Visual Aids

The use of visual aids in a presentation are important, especially for those who learn best with visuals. Here are some Do's when using visual aids.

Easily Seen or Heard by the Audience

Presentation aids must be accessible for every audience member. If those in the back of the room cannot see, hear, or otherwise experience a presentation aid, then it is counterproductive to use it. Graphic elements in presentation aids must be large enough to read, and audio must be loud enough to hear.

Easily Handled

You should be able to carry your presentation aids into the room by yourself. In addition, you should be skilled in using the presentation equipment. Your presentation aids should not distract you from the delivery of your speech.

Aesthetically Pleasing

The design of your presentation should not detract from the content of your speech. Keep your presentation simple so people can focus on the content rather than on the animation or colors. The decisions you make in designing your visuals should be dictated by the content of your speech. If you use color, use it for a clear reason. If you use a border, keep it simple. Whatever you do, make sure your presentation aids will be perceived as carefully planned and executed elements of your speech.

Easy to Understand the Key Point

If your PowerPoint slides or handouts have to extraneous information, then the audience may not be able to understand the takeaway message of the presentation. A way to test if your visual aids are addressing the key point is to ask someone who is unfamiliar with your presentation if they can understand what the key point is. If they cannot determine the key point, it may be a good idea to revise your visual aids to include less non-essential information.

Supplement not Replace, the Presentation

Visual aids are useful to help the audience better understand your topic if they are used as a supplement to, and not a replacement for, your presentation. For example, a visual aid that replaces a presentation could be a PowerPoint that includes big blocks of text that the presenter reads verbatim. While this will be an accurate presentation, it will likely bore the audience members who will not gain much from the presentation. However, if the visual aid acts as a supplement, it will enhance the audience member's understanding through diagrams, graphs, charts, and summaries.

 

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Source: Boundless. "The Do's of Using Visual Aids." Boundless Communications. Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 08 Jun. 2016 from https://www.boundless.com/communications/textbooks/boundless-communications-textbook/preparing-and-using-visual-aids-16/presenting-with-sensory-enhancements-84/the-do-s-of-using-visual-aids-321-10676/

 

Video

Please watch the following video Design Effective Video Aids for Presentations.

"Design Effective Visual Aids for Presentations" YouTube video: 8:26 posted by "WKU Department of Communication," November 7, 2012, http://youtu.be/GGjacTn_9ts

 

Article 

Please read the article, How Do Audio/Visual Aids Help in Business Communication?

McKay, Matt, "How Do Audio/Visual Aids Help in Business Communication?" Houston Chronicle, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/audio-visual-aids-business-communication-694.html

 

Activity

Please complete the following activity.

 

 

Match the items.

The task is to match the lettered items with the correct numbered items. Appearing below is a list of lettered items. Following that is a list of numbered items. Each numbered item is followed by a drop-down. Select the letter in the drop down that best matches the numbered item with the lettered alternatives.

a. video shorts and animation can often help explain subject matter quickly

b. effectiveness of each type must be considered

c. serve to reinforce oral and visual components

d. using multiple mediums during presentations can help individuals and groups

e. six times greater when information is presented by visual and oral means