3.5Timing, presenter mode & notes
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Presenter mode frees up your papers: notes, next and time in front of you.
- Notes = key words and transitions. A script read is heard — and puts you to sleep.
- “Check timing” targets your actual duration: repeat at least once with it.
Spun mini-case — Timing, presenter mode & notes
Amel prepares presenter mode: notes, stopwatch, preview of the next slide. She calibrates the fifteen minutes and keeps the detailed speech off the screen.
Continuation of the common theme: the Blida agri-food SME is preparing its market launch.
1. Notes: your text, not that of the public
The Notes pane under each slide receives your speech (exact numbers, oral transitions, questions to ask). The audience sees the slide, you read the notes in presenter mode: the slide remains light because the speech is elsewhere.
2. Presenter mode: the cockpit
Slideshow → Use Presenter mode: current slide + next + notes + timer + tools (pen, magnifying glass, black). Repeat with: you will know where you are going (next), how much time is left (timer), without the audience seeing anything.
3. Timing: calibrate, not suffer
Slideshow → Check Timing: Repeat out loud, time per slide is recorded. Objective: 1 to 2 min per slide, total maintained. If it goes beyond: cut slides, do not speed up the voice — a presentation that is too fast is not worth listening to.
🔎 Concrete example — Concrete example — 15 calibrated minutes
1. Write the notes for each slide (3-4 lines: say, encrypt, ask)
2. Check the timing out loud: 12 slides → 14:30
3. Locate the gourmet slide (4 min): split it
4. Print: Note pages (paper plan B)Reading: each slide has its time, the total holds.
Lesson: the projection timer avoids the "I'll speed up at the end".
Section vocabulary
- Presenter Mode
- Double display: cockpit for you, slide for the room. Automatically activates at two screens (or Alt + F5 to practice alone).
Simple example: Amel mobilizes “Presenter Mode” in preparing for the launch.
What it is not: treat “Presenter Mode” as a detail unrelated to the message.
Reflex: Does this choice make the presentation clearer for the audience?
- Speaker Notes
- The Notes area under each slide: keywords, exact numbers, transitions — visible only in your cockpit.
Simple example: Amel uses “Speaker’s Notes” in preparing for the launch.
What it is not: Treat “Speaker Notes” as a detail unrelated to the message.
Reflex: Does this choice make the presentation clearer for the audience?
- Check timing
- Slide Show → Check Timing: Timed repeat slide by slide, with final report.
Simple example: Amel mobilizes “Check the timings” in preparation for the launch.
What it is not: Treat “Check Timing” as a detail unrelated to the message.
Reflex: Does this choice make the presentation clearer for the audience?
- Cockpit chrono
- Presenter mode displays elapsed time and time: your time management live.
Simple example: Amel mobilizes “Cockpit Chrono” in preparing for the launch.
What it is not: treat “cockpit chrono” as a detail unrelated to the message.
Reflex: Does this choice make the presentation clearer for the audience?
- Preview of the next
- The cockpit shows the COMING TO COME slide: your speaking transitions become natural.
Simple example: Amel mobilizes “Preview of the next” in the preparation of the launch.
What it is not: Treat “Next Preview” as a detail unrelated to the message.
Reflex: Does this choice make the presentation clearer for the audience?
In practice — Instrumented general rehearsal
- Write 2-3 lines of notes under each of your slides (key words + the exact number to cite).
- Launch Alt + F5 (Presenter mode without second screen): locate notes, next, timer, stylus.
- Exit then launch Slideshow → Check the timing: play the presentation out loud, in real conditions.
- Analyze the report (time per slide, total): identify the 2 slides where you are overflowing — that's where we cut.
Ready-to-Speak Script — Timing, Presenter Mode & Notes (25 sec)
“Rehearse with timing, use presenter mode (notes, next preview) and prepare for a smooth projection. Concretely, I check this point before projecting: the presenter mode frees up your papers: notes, next and time in front of you. »
Short wording, to be adapted to the audience and the context of the meeting.
Copy and paste template — “Timing, presenter mode & notes” checklist
CHECKLIST — Timing, presenter mode & notes
1. Presenter mode frees up your papers: notes, next and time in front of you.
2. Notes = key words and transitions. A script read is heard — and puts you to sleep.
3. “Check Timing” targets your actual duration: repeat at least once with it.
4. Alt + F5 allows you to practice in the cockpit without a second screen.
EXPECTED RESULT: Your presentation calibrated: notes in the cockpit, controlled duration, identified overflow points.Express version
Apply only the essentials and the first key point, then check the rendering in projection.
Remote
Share the file and check fonts, contrasts and text size before the video conference.
As a team
Lock in the common model and document choices to keep colleagues consistent.
Printed version
Keep the message titles and the text outline; remove animations that are no longer needed.
✓ Best practices
- Notes = speech (numbers, transitions).
- Repeat in presenter mode systematically.
- 1-2 min per slide, cut if exceeded.
✗ Common pitfalls
- Read his slides instead of his notes.
- Discover the presenter mode on the big day.
- Accelerate instead of cutting.
Key takeaways
- Presenter mode frees up your papers: notes, next and time in front of you.
- Notes = key words and transitions. A script read is heard — and puts you to sleep.
- “Check timing” targets your actual duration: repeat at least once with it.
- Alt + F5 allows you to practice in the cockpit without a second screen.
48 hour challenge — apply tomorrow
Resume instrumented dress rehearsal on Amel's launch presentation: Write 2-3 lines of notes under each of your slides (keywords + the exact number to cite).. Time 20 minutes and note what has changed for the audience.
- I can explain and apply: Presenter mode frees up your papers: notes, next and time in front of you.
- I can explain and apply: Notes = key words and transitions. A script read is heard — and puts you to sleep.
- I can explain and apply: “Check Timing” objectifies your actual duration: repeat at least once with it.
Frequently asked questions
Presenter mode displayed on WRONG screen, how to reverse?
In the cockpit: Display options → “Switch presenter mode and slideshow”. Or set the main screen in Windows display settings before launching.
Recorded timings cause my slideshow to scroll by itself, how can I prevent this?
Uncheck Slideshow → “Use timing”: the times remain recorded (for information) but the progress becomes manual again.
What does Presenter Mode show?