PowerPoint Inspires a High School Student to Computer Science

Last week, I spent time with our friends in the media industry sharing the good news of Office 2010 and SharePoint 2010.  Throughout all of the conversations and demonstrations, I highlighted why PowerPoint 2010 was my favorite new application of the Office 2010 family.  As a communicator, it is important that technology not get in the way of my narrative. PowerPoint 2010 does a great job at pushing my narrative to the center stage and keeping the technology ‘backstage.’

 I first fell in love with PowerPoint during Airman Leadership School in the USAF.  I created a clever presentation about PowerPoint that was timed to down to the second, since I only had five minutes to present. I rehearsed the presentation so well that it seemed as if I commanded the words to appear on the screen as I spoke.  No one had ever seen PowerPoint amplify a narrative like that before.  I felt like a mage wielding a powerful magic as I casted my PowerPoint spell.  That was 1990s.  Now, PowerPoint 2010 can turn anyone into Gandalf the White or even better, a computer scientist.

 Christopher Maloney recalls his accidental journey into the Microsoft PowerPoint team.  Like me, He was a student inspired by what he could do in PowerPoint.  His story led him to an fortuitous opportunity to pursue his passion.  Christopher has made my job easier by the work he is doing in the PowerPoint team and with PowerPoint 2010.  Checkout his story and make sure your students have the opportunity to be inspired into STEM-related careers with Office 2010.

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