Sunday, July 15, 2012

How to convert PowerPoint to AVI?

What is AVI video format?
AVI stands for Audio Video Interleave, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. AVI files can contain both audio and video data in a standard container that allows synchronous audio-with-video playback.This is a container video format that specifies certain structure how the audio and video streams should be stored within the file. AVI itself doesn't specify how it should be encoded ( just like the streaming format ASF), so the audio/video can be stored in very various ways. Most commonly used video codec that use AVI structure are M-JPEG and DivX . AVI contains code called FourCC which tells what codec it is encoded with.
Benefits of converting PowerPoint to AVI?
Because AVI is the most common video formats which can be played on different operating system or burn to disc, and we all know it's a problem that PowerPoint Presentations can only play on PC with Microsoft PowerPoint installed, sometimes you need the right version and operating system,So it's really not convenient for you to share or distribute your PowerPoint presentations. So convert your PowerPoint to AVI can solve this Problem, where AVI can be played means where your PowerPoint can be shown!
You can even enjoy your PowerPoint on Apple system; I don't know what Steve Jobs will do! Maybe figure out some thing to play his Keynote Presentation on PC.
How to convert PowerPoint to AVI?
Since Bill Gates didn't insert a plug-in into PowerPoint which allows you to convert PowerPoint to AVI directly, you must want to know: what is best software for converting PowerPoint presentations to AVI and other video formats. Best shareware?
Free method
Is there a free way to do this job? Yes, free but not easy and not very well.
You may notice that PowerPoint has the function of save PowerPoint as JPG files which are the key point; you just save PowerPoint as pieces of JPG, then import them to Windows Movie Maker to form an AVI video. Since you are so smart, you know what I am talking about, and you surely know disadvantages of this free pie! I once read an article just used this method to tell us how to view PowerPoint on iPod.
1. The presentation lost all the animations, transitions which it should have, and that's the charm of PowerPoint, how can you present such a dull presentation to your audience? Why not just show them photos?
2. I am sure you must add some music to the hole PowerPoint , buy you lost them now, then you want to add some one with Movie Maker , you have to import these JPG files and edit one by one, that's a dull work, more important, your fruit wouldn't be attractive.
All things seem to be under Microsoft's dominion in this rapid changing world, you surely have
other choices to receive a better result!
Commonly, there are two basic principles for converting PowerPoint to AVI:

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

PowerPoint Principles For Education

Most advice about using Microsoft PowerPoint is geared toward business users. Experts speak of creating presentations that entertain and motivate, while acknowledging that listeners can only absorb a small amount of information in one sitting.
But if you're a teacher, let's say in high school or college, your goals are different. Rather than motivating students to act or make a decision, you want them to learn. Ultimately they will be tested on content. You want to grab your students intellectually, not necessarily emotionally.
Patrick Douglas Crispen, a faculty training and support coordinator for the California State University at Long Beach, has written about the use of PowerPoint in education. He points out that there is quite a difference between a business PowerPoint presentation and a classroom PowerPoint presentation. Notes Crispen, "The primary goal of any classroom PowerPoint presentation isn't to entertain, but rather to teach."
Should you use PowerPoint at all? If so, when and how? Teachers want to know whether PowerPoint slideshows will help their students to learn, or hinder them. And because the education presentation and those used in business are different animals, teachers at all levels need to reconsider the standard business use of text and images, how best to organize their slides, and how to take advantage of PowerPoint's Notes feature.
The Mayer multimedia principles
A psychology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Richard E. Mayer has studied the way students learn from visuals and lectures. In his book, Multimedia Learning (Cambridge University Press, 2001), Mayer summarizes his research on how people learn when they see and hear multimedia content, taking into account the various combinations of words and pictures.
Mayer's work outlines several multimedia principles, the main one stating that people learn better from words and pictures than from words alone. He also notes that not all educational material lends itself to a visual representation, but when appropriate, visuals can help students learn. In addition, people learn better when words are near corresponding pictures and there is no extraneous information nearby to distract attention.
What should a PowerPoint-using educator take from this? And how do you know when an image is extraneous? Some teachers suggest not using images at all, not even logos or templates, unless it is necessary for explaining the content, the material is very difficult, or students need help understanding the topic. Remember, students are tested on facts and processes, not on the images.
So before you place an image on a lecture slide, consider the following:
* Is it specifically related to the text on the slide?
* Would leaving out the image remove crucial information?
While scholarly arguments on the usefulness of visuals in teaching may not be final, one thing is certain -- you don't use images in an educational setting the way you do in a business setting. "When in doubt, leave it out" is a good motto for educators.Keep slides organized

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

How to View PowerPoint on TV?

Microsoft is such a powerful tool for presentation, but sometimes we are limited by its requirement; you must have a computer with PowerPoint installed. Sometimes we want to send our presentation like photo presentation to friends or families and share with them, but on different operating system or different PowerPoint version , it doesn't work very well, that's really a disappoint thing. All things seem to be under Microsoft's dominion; is there anything we can do? Why not watch your PowerPoint on TV? Sounds great! I believe many people have already done this interesting and useful thing, and I'm so glad to share experience with you about how to view PowerPoint on TV.
Free way
The free way is connect your TV to computer, then use computer control PowerPoint presentation, there is a vast difference between the technologies of a computer monitor and a TV monitor, you can connect your PC to TV, and watch your PowerPoint on TV screen, but this job is not that easy!
Unlike computer monitors TV monitors are interlaced which has the effect of making thin lines and text shimmer. TV monitors generally (apart from broadcast spec) don't show the full image, so you may lose stuff at the edge of the screen (thus further reducing the amount of available resolution). Some graphics cards do compensate for this by squeezing the image into a window inside the video output - the only way you'll know is to test it.

This method depends on the output from your video card...if you have component video out, you can use that kind of cable, if you have a s-video out from the card and s-video input on your TV you can use that, otherwise you would need a convert from Radio Shack to connect to the TV. As I know, some laptops come with an S-video port, and if your TV or VCR has an S-video input then just use an S-video cable. Otherwise you'll need a cheap scalar/converter to take the VGA signal and turn it into a signal the TV/VCR can accept, most likely over a composite (RCA) or RF (like what your TV cable comes in on). In my opinion, this way cost a lot of time, and the result is not as we expect!