Be able to apply slide layout

Cambridge IGCSE ICT 0417 – Topic 19: Presentations – Applying Slide Layout

Learning Objective

Students will be able to create, edit and output a presentation using the slide‑master, built‑in slide layouts and the required editing tools (place‑holders, hyperlinks, action buttons, presenter notes, alternative text, transitions/animations, hide‑slide feature) in full compliance with the Cambridge IGCSE ICT syllabus.

1. Presentation Workflow (Overview)

1. Start a new presentation – select a theme or colour scheme.
2. Set up the slide‑master – define house‑style (fonts, colours, logo, footers, slide numbers).
3. Choose a built‑in layout – use the Layout pane before adding any custom objects.
4. Populate placeholders – add text, images, charts, tables, etc.
5. Insert hyperlinks / action buttons where required.
6. Apply transitions and (optional) animations – keep the style uniform.
7. Hide any draft or unnecessary slides before the slide‑show.
8. Output the presentation – print hand‑outs, notes pages, outline or export as PDF.

2. The Slide‑Master (House‑Style)

• What it is: A special slide that controls the default appearance of all other slides.
• Why use it: Guarantees a consistent look (fonts, colours, logo, footers, slide numbers) across the whole file.
• How to edit:

  1. Open View → Slide Master (or the Slide Master tab on the ribbon).
  2. Select the top‑most master slide (the one that affects all layouts).
  3. Insert, delete or resize place‑holders (title, text, picture, chart, table, SmartArt, video).
  4. Set default font family, size, colour and the overall colour scheme.
  5. Add footer elements – e.g. slide number, date, logo, or a custom text box. Use Insert → Header & Footer while in Master view.
  6. Choose a background colour or image for the master.
  7. Close the master view – all slides that use the affected layout will automatically adopt the changes.

Definition – Place‑holder

A pre‑formatted container that tells the user what type of object belongs there. Types include:

• Title
• Text (bullet points)
• Picture
• Chart / Table
• SmartArt / Video

3. Applying a Built‑in Slide Layout

1. In Normal view, select the slide you wish to format.
2. Click Home → Layout to open the layout pane.
3. Choose the layout that best matches the intended content (see Table 1).
4. Check‑before‑you‑add: Select a built‑in layout first; only then modify placeholders or insert custom objects. This prevents the common exam error of adding objects before the correct layout is chosen.
5. Place‑holders appear ready for data – fill them as follows:

   • Title: concise, descriptive (max 1 line).
   • Text: 5‑6 short bullet points; avoid full sentences.
   • Images / Charts: relevant, clearly labelled, with alternative text.

6. If the built‑in layout needs minor tweaks:

   • Resize or reposition placeholders.
   • Change font style/size (use the master to keep consistency).
   • Apply the same theme or colour scheme as the master.

7. Review the slide for visual balance, readability and accessibility before moving on.

Table 1 – Common Built‑in Layouts and Typical Use

4. Editing a Presentation – Required Tasks (AO3)

4.1 Adding / Removing Slides and Objects

• Insert a new slide: Home → New Slide → choose a layout.
• Delete a slide: right‑click the slide thumbnail → Delete Slide.
• Insert objects: Insert tab → select Picture, Chart, Table, SmartArt, Video.
• Delete objects: select the object and press Delete.

4.2 Hyperlinks

Can link to:

• Another slide in the same presentation
• An external file (PDF, Word, etc.)
• An email address
• A web URL

Example – link to slide 5:

1. Select the text or object.
2. Right‑click → Link (or Insert → Link).
3. Choose “Place in This Document”, then select “Slide 5”.
4. Click OK.

4.3 Action Buttons

Pre‑formatted shapes that perform navigation or open files.

1. Go to Insert → Shapes → scroll to the “Action Buttons” section.
2. Draw the button on the slide.
3. In the Action Settings dialog, choose “Hyperlink to” a slide, file, URL, or “Run program”.
4. Optionally add a screen‑tip for accessibility.

4.4 Presenter Notes & Alternative Text

• Presenter notes: Click the Notes pane below the slide and type cues for the speaker.
• Alternative text (alt‑text): Right‑click an image → Format Picture → Alt Text. Provide a concise description for screen‑readers.
• Screen‑tips: Right‑click a hyperlink or action button → Edit Hyperlink → ScreenTip.

4.5 Transitions & Animations

• Open the Transitions tab → select a transition (e.g., “Fade”). Apply to All Slides for a uniform look.
• Open the Animations tab → add entrance/exit effects to objects only if the exam question requires them.
• Keep the number of different effects to a minimum – consistency is a key marking criterion.

4.6 Hiding Slides

Use this for draft slides or material not required for the assessment.

1. Select the slide thumbnail.
2. Right‑click → Hide Slide. (A crossed‑out icon appears.)
3. Hidden slides are excluded from the slide‑show but remain in the file.

5. Output Options (AO4)

Choose the format required by the exam question.

6. Tips for Effective Slide Layouts

• Limit each slide to 5‑6 bullet points; use concise wording.
• Maintain high contrast between text and background (e.g., dark text on a light background).
• Set the font family and size once in the slide‑master – do not change them slide by slide.
• Align objects with gridlines or guides (View → Guides).
• Replace long paragraphs with charts, diagrams or infographics.
• Body text should be at least 24 pt for readability from a distance.
• Provide alt‑text for every non‑text object to meet accessibility requirements.
• Use the “Check‑before‑you‑add” tip to avoid unnecessary re‑work.

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Over‑crowding a slide with too much information.
• Adding custom objects before selecting the most appropriate built‑in layout.
• Mixing different layout styles on the same slide (e.g., title‑only layout plus a manually placed picture).
• Inconsistent fonts, colours, bullet styles or transition effects.
• Placing text over a busy image without sufficient contrast or a text‑box background.
• Forgetting to preview the slide‑show (F5) before the exam.
• Neglecting alt‑text, screen‑tips or presenter notes where required.
• Leaving unnecessary slides visible during the presentation.

8. Quick‑Check Checklist (Exam‑Ready)

1. Slide‑master set with correct font, colour scheme, logo and footer (slide number/date) ?
2. Each slide uses the most appropriate built‑in layout ?
3. All placeholders are filled with concise text or correctly sized images/charts ?
4. Hyperlinks and action buttons work and have descriptive screen‑tips ?
5. Alt‑text added to every picture, chart or SmartArt ?
6. Presenter notes entered where required ?
7. One transition applied uniformly; animations used only if asked ?
8. Unnecessary slides hidden ?
9. Output format matches the exam question ?

9. Practice Activity

Create a short 5‑slide presentation on any topic, using any presentation software (PowerPoint, Google Slides, LibreOffice Impress, etc.). Follow the requirements below.

1. Start with a Title Slide that follows the slide‑master style.
2. Insert a Section Header to introduce the main part of the presentation.
3. Use a Comparison layout to contrast two ideas.
4. Include at least one Two Content slide with a chart or diagram; add appropriate alt‑text.
5. Apply a single transition to all slides and add a simple entrance animation to one object.
6. Insert a hyperlink from a piece of text to an external website and an action button that jumps back to the first slide.
7. Add presenter notes to each slide.
8. Hide one slide (e.g., a draft slide) and export the final version as a PDF hand‑out.
9. Present the slides to a peer, obtain feedback on layout, consistency and accessibility, then make any needed revisions.