1 - Introduction ~5 mins
Welcome
Over ten weeks you plan and give a four-minute talk. Today you set up a folder and storyboard title-only slides.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Create {{code:Digital_Presentations}} inside {{code:Digital_Portfolio}}
- Say which outline is easier to follow, and why
- Storyboard eight to ten headline titles
Warm-up
Think of the last school talk you heard. Write three words that sum it up (example: clear / rushed / slides).
2 - Your 10-week Journey ~8 mins
Today = {{code:01_storyboard}}. Skim the rest as your map; by week 10 you give the talk.
| Week | Focus | File |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (today) | Topic + title storyboard | {{code:01_storyboard}} |
| 2 | Design three slides | {{code:02_talk_deck}} |
| 3 | Style guide | {{code:03_style_guide}} |
| 4 | Text to visuals | {{code:02_talk_deck}} |
| 5 | Story shape; notes | {{code:05_talk_outline}} |
| 6 | One process slide | {{code:02_talk_deck}} |
| 7 | Rehearse; log | {{code:07_rehearsal_log}} |
| 8 | Captions; readability | {{code:08_accessibility_check}} |
| 9 | Questions; backup | {{code:09_qa_prep}} |
| 10 | Four-minute talk | {{code:10_talk_feedback}} |
3 - Explore: Two Versions of One Talk ~5 mins
Both outlines are the same short talk about a weekend on the Wild Atlantic Way. Read Version A and Version B.
2 minutes alone: on paper, jot one sentence saying which version you would rather sit through and why. Then 1 minute with the person next to you: compare your reasons.
Version A: one crowded outline
Slide 1 title: Wild Atlantic Way
- The Wild Atlantic Way is a driving route along the west coast of Ireland
- It goes from Donegal down to Cork
- You can surf in Bundoran and Lahinch
- Cliffs of Moher are very popular
- Bring a raincoat because it rains a lot
- Food is good in Galway
- It takes more than one day if you stop
- Good for photos and walks
- Busy in summer so book ahead
Version B: one idea per slide
- A weekend on the Wild Atlantic Way changes how you see the west
- The route runs from Donegal to Cork along the Atlantic
- Surf towns like Bundoran and Lahinch suit a first trip
- Most of the rain falls on the west, so pack a coat
- Book summer stops early or you will queue
- Leave with one plan: pick two stops, not ten
4 - Key Concepts ~3 mins
| Concept | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Storyboard: title-only map of the talk | Locks idea order before design | - |
| Headline title: states the point | Listeners get the claim fast | "Most rain falls in the west", not "Rainfall" |
| Slide layout: Title Slide, Section Header, Title Only | Match layout to the slide's job | - |
Layout rule: opening or ending → Title Slide; new section → Section Header; one point → Title Only.
5 - Step-by-step: Set Up Folders ~5 mins
Create {{code:Digital_Presentations}} inside {{code:Digital_Portfolio}} in your school cloud storage. If a label looks slightly different, ask before making a second portfolio folder. Folder fixes are in Common Issues after the next task.
6 - Step-by-step: Practice Storyboard ~8 mins
Build a six-slide sample storyboard with headline titles only. Skim Common Issues (next step) if Layout is hard to find. This file stays as {{code:01_storyboard_practice}}; later you create a separate {{code:01_storyboard}}.
The words before each title (Opening title, Section title) only say which slide it is. Type just the title.
7 - Common Issues ~2 mins
Common Issues
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| I already have {{code:Digital_Portfolio}} | Open it and make {{code:Digital_Presentations}} inside. Do not make a second portfolio. |
| I cannot find Layout | Select the slide, then {{menu:Home -> Layout}} (PowerPoint for the web) or {{menu:Slide -> Apply layout}} (Google Slides). |
| Sorter or grid looks empty | Add slides first, then open sorter or grid to drag them. |
8 - Portfolio Build: 01_storyboard ~15 mins
Independent Practice
- Pick a topic you know or care about: a sport, a place in Ireland, a job, a hobby, a cause or a career.
- In {{code:Digital_Presentations}}, create a new presentation named {{code:01_storyboard}} (not the practice file).
- Build eight to ten slides with titles only: an opening Title Slide, at least one Section Header, three Title Only points and an ending Title Slide.
- Write each title as a claim: "Warm-up" becomes "A ten-minute warm-up cuts first-half mistakes".
- Put the slides in order in the slide sorter (grid view in Google Slides). Rough first titles are fine today.
- Stuck for a shape? Borrow this one: open "Our under-14s need one clear match-day plan", a section "Match day has three jobs", three points, and end "Leave knowing your job on the pitch".
- {{code:01_storyboard}} sits inside {{code:Digital_Presentations}}
- Eight to ten slides, headline titles only
- Clear opening, three main points, and an ending
- Titles state a point; at least one of each layout
9 - Reflection ~4 mins
Think about
Alone, then with a neighbour:
- How does one idea per slide help a four-minute talk?
- Which title still works if someone only reads titles?
10 - Lesson Summary ~5 mins
What you covered
- Set up {{code:Digital_Presentations}} inside {{code:Digital_Portfolio}}
- Compared a crowded outline with a one-idea-per-slide storyboard
- Chose layouts and wrote headline titles that state the point
- Reordered slides in sorter or grid view
Extension challenge
Optional, on your own: rewrite any title that still sounds like a vague label so it states a claim.
That was a sample lesson from Digital Presentations
Every lesson in the course is ready to teach like this one. See what else comes with it, and how to order it.
This lesson is copyright of Coding Ireland 2017 - 2026. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.