@dilemma's suggestion is the right one. The best way to use powerpoint is DON'T USE POWERPOINT to create your presentation. For example, if you use PPT shapes and text objects on a slide, and somebody tries to view it on a different version of PPT (mac v. PC for example), the layout may change. Yesterday, I presented in a webinar. I sent my slides to the sponsor in PPT format. The webinar presentation software wanted 4:3 aspect slides and mine were 16:9 so they mangled the format.

Use another tool to create each slide. Photoshop if that's your thing. I use omnigraffle on my mac a lot. Each slide should consist of a single jpg or png.

So you don't have to learn anything about PPT, which is a worthless tool, but unfortunately ubiquitous. Make your content and use PPT only to share and present.