Creating handouts and using notes in a PowerPoint 2010 presentation

Notes are a useful place to add extra context to the content of presentation slides. This is important for online audiences as it can provide additional information which would normally have been provided by you in person. It can also help to avoid overcrowding a slide, allowing you to just provide the key points.

The Notes section can also help to make your presentation more accessible. It is advised that you add the content of the slides in here. This means that when you convert your presentation into a handout, a screen reader will have no trouble reading the content of the slides and the notes together. It is also important to explain the meaning of any visual content (e.g. transcript of audio file, explanation of what is shown in a picture).

Adding notes to a presentation

To add notes to a presentation:

  1. The notes area should appear under the slide (when using normal view).
  2. Click in this section and type the notes that you want to add.
  3. Or click on the View tab and Notes Page.

Creating handouts

PowerPoint allows you to convert your presentation into a Word document, adding the slides and images and displaying the notes. This type of handout is useful for audience members who use screen-reading software to access online presentations.

To create a handout in Word:

  1. Click on the File tab in the top left corner.
  2. Select Save & Send from the menu.
  3. Click on Create Handouts then on the Create Handouts button.
  4. Select a layout option (a good one is Notes below slide).
  5. The file will then convert to Word.
  6. Save this Word file to your computer.