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.