EFFECTIVE VISUAL AIDS IN PRESENTATION

UHB 3022 ENGLISH FOR WORKPLACE

COMMUNICATION Dr Shanti Chandran

WHY USE VISUAL AIDS IN PRESENTATIONS?

Did you know? Up to 50% of information is taken

in through the eyes

WHY USE VISUAL AIDS IN PRESENTATIONS?

• Makes presentation more interesting and lively

• Helps audience understand the presentation

• Helps speaker present information more systematically

WHY USE VISUAL AIDS IN PRESENTATIONS? (continued)

• Reinforce and add impact to information

• Illustrate a relationship between ideas

• Show information patterns or pictures

WHY USE VISUAL AIDS IN PRESENTATIONS? (continued)

• Present figures, graphs or charts

• Summarize key points

• Help audience follow passages or quotations

TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS

1) Handouts

• + Audience can concentrate better

• - Too many can be distracting

• * Should be distributed earlier

TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS (continued)

2) Flipcharts

• + Economical and easy to use

• + Suitable for small groups

• + Can be prepared in advance or spontaneously

• * Make drafts and transfer to the flipchart

TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS (continued)

3) Photographs and prepared diagrams/posters

• + used at the precise moment to illustrate point

• + visible throughout presentation

• * consider how it should be displayed

• * may need a pointer

TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS (continued)

4) Objects/models

• + adds sensory dimension to presentation

• * consider cost and benefit

TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS (continued)

5) Whiteboards

• + Flexible and interactive

• + suits small group

• - Writing clearly can be slow

• - Back to the audience

TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS (continued)

6) PowerPoint Slides

• + Colourful and professional looking

• + Suits groups of various sizes

• - hard to keep audience attentive

• - technical problems

• - lighting issues

TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS (continued)

7) Video clip

• + can show clips of specific examples discussed

• + add another dimension to presentation

• - possible technical problem

TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS (continued)

8) Transparencies

• + can be prepared in advance

• + can add or create transparencies while presenting

• - Lighting problem

TIPS FOR DESIGNING VISUAL AIDS

• KEEP IT SIMPLE: Display ONE IDEA on each visual

• MINIMISE WORDS – 25 words/slide

• KEYWORDS and PHRASES

TIPS FOR DESIGNING VISUAL AIDS (continued)

• COLOUR

- clear & appropriate

- one colour for main idea, two complementary colour for sub points.

- avoid red-green and pastels

• LAYOUT and SPACE

TIPS FOR DESIGNING VISUAL AIDS (continued)

• STYLE - Select one style and use consistently

• TeXt STYLE AND SIZE - Choose carefully

TIPS FOR DESIGNING VISUAL AIDS (continued)

• AVOID GIMMICKS - Computer graphics (background, patterns, clip art etc.) should be used to enhance presentation.

• PROOFREAD! Proofreed! Profread! Proof read! ProofreaD! Proofread!

• PLAN AHEAD

TIPS FOR USING VISUAL AIDS

• INTEGRATE visual aids

• REHEARSE with your visual aids

• Maintain EYE CONTACT

• DO NOT READ from your visual aid

• STOP SPEAKING while audience read

TIPS FOR USING VISUAL AIDS (continued)

• DO NOT PASS OUT items while presenting

• REVEAL AIDS only when NEEDED

• USE THEM, don’t just display them!

• CHECK ROOM & EQUIPMENT in advance

• CHECK visual is VISIBLE to audience

CLASS ACTIVITY

PLANNING YOUR PRESENTATION:

• PREPARING AN OUTLINE

• Use the distributed paper to write your outline

• Submit paper at the end of class

WAYS TO PRESENT INFORMATION

• Outline

• Mind map

• Table

• Timeline

• Flowchart

• Tree diagram

Methods of Presentation

• To ensure effectiveness, important to select appropriate method.