Did you know that you can broadcast a PowerPoint 2010 presentation? Essentially, you are able to send a link via email to the people with whom you would like to share the presentation. Then, they can all watch the show at the same time! If I have not mentioned this before, I LOVE this feature! In the education/training business, this tool is priceless! I can imagine that you could use this feature in so many ways in the corporate world, too!
To get the presentation to broadcast, you have to employ the use of a broadcast service. If you have a Sharepoint site set up with the Microsoft Office Web Apps installed, you can have your administrator create a broadcast site for you and the audience members. Note: The audience members must be able to obtain access to the Sharepoint broadcast site, too, for it to work correctly. Since I do not have a Sharepoint site, I use the PowerPoint Broadcast Service. Anyone can get a free Windows Live ID and then use it to broadcast their PowerPoint.
There are some factors to consider when setting up your PowerPoint for broadcast. First, you must have all of the audience members able to use Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari for Mac browsers to connect to the Internet. Second, some of your transitions, audio, and video may need to be adjusted. All transitions will have a Fade effect during the broadcast. Audio and videos will not show or play to your audience. So, you might need to upload the video to a separate site to be able to show it to anyone watching your presentation.
After making the above changes/adjustments, if necessary, you are ready to broadcast! Click on the Slide Show tab and then select the Broadcast Slide show button (in the Start Slide Show group). If you want to use the Broadcast service, then click “Start Broadcast” in the Broadcast Slide Show dialog box. If you are using another Sharepoint service, then you will need to click “Change Broadcast Service”. You will then need to select the service you would like to use to broadcast your show. If you cannot see the service you would like to use, then you will need to select “Add a new service”.
After choosing the Start Broadcast button, a web address (URL) will be created for you. You can send it out via email by copying and pasting the link into the body of your email. Each of the participants in your broadcast will then be able to click on the unique web address in the email and see the presentation after you have selected “Start Slide Show”. During your presentation broadcast, you will have a “Broadcast” tab that will appear with options for you during the presentation. You can end the show by hitting the ESC key to end your PowerPoint show and then click “End Broadcast”.
Enjoy using this great new feature in PowerPoint 2010!!
From time to time, I get to attend technology workshops that someone else teaches. It is such a treat (for the most part) to just show up, sit down, and learn. It is nice to have a break from having to prepare, setup, teach, and clean up. Although, after the session was over, I did help the trainer shut down the computers and get the room picked up. I know how much I appreciate that when I am doing a training session! 
I know, downsizing and training aren’t usually put together. Most corporations do not invest the extra money in training workers they are letting go. That is why I was surprised to be talking to my clients during a recent morning training session and find out that their whole department will not exist in a couple of months. 
Last week, I was doing some research for a workshop on PowerPoint and presentation tips. I thought that I would share the tips and information that I found. There may be some tips that you already know. Hopefully, you’ll come away with a few new worthwhile nuggets after reading this post. I know I sure did!
Have you ever thought about becoming Microsoft certified in Word, Excel, Access, Outlook or PowerPoint? I’m surprised at how many of the clients I train have not thought about adding a Microsoft Office Specialist certificate to their list of accomplishments.
Recently one of my family members, after many years of contemplation, decided to open her own business. She gave me a call and asked me to help her create some of the forms she’ll need. I was impressed that she had already assembled some paper forms that she liked to use for ideas when we created the ones for her soon-to-be formed new company.
In last week’s blog, I looked at Microsoft Office 2010 beta version. My focus was mainly on the overall changes across the whole suite of applications. I wanted to look at the new updates to the individual applications, too.
I’ve been researching Office 2010 lately. Based on my first impression, I’m pretty excited about adopting it when it is released in the first half of 2010. As a trainer for Versitas, I can see so many fun ways to integrate the new elements into a great “new features” class.
