Who doesn’t want free PowerPoint templates? If you build rapid elearning courses, they can save time. And if you’re challenged for ideas or graphic design skills they also help bring a consistent and clean look to your rapid elearning courses so that you avoid the Frankencourse.

It doesn’t mean that relying on templates is always a good thing. In fact, I have mixed feelings about templates. They’re great for beginners and subject matter experts to help move them in the right direction. But at some point, a person gains enough experience to be weaned from templates.

My biggest concern about templates is that people become too dependent on them. Or the organization creates rules about using them that are more problematic than problem-solving.

With that said, the use of templates in elearning is a reality. The goal is to find good templates that help make the courses better.

In a previous post, I shared a simple way to get free PowerPoint templates from Microsoft’s Office Online with links to five usable templates. Like I noted earlier, the templates on that site are hit and miss. Some are really good and some maybe not so good.

Here are a few more templates that are free to use via the Microsoft site. I like these because they offer more than just a clean background. Instead they offer a number of usable layouts that can be pulled from the template and used in other elearning courses.

PowerPoint Template 1: Various Bar Charts

Download the free PowerPoint template here.

PowerPoint Template 2: Business Deals

Download the free PowerPoint template here.

PowerPoint Template 3: Business Strategy

Download the free PowerPoint template here.

PowerPoint Template 4: Financial Presentation

Download the free PowerPoint template here.

PowerPoint Template 5: Meeting Agenda Layouts

Download the free PowerPoint template here.

On a shoestring budget, you’ve got to know where to find good free resources and then learn to use them to help build effective elearning courses. A PowerPoint template isn’t going to make your course go from ineffective to effective. You still need to design the instruction and determine the appropriate content and activities.

But for those who need some graphic design help or options when it comes to layouts, templates like the ones above can definitely help move you closer to your goal.

If you’re looking for more free templates, there are plenty on this blog (a few listed below) and in the elearning community’s download section.

• Here’s a Free PowerPoint Template & How I Made It

• How To Design Custom PowerPoint Templates for E-Learning

• The Secret to Creating Your Own PowerPoint Templates for E-Learning

Tidbits

Got a favorite elearning tool? Now’s the time to vote for your favorite. Your vote helps determine how much I can feed my family. Help keep them well fed.

• July 19: Nashville, TN (ASTDTN). Chapter meeting on building interactive elearning scenarios.

• July 25: Portland, OR (ASTD). Learn to Use Articulate Storyline. Great price. This one is close to selling out.

• July 31: Austin, TX (ASTD). I’ll be in town for business so the Austin ASTD is hosting a free Articulate jam session.

• August 7: Costa Mesa, CA (ASTDOC). David Anderson will do a full-day Articulate Storyline workshop that covers more than the basics. Limited seating so sign up quickly.

• August 15 & 16: Houston, TX (ASTD Houston). Two workshops: Rapid E-Learning Design and Getting Started with Articulate Storyline.

• September 27: Boston, MA (ADAPT). Two workshops: Rapid E-Learning (AM) & Build Interactive E-Learning (PM). Sign up before it sells out.

• October 4 & 5: Seattle, WA (ASTDPS). October 4: Rapid E-Learning Workshop & October 5: I’ll do a session at the Ignite Your Mojo Conference.

• October 17: Bloomington, IL (CIC-ASTD). Rapid E-Learning Design Workshop.

• October 23 & 24: Milwaukee, WI (SEWI-ASTD). Three Sessions: PowerPoint’s No Longer a Slide Show Freak and Practical Approach to Building Successful Communities (October 23) and Articulate Storyline: Advanced E-learning Made Simple (October 24). Sign up now.

• November 14 & 15: Chicago, IL (CCASTD). Details coming.