Visual aids
Visual aids
 Why
do we use visual aids?
● increase understanding
● save time
● help people to remember
● get attention
● help the presenter
Visual aids
 Selecting
the right visual aid
● what information?
● audience size
● available equipment
● time & money
● available to prepare
Visual aids
 Don’t
overuse them
 Only use to
● enforce a main point
● to help explain or remember a point
● save time
Visual aids
 What
is the number one visual aid?
Visual aids
 Why
is the number one visual aid?
Visual aids
 Other
visual aids?
● props
● handouts
● white board
● powerpoint
Props
 What
are props?
● any object that contributes to your speech
Props
 Why
do we use props?
● more concrete than words
● create interest & be memorable
● strengthen your points
● humor
● help you to remember the speech
Props
 Tips
for using props:
● make sure you feel comfortable using the prop
● be sure it is appropriate to the audience and the
speech
● if it has moving parts, make certain they work
● make sure it is large enough for the to audience
see it
Props
 Tips
for using props:
● keep the props hidden until you need to use
them
● they could ‘take over’ the speech
● once used, put them away. If not, they distract
the audience.
● don’t over-use them
● practice using the prop
Props
Study
Trave l
Sh
o
D ie ti n g
With your partner,
pick a topic and
think of a prop
that you might
use.
Lea d ership
d
o
Fo
Heal t h
Safety
Ro man ce
pp
in g
Ta iw
an
Sleep
od
o
W
Whiteboard
 Whiteboard
● often available
● simple & effective
● suitable for a small audience
● allow you to record audience interaction
● convey information
Whiteboard
 Tips
for using a whiteboard
● use color, write large
● use simple pictures, e.g. stick figures
● practice drawing
● when you finish using the board, remember to
put the pen down
Powerpoint
 Use
a template
● use a set font and color scheme.
● different styles are confusing for the audience.
● you want the audience to focus on what you
present, not the way you present.
Powerpoint
 Fonts
● choose a clean font that is easy to read
● roman and Gothic typefaces are easier to
read than Script or Old English
● stick with one or two types of fonts
● bulleted items should be no smaller than
22 points
● the title should be no smaller than 28
points
Powerpoint
 Bullets
● keep each bullet to one line, two at the most
● limit the number of bullets in a screen to six, four if
there is a large title, logo, picture, etc
▪ This is known as “cueing”
▪ You want to “cue” the audience in on what you are going
to say.
▪ Cues can be thought of as a brief “preview.”
▪ This gives the audience a “framework” to build upon.
Powerpoint
 Bullets
(cont.)
● if you crowd too much text, the audience will not
read it
● too much text makes it look busy and is hard to
read
● why should they spend the energy reading it,
when you are going to tell them what it says?
● our reading speed does not match our listening
speed; hence, they confuse instead of
reinforcing each other (and this is even more
true in a second language)
Powerpoint
 Capitals
and Italics
 Do not use all capital letters
● makes text hard to read
● conceals acronyms
● denies their use for EMPHASIS
 Italics
● used for “quotes”
● used to highlight thoughts or ideas
● used for book, journal, or magazine titles
Powerpoint
 Colors
● reds and oranges are high-energy but can be
difficult to stay focused on
● greens, blues, and browns are mellower, but not
as attention grabbing
● white on dark background should not be used if
the audience is more than 20 feet away
The Color Wheel
 colors
separated by another
color are contrasting colors
(also known as
complementary)
 adjacent colors (next to
each other) harmonize with
one another. e.g. Green and
Yellow
 the color wheel here is
simplified for easy use
Clashing Colors
 colors
that are directly
opposite from one
another are said to
clash
 these provide
readability - e.g. yellow
on blue
Powerpoint
 Attention
Grabber
● to make a slide stand out, change the font
or background
Powerpoint
 Graphics
● use only when needed, otherwise they become
distracters instead of communicators
● they should relate to the message and help
make a point
● ask yourself if it makes the message clearer
● simple diagrams are great communicators
Powerpoint
 YOU
are the number one visual aid
● do not hide behind powerpoint
● powerpoint should add to your speech, not be
your speech
● if all you are going to do is read from the
powerpoints, then stay home and email the
audience the slides
● remember, only you can prevent death by
powerpoint!
How to use visual aids
 Make
sure every one can see them
 Use different types
 Have them ready
How to use visual aids
 Display
the visual before you use it
 Keep eye contact with the audience
 Show it for long enough
 Have a back up plan
Discussion Questions
 When
would the whiteboard be best for a public
speech?
 What kind of visual aid is appropriate for a small,
medium sized or large audience
 What is the best visual aid you have seen so far in
this course?
 How do you feel about using different kinds of
visual aid?
 Should every speech use visual aids?
Vocabulary
● bullets
● concrete
● color wheel
● fonts
● italics
● props
● stick figures
● template
● visual aids