| Each individual learns differently. Some people like to read. Others like to be told how something works. Still others need to see a picture. When you make a presentation, the more different ways you can communicate information, the more people you're likely to reach. The ways in which multimedia elements can be used are seemingly endless. You'll discover that there are some limitations, such as those imposed by technology or legal requirements. But if you use your creative imagination, you'll soon find that you can do some incredible things in PowerPoint. Consider these examples: Sound effects for objects onscreen, such as animals or machinery Sound effects that support a mood or feeling, such as danger, disaster, happiness, or applause Recorded sound clips that provide a narration to text onscreen or in support of a slide's message Sound clips that help viewers learn to hear and understand a foreign language Music as a bridge from one section of a slide show to another Music as a background to an entire slide show Video clips to illustrate a complicated procedure Video clips that give the audience a better sense of who someone is or what the person has done Video segments to help teach historical or cultural events
Caution  | Although this chapter intends to encourage you to use multimedia elements, be aware that you can spend huge amounts of time and effort adding them to your presentations. You should always keep in mind what your objectives are. If the audience can understand through a simple text bullet or a comment from you, then leave it at that. If the audience needs the kind of help that only a video presentation can provide, then going the extra mile might be worth it. All in all, it's your call. It's what's called the point of diminishing returns at some point your presentation's effectiveness doesn't increase significantly enough to merit additional effort. As a professor once told me, "I finally learned, at 2 a.m., that good enough is good enough." |
The list goes on, and on, and on. Now that you're convinced that multimedia elements are useful (you are, aren't you?), how do you use and control them so that they support, rather than dominate, a presentation? You want to be in control of your media elements, and PowerPoint helps you establish exactly when and how sound or video clips are played. |
