise.

Reuse the Presentation

In this module, we will show you how to save time by reusing and repurposing your presentations. You’ll create templates, export to multiple file types, and record video versions of your slide deck. A hands-on exercise will help reinforce content reusability skills.

The Future of PowerPoint

In this module, we will look ahead at the evolving capabilities of PowerPoint, powered by AI. You'll discover how to use Microsoft Copilot and Bing integration for smarter workflows. With Microsoft Create, you'll push the boundaries of what’s possible in slide design.

Course Close

In this module, we will wrap up your PowerPoint 365 journey with a review of major takeaways. You'll reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ve progressed from beginner to confident user. We’ll also share guidance on where to go next in your presentation skills development.