Microsoft PowerPoint, part of the Microsoft Office suite, is a software program for creating slideshow presentations. Once you’ve decided to learn PowerPoint, the next important question is deciding how you plan to learn these skills. Most students find that they learn better when they receive guided training, and there is no shortage of available options for students to receive guidance in their PowerPoint training. To learn more about the different PowerPoint training options and what advantages and disadvantages they carry with them, read on.

What is PowerPoint?

Microsoft PowerPoint is a slideshow editing tool built to help users organize information, communicate effectively, and produce presentations to deliver through live address or without a presenter. It is the most commonly used presentation software across almost all professional industries. With PowerPoint, users can easily create vibrant and memorable presentations that quickly communicate meaning in a professional setting. They can add animations, transitions, graphics, and other imagery to their slides, ensuring they produce both communicative and impressive presentations for their audience.

Read more about what PowerPoint is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with PowerPoint Skills?

PowerPoint allows users to create vibrant and memorable visual presentations that can serve a wide variety of purposes. Its advanced features let users integrate dynamic animations and 3D-modeled graphics into their designs, creating more complex presentations than simple text projected onto a screen. Some people use PowerPoint to create informative slideshows that condense complicated information into a single, easy-to-digest presentation. This makes the program ideal for instructors and professionals who regularly host informational seminars. Other users utilize the program to persuade audiences, such as entrepreneurs meeting with potential investors, who might use PowerPoint to create memorable and persuasive presentations that convince the audience to invest in a product.

Why Training Format Matters

Students who want to learn PowerPoint don’t have to settle for the first class they see; instead, they have a lot of different options to choose from. PowerPoint classes follow a variety of formats, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. Students can choose from varying levels of flexibility, personal interaction, and differing time commitments and tuition costs. 

Types of Training Formats

Paid PowerPoint classes typically occur in-person, live online, or on-demand. There are also free PowerPoint class options online. However, these are usually much less comprehensive than a paid course.

Live In-Person Classes

An in-person class is a traditional way to learn, and even with the rising popularity of online courses, this option remains popular. With in-person learning, there tends to be a higher level of social interaction with instructors and other students and a more fluid exchange of ideas. Feedback is also immediate. In addition, students often report leaving an in-person class having made valuable networking connections.

However, in-person classes also have the least amount of flexibility. Students must be able to get to that physical location to attend an in-person class, which means they are limited to nearby options. Commuting to a class also takes time and costs money. Not only that, but in-person tuition costs also tend to run higher.

Live Online Classes

One of the most significant advantages of live online classes over in-person ones is that they allow more options. Students can attend an online class from anywhere with an internet connection, which means they have access to a much greater number of courses. Live online classes are similar to in-person ones in the way that instructors lecture live, and students can get immediate feedback. Some live online classes even allow instructors to see and control student screens just as they would be able to in a live classroom.

There are potential downsides to learning online, though. One is that students sometimes have to deal with technological issues such as an internet connection going down. Online students are also more likely to face distractions. Unlike in-person classes, which take place in a classroom specifically designed for learning, online learning is completed from home, where it can be more difficult to focus.

On-Demand Classes

On-demand classes are the most flexible way to learn PowerPoint because they allow students to work independently. Unlike live classes, which require students to attend class at a specific time, on-demand classes are self-paced, with learners deciding when to learn and for how long. This means that students can fit learning into any schedule. On-demand classes also allow students to slow down or repeat coursework as much as they want, which can increase understanding and retention of the material.

However, although the lack of live instruction gives on-demand classes a high level of flexibility, it also means that when students need help, they can’t ask questions and get immediate feedback. The lack of live, interactive instruction can also make it more difficult to understand complex topics. Finally, self-paced learning requires self-discipline and is not the best learning style for everybody.

Free Courses

In addition to paid options like in-person or online classes, students will find a number of free PowerPoint resources online. Free resources can be a great way to start learning about something new since they don’t require any commitment. Noble Desktop offers a free seminar on PowerPoint Presentation Design, which covers some of the basics of using this program to create a presentation.

The biggest downside to free resources is that they are rarely comprehensive enough for those who want to understand the topic deeply. However, free courses can be an ideal way to get a basic overview before enrolling in a paid class. Another common complaint about free courses is that some contain outdated or incorrect information. Students are advised to always do some research before taking a free class to ensure their source is trustworthy.

Depth of Training Formats

Training formats vary in depth of learning. Introductory classes are usually the least comprehensive and often take only a day or two to complete. However, they are also less expensive and require less of a commitment. Certificate programs and bootcamps typically cover a lot more information and can take weeks or months to finish.

Certificate Programs

A certificate program is designed to give students the skills they will need for a particular career. Some people enroll in a certificate program because they want to start a new career. Others do so as a way to upskill within their current job. While a certificate program typically takes longer than an introductory program or a certificate program, it is still far quicker than a college degree.

All certificate programs are different. Some don’t require any prior knowledge of the subject, while others have prerequisites. Students who graduate from a certificate program receive a certificate of completion that they can show potential employers. In recent years, more people are choosing certificate programs rather than college degrees because more companies are dropping requirements that new hires have college degrees.

Training Bootcamps

Bootcamp learning is often called immersive because, in addition to learning new skills, students solidify their knowledge through hands-on exercises. Bootcamps are short and intensive programs typically focused on learning a relatively limited number of new skills. For instance, in Noble Desktop’s PowerPoint Bootcamp, participants focus on learning how to use PowerPoint, starting with the basics and moving on to more advanced skills. 

The main goal of a bootcamp is to give students the real-world knowledge that they need to get a job. There is evidence that they are often effective in achieving this goal. According to a Forbes Advisor article, “Many employers—including Apple, Google, IBM, and Bank of America—recruit bootcamp graduates instead of limiting hiring to candidates with traditional degrees.”As a result, bootcamps have become a very popular way of learning in recent years. 

Introductory Courses

Introductory courses usually take a day or two to complete and are less comprehensive than bootcamps or certificate programs. They are a good choice for students who want to start with a particular application or field of study or learn some higher-level skills but don’t want to commit to a weeks-long course. For example, Noble Desktop’s PowerPoint Level I is a short class that gives beginners a robust working knowledge of the program. PowerPoint Level II is another short class that covers advanced PowerPoint skills.

For students who want to master a particular skill or topic, an introductory course can be a great start, but it is unlikely to be enough. Those students seeking an in-depth, comprehensive education will probably need to invest in a more extended program like a bootcamp or certificate course.

Learn PowerPoint Skills with Noble Desktop

Professionals looking to learn PowerPoint may consider skills development training through Noble Desktop. These courses, available in person at Noble’s Manhattan campus and through live online instruction, will give students hands-on training in designing and organizing information using PowerPoint. 

Noble offers a PowerPoint Bootcamp, which teaches students–even those without prior PowerPoint experience–how to design compelling and evocative presentations. It covers layouts, adding animations and graphics, and working with layers, charts, graphs, and other objects, in addition to more advanced skills. Since PowerPoint is a design program, Noble offers students a PowerPoint Presentation Design course. This class focuses on the rhetorical and theoretical side of communicating through PowerPoint. 

Key Insights

• There are many different ways to learn PowerPoint.
• In-person classes include a high level of interaction but offer the least flexibility.
• With live online training, students have access to more courses.
• While they require more self-discipline, on-demand classes offer the most flexibility.
• Certificate programs are comprehensive and usually take multiple months to complete.
• Bootcamps are intense, immersive programs that focus on preparing students for the workplace.
• Introductory courses are the least comprehensive, take less time to finish, and are usually cheaper.
• If you want to take a PowerPoint class, you will find several different options at Noble Desktop.