?Visual aids are learning tools that educators and presenters use to convey an idea more effectively. It is important that visual aids are tailored for a particular audience, depending on their needs. Also, teachers and presenters should use visual aids only as helping tools and not depend on them to teach a subject. Here are some of the many benefits of visual aids. Advantages of Visual Aids Visual Aids: Strengthen the clarity of the speaker’s message Increase the interest of the speaker’s information Make a speaker’s message easier for listeners to retain Enhance the speaker’s credibility.
Can improve the speaker’s persuasion Helps combat stage fright Types of Visual Aids: Objects Models Small-scale of large object Large-scale of small object Life-sized model Photographs- enlarged Drawings Diagrams, sketches, maps Can be specifically designed for particular speech Graphs Line- best for statistical trends Pie- effective for distribution patterns Bar- well suited for showing comparisons Charts Summaries of large blocks of information Speaker’s body Demonstration showing how to do something Requires practice to coordinate body with words Transparencies Inexpensive and easy Writing must be large enough.
Use appropriate font Speaker should rehearse with overhead projector Can use multiple layers for overhead Power Point- quick, easy, and effective Slides and Video footage Slides best if you have many Video is effective IF it is edited skillfully and integrated smoothly into speech Speaker should practice with equipment in room before presenting Guidelines for VA Preparation Prepare in advance! Keep them simple- should be straightforward, clear, and uncluttered Make sure visual aids are large enough Use Fonts that are easy to read Font size – should be 36 pt for titles 24 pt for subtitles Use color effectively.
Tips for presenting Visual Aids Avoid using the chalkboard – back often faces the audience Display VA’s where they can be seen Avoid passing out VA’s among audience Talk to audience NOT visual aid!!!!!! Explain visual aids clearly and concisely Practice with visual aid when rehearsing speech Adapted from: Damon Hall’s COM 114 Class Lecture Notes, Purdue University. Morgan, Melanie (2003).
Presentational speaking: Theory and practice. McGraw Hill. Smith, R. E. (2001). Principles of human communication. 5th Ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.