PowerPoint!

PowerPoint can be a very intimidating program. However, it is a pretty useful tool when you have to give presentations. So, instead of having you read and research the best ways to handle PowerPoint, here are my 5 PowerTips to help you on your way to PowerPresentations.
1. When I took BCIS in 10th grade and we learned about PowerPoint, my teacher had a rule about text on slides: no more than 5 bullets, no more than 7 words each. This actually works pretty well because it helps eliminate clutter and keeps each slide simple.
2. Do NOT use use a bajillion and one photographs and stop to explain every.single.one. We as the audience will get very bored very fast. Limit photos to the necessary, and know what you want to say about each so you don't ramble on about your pet fish named Harold for 20 minutes. No matter how cool Harold is, I can promise you- we don't care.
3. Be original in your colors/animations/etc. We're still kids. We like bright colors. Make your photos zoom on and off the screen. Make the background catching. Add music or a video. Keep us interested. But don't go overboard. Simplicity is a virtue. Learn it.
4. Make sure we can see it from the back row. If your font is teeny, we can't see it, and will get bored. Make pictures, charts, graphs, diagrams, etc. large enough so we can easily see what it is and/or says. This also forces you to keep it simple, as 100 words per slide just will not be viewable from the back row.
5. And just to make sure you completely understand- do NOT, under any circumstances, make a 5 slide PowerPoint into a 50 minute presentation. You are saying way too much. You need to cut down the material on each slide, know what you want to say in advance, make animations fun but simple, and make sure we can easily view what is on the slide.
I know PowerPoint seems like a ginormous mass of scary computerisms, but never fear, you're bigger than that computer! Go take charge and use your new knowledge to grasp PowerPoint by its pointy ears and make some stellar slideshows.