Tuesday 1 November 2011

Just in Time

I met up with a colleague while passing through Bristol Temple Meads station this afternoon, to discuss her request for some help with MS PowerPoint 2003. I totally understood one of her issues straight away, as I had had the same problem myself (running custom object animations in a presentation) when I created my WOLCE presentation.

But could I remember the command?  I had done it myself only a month ago but, try as I might, I could not now remember how to repeat it.  I spent 20 minutes of our time together trying to remember and/or find the relevant command on my laptop, but was completely stumped. To say I was embarrassed is to put it mildly.

Realising I was wasting my colleague's and my own time, I stepped back and acknowledged that I couldn't do this. I picked up my mobile phone and called  Debbie (@macabroad) in my team.  I explained the problem and she was able to point me to the appropriate Menu, Dialog Box and Check Box (Slide Show / Set Up Show / untick Show without animation - See below, if you're interested).  Sorted in two minutes. Thanks Debbie.

And that, right there, is the point of informal, just in-time learning.  And the value-add is that I have now consolidated that learning for myself by writing this blog AND I have now shared it with you.

It's good to talk.