Visual Materials Help Improve Knowledge Retention David Byers July 2001

Objectives The objective of this slide show is §To introduce the concept that visual materials help improve knowledge retention

Visual Materials Improve Retention Studies suggest that visual aids help learners retain information better than information presented verbally only

Visual Materials Improve Retention One study suggested the following retention rate, measured 24 hours after class, based on the type of instruction provided §Verbal presentation--25% information retained §Visual presentation--45% information retained §Combined visual and verbal presentation--65% information retained

Visual Materials Improve Retention After 3 days, the retention rate dropped for visual and verbal only, but remained constant for a combination approach §Verbal only 3-day retention rate--10% §Visual only 3-day retention rate--20% §Combination 3-day retention rate--65%

Visual Materials Improve Retention §Presenters normally speak at about 130 words per minute §Learners can listen at 4-5 times that rate §Visual displays provide learners with stimulation to compensate for the difference and balance the input

Summary Studies show §A combined approach of verbal presentation with visual materials helps improve knowledge retention over visual or verbal only