Chapter 12

Visual Aids

Purposes of Visual Aids

• Improve clarity of complex ideas

• Improve retention of information

• Provide interest and variety

Using Visual Aids in Reports

• Visual aids help communicate ideas.

• Each should have a specific purpose.

• Use and placement enhance the effectiveness of your communication.

Visual Aids

• Placement

• Identification of visual aids

• Identification of sources

Visual Aids

• Tables• Graphs• Charts• Drawings• Photographs• Diagrams• Maps

Developing Visual Aids

• Tables– Word tables– Numeric data tables

• Charts– Organization charts– Flow charts– Pie charts

• Graphs– Bar graphs– Line graphs

Other Visual Aids

• Maps• Pictographs• Photographs• Drawings

To Improve Clarity of Complex Ideas

• Tables and graphs – easy data comparisons• Organization and flow charts - present

relationships and procedures• Pie charts - relationships of parts to a whole• Bar graphs - compare differences and

quantities– Different data types at one time – Same data type over time– Multiple bar graphs – different items at one time

• Stacked bar graphs – differences within variables

• Drawings – emphasize detail

Numeric Data Table

Organization Chart

Pie Chart

Bar Graph

Stacked Bar Graph

Planning and Interpreting Visual Displays

• Accurate and ethical visual aids• Colors—for color prints or presentations

– Identify different items– Show contrast of items– Create moods

• Shading and cross hatching (patterns)—for black and white copies– Identify different items– Show contrast of items

To Improve Retention of Information

• Visual aids promote retention of information.

• Slides and transparencies summarize main points.

• Handouts promote note taking.• Physical objects appeal to vision

and touch.

To Provide Interest and Variety

• Pictographs attract attention.• Maps show locations and

relationships.• Photographs and multimedia

stimulate interest.

Selecting Appropriate Presentation Aids

• Effective visual aids

• Effective audio aids

• Effective multimedia presentations

Visual Presentation Aids

• Slides and transparencies• Handouts• Flip charts and posters• Objects

Audio Presentation Aids

• Cassette tapes

• CD’s

• Podcasts

Multimedia Presentations• Include several types of media—

visual, sound, action– Slides

•Audio•Transitions—dissolves, fades, swipes

– Computer projection links•Websites•Podcasts or vodcasts•Blogs•Video clips