How to Add a Timer to a PowerPoint Presentation

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Timed activities, such as table talk and think pair share are great for increasing engagement. The transition flows better when you can simply set the timer from the current slide you are on in your PowerPoint Presentation. In this tutorial I will walk you through how I add a timer to a powerpoint presentation. This tutorial is known to work with Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 and 2010. If you find that it works for other version of Microsoft PowerPoint let me know in the comments.

1. Download the swf version of a timer from http://www.online-stopwatch.com/download-stopwatch/
2. Save the swf file to the same folder as your PowerPoint
3. Open PowerPoint
4. Before you start save the PowerPoint into the same folder as the swf file
5. Click on the Developer tab.
   Note: If you don’t see the Developer Tab do the following:
   1. Go to File-> Options
   2. Click on Customize Ribbon

   

   3. Check the box next to Developer, as shown in the picture above. Click OK



6. From the Controls group click the More Controls button.



7. Scroll down and click Shockwave Flash Object.
8. Click Ok
9. The mouse should now look like a cross hair.
10. Click on your slide and drag until you have a box that is larger enough for the timer.

    Note: you can resize it later if needed.



11. Right-click on the box and select Properties



12. In the Movie Field type the name of your timer swf file. If the swf file is not located in the same folder or directory as the PowerPoint Presentation you will need to add the entire path for the swf file.
13. Save the presentation.
14. Close the Presentation
15. Open the presentation and now when you run the presentation you can set the timer.
16. You can also copy the timer and paste it on a different slide.

Download a powerpoint presentation with a timer embedded

Here is a zipped file that includes the swf file and has the timer already embedded in the PowerPoint. Powerpoint With Timer.