1 - Introduction ~5 mins
Welcome
Your Something Real project already has a budget and charts (or is getting there). Now you need a short deck you can talk through: what the project is, why it matters, and what it costs. That deck starts today.
If your Something Real title is not final yet, use a working title today and tell your teacher. You can edit the title slide later.
PowerPoint for the web, Google Slides and Canva are all valid. You will pick one, start {{code:07_project_pitch}}, and stick with that tool for the rest of this module.
If you do not see a {{code:07_pitch}} folder in your Project Portfolio, tell your teacher before you start so you can create it together in two minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Recognise PowerPoint for the web, Google Slides and Canva as valid tools and choose one for the module
- Create a new presentation from a template and manage slides and layouts
- Create {{code:07_project_pitch}} with a title slide and a second content slide
Warm-up
Think of the last slide deck, Instagram carousel or Canva poster you sat through. What made you pay attention in the first five seconds, and what made you switch off?
2 - Key Concepts ~6 mins
Three ideas matter before you open a tool. They are the same whether you use PowerPoint for the web, Google Slides or Canva.
| Concept | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Template or theme — a ready-made set of colours, fonts and layouts you start from | A clean template stops you wasting the whole class on design before the content exists | A simple dark title slide for "Róisín's Custom Hoodies" looks finished without designing fonts from scratch |
| Slide layout — the arrangement of placeholders on one slide (title only, title and body, blank) | The right layout keeps text and images aligned so the slide stays readable | Title and Content for "What it costs"; Blank if you plan to drop in a chart screenshot later |
| Title slide — the opening slide with the project name and your name | Anyone opening the file should know what it is and who owns it in one glance | "Community pitch: Saturday GAA underage blitz" with your name underneath |
Three valid tools
PowerPoint for the web (via OneDrive) and Google Slides (via Drive) are the "works everywhere" school options. Canva is design-first: you start from a look, not a blank white slide. Many students and younger creators reach for Canva first for its templates. All three are valid.
How to choose (about 60 seconds): pick on access (what your school account opens cleanly) and comfort (which screen you will actually finish in). Comfort beats the "best" brand name. You will lock one tool after the practice path.
Worked example (practice only): Title: Custom hoodies for local clubs and gigs. Subtitle: Róisín Byrne · enterprise pitch. You will build this as {{code:07_project_pitch_practice}}, then make a separate real file for your own project.
3 - Step-by-step Task ~15 mins
Build a practice title slide and a second content slide for a worked example project (Róisín's Custom Hoodies). Save it as {{code:07_project_pitch_practice}}, not your real pitch file. Your own project comes next in Independent Practice.
Two slides only today. If you already started decorating slide 5, that is fine: delete the extras and come back to content later.
If {{code:07_pitch}} is missing inside your Project Portfolio, create that folder now before you click New.
Choose your path: PowerPoint for the web tab, Google Slides tab, or the Canva steps below.
If the screen looks busy, ignore everything except rename, title text, and New Slide or Add page. That is enough for today.
Canva steps (if that is your chosen tool)
Follow these one action at a time.
- Go to {{code:canva.com}} in the browser, sign in with your school or personal account, then click {{btn:Create a design}} → {{btn:Presentation}} → choose 16:9.
- Click the design title at the top (it may say Untitled design), rename it to {{code:07_project_pitch_practice}}, then press {{key:Enter}}.
- Pick a free, clean template. Avoid busy full-bleed photo backgrounds. Pick the plainest option you see; you are not stuck with it forever.
- On page 1, type the sample title Custom hoodies for local clubs and gigs and the subtitle Róisín Byrne · enterprise pitch.
- At the bottom of the page strip, click {{btn:Add page}} so you have exactly two pages. Leave page 2 mostly empty.
- Practise sharing once on this practice design only: click {{btn:Share}}, set access to Anyone with the link, set permission to Can view (not edit), then {{btn:Copy link}}. You do not create a link document for the practice file. Leave this design open as a model. You will make a separate real design in Independent Practice. Do not put your real project name on this practice file.
4 - Common Issues ~4 mins
Common Issues
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| I cannot find {{btn:New}} → PowerPoint or Google Slides | Make sure you are inside OneDrive or Drive in the browser, not a random tab. Refresh, sign in with your school account, then open {{code:07_pitch}} and try {{btn:New}} again |
| My file saved in the wrong folder | In OneDrive or Drive, move the file into {{code:07_pitch}}. Next time, open the folder first, then create the file inside it |
| I only have one slide and cannot add another | PowerPoint for the web: {{btn:Home}} → {{btn:New Slide}}. Google Slides: {{menu:Slide -> New slide}} or {{kbd:Ctrl+M}} / {{kbd:Cmd+M}}. Canva: {{btn:Add page}} at the bottom of the page strip |
| The theme or template looks too busy | Switch to a plainer theme now. You can restyle later; today the job is a clear title slide and a second empty content slide |
| I chose Canva and do not know where the file lives or how to share it | Canva stores the design in your Canva account. Name the real design {{code:07_project_pitch}}. To share: {{btn:Share}} → Anyone with the link → Can view (not edit) → {{btn:Copy link}}. Then in {{code:07_pitch}} create a short Word Online or Google Doc named {{code:07_project_pitch_canva_link}} with three lines: project name, your name, the view-access Canva link |
| I still have Róisín's text on my real deck | Do not reuse {{code:07_project_pitch_practice}} as your KA file. Create a new file named {{code:07_project_pitch}} and put only your real project title and your name on slide 1. Delete or ignore the practice file |
5 - Independent Practice ~20 mins
Independent Practice
- Say your one tool out loud (PowerPoint for the web, Google Slides, or Canva).
- Open {{code:07_pitch}} in your Project Portfolio (create the folder if it is missing).
- Create a new file named {{code:07_project_pitch}} only. Do not rename the Róisín practice file.
- Apply a simple theme or free template (plainest option is fine).
- Put your real project title and your name on the title slide (a working title is fine if the final name is not ready).
- Add a second content slide and confirm you see exactly two thumbnails.
- Canva only: name the design {{code:07_project_pitch}}, copy a view-access share link (Share, Anyone with the link, Can view, Copy link), then create a short Word Online or Google Doc in {{code:07_pitch}} named {{code:07_project_pitch_canva_link}} with three lines. Example: Saturday GAA blitz / Alex Murphy / https://www.canva.com/design/... (Anyone with the link can view).
- {{code:07_project_pitch}} is in {{code:07_pitch}} (PowerPoint for the web or Google Slides), or the Canva design is named {{code:07_project_pitch}} and {{code:07_project_pitch_canva_link}} sits in {{code:07_pitch}}
- The title slide shows your real project name and your name, not the Róisín sample text
- A second slide is ready for content (blank or Title and Content layout)
- You can say which one tool you will use for the rest of this module
- This file is portfolio evidence toward your ICT promotional and pitch work (ICT2 KA3). Keep the filename exactly {{code:07_project_pitch}}
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