Can I Learn PowerPoint On My Own?

After nearly 40 years on the market, PowerPoint is still the industry-standard presentation software, used in areas as diverse as education, nonprofit, FinTech, government, and media. People also use the software outside of the professional sphere: it’s become a go-to resource for children who need to create school projects, families who want to memorialize occasions, and volunteers who’d like to share materials in the context of civic and religious organizations. 

The uses of PowerPoint are seemingly endless--and the software is surprisingly easy to begin using. Anyone who is familiar with the suite of Microsoft programs known as Office or 365 will notice how many similarities PowerPoint shares with Excel and Word, which means that even PowerPoint beginners are likely to feel comfortable with the format of the program itself.

For some people, the basic functions of PowerPoint will be enough. Those who are using it outside of the workplace may not want to invest time or money in learning PowerPoint when their uses of the program are either simple or sporadic. This article addresses how students can learn PowerPoint on their own, how far self-study may get them, and what alternatives are available if learning independently becomes overwhelming. 

Advantages to Self-Teaching PowerPoint

A student’s goals will be a big factor in determining how to learn PowerPoint. Some students may be looking to understand enough about the program to build a simple presentation for work or school. They may want to use the most basic tools: adding text and stock images or photos, understanding how to move from one slide to the next, learning how to save and share a PowerPoint file. For these students, self-teaching is a good way to go. For one thing, it saves money. There are plenty of online resources that are free and easily accessible. These resources are available at the click of a button and don’t require any previous knowledge, so the barrier to entry is quite low.

Another benefit of self-teaching is learning at a pace that fits the scheduling needs of the individual student. Busy people with a variety of work and family obligations may feel it’s too challenging to try and fit in one more thing, like a multi-hour class or days-long bootcamp. Watching a few PowerPoint tutorials can feel easier: it can replace social media scrolling or a favorite streaming show, all while making the learner feel more productive. PowerPoint skills are also easy to implement, so students will have something to show for themselves. Whether designing a work presentation or building a slide deck for a family reunion, it can be satisfying to learn enough about PowerPoint--and quickly--to be able to put it to use right away. 

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PowerPoint Self-Teaching Tools

It may sound counterintuitive to choose a low-tech method of learning a tech-based skill, but it can be a way of addressing your unique learning style. If it feels challenging to open up a PowerPoint program and begin to play around, that could be because a computer program is not your preferred modality. There are plenty of books on the market that teach the basics of PowerPoint, and perhaps your brain will process that information better when reading it off the page. Auditory learners may prefer to hear the book read to them as an audiobook, and there are also podcast episodes available that break down how to build effective presentations using PowerPoint.

There are plenty of online resources that will help a motivated student learn PowerPoint. Microsoft Support offers free tutorials on their web site, and there are lots of YouTube videos by knowledgeable PowerPoint users that can help learners to understand the basics or troubleshoot particular problem areas. Noble Desktop's PowerPoint Presentation Design seminar is a free, hourlong webinar that provides an engaging introduction to building effective and attractive presentations in PowerPoint.

Another place to start is with a self-paced, on-demand class. There are several models for this type of class, one of which is membership-based. Platforms like SkillShare offer the option of a monthly or yearly fee (the yearly subscription will usually end up being significantly cheaper), often with a free trial month. Fees will range from roughly $15 to $35 a month, with higher prices for so-called premium memberships. The benefit of this subscription-style platform is that generally all classes are covered, so no additional fees are needed. For some students, this can take the sting out of trying a class and dropping out--but the flip side is that dropout rates tend to be higher. In fact, by some estimates, 90% of people don’t finish an online class of this nature. 

Other on-demand classes use a pay-as-you-go model. An introductory PowerPoint class at a site like Udemy will cost about $50 for a series of video lectures that will last an hour or two. Students will also have access to a collection of other downloadable resources to help bolster learning. All in all, a motivated student could learn the fundamentals in a few hours--but again, the self-paced nature of the course makes it easy to give up part way through.

Drawbacks to Learning PowerPoint on Your Own

While learning PowerPoint independently can be an inexpensive and easy way to tackle some of the basics, this method has a lot of drawbacks. For one thing, it works best for those learners who are looking to understand the fundamentals--those hoping to gain advanced skills may find they hit a wall. Yes, there are tutorials and resources to teach some of these advanced skills, but without a very solid grounding in the basics it can be hard to learn them alone. Students are much more likely to hit roadblocks as they move through the more challenging concepts--roadblocks that might have been navigable with the right teacher.

Teaching style is a significant factor when learning a new program. Free or low cost online resources may feature warm and engaging instructors, and books and podcasts may be written in a compelling way, but they stop short of the often necessary back-and-forth that can help learners gain a deeper understanding of the material. Another missing component in self-directed learning is the accountability inherent in a live class. Some students thrive in a self-paced environment, but many find that it is hard to maintain their enthusiasm once they encounter complicated processes that they can’t figure out on their own. It’s so much easier to give up without a teacher and classmates to provide not only guidance but encouragement.

Alternatives to Learning PowerPoint on Your Own

Encouragement, guidance, support: all the hallmarks of a good teacher in a structured classroom setting. Sure, it’s possible to learn PowerPoint skills on your own, but it will likely be easier and more enjoyable in an environment that offers these important, but sometimes overlooked, benefits. A live online or in-person class will feel like a breath of fresh air for those learners who’ve been struggling to pick up the skills independently through free online resources, books, or on-demand classes.

An in-person PowerPoint class is the right fit for some. It provides a stimulating classroom environment, with teacher oversight and a distraction-free place to learn. It can be fun to go “back to school,” in part because of the camaraderie of a group of classmates working on projects at the same time. A good teacher will foster a sense of growth mindset, the idea that our abilities are not fixed but that we can continue to learn and improve. This kind of encouraging classroom space will make it easier to take on material that might otherwise be challenging. In-person classes are available in most metro areas and will work well for those able to commute to a computer training center, but live online classes will be a better fit if in-person classes are inaccessible. 

Live online PowerPoint classes offer the best of both worlds for many people--the ability to learn from home (or from anywhere else with decent wi-fi) paired with direct instruction and the accountability that comes with it. These classes are offered over platforms like Zoom and provide the same level of close contact between teacher and student that would come with an in-person class. Both in-person and live online classes are often available at basic and advanced levels, or can be taken as an all-in-one bootcamp. The benefit of a bootcamp is being able to move quickly through beginner concepts to more advanced material, so that you walk away from the class with all the skills you need to design effective and attractive presentations using PowerPoint. Noble Desktop offers Level I, Level II, and PowerPoint Bootcamp classes at their New York City campus or live online. With instruction led by industry experts and a project-based, bespoke curriculum, the classes will teach you everything you need to know about PowerPoint in a dynamic and fun learning environment. If you’re ready to go beyond self-directed learning, Noble Desktop is your best bet to gain next-level skills in presentation design.