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.