USING VISUAL AIDS
* A picture is worth a thousand words
* your speaking time is limited
-- visual aids allow summary or compression of complex information
* your audience is visually literate and visually oriented
--we are accustomed to receiving two channels: verbal/visual
* visual aids add strong interest to your speech
* visual aids can aid retention
* visual aids can enhance every aspect of your speech
demonstrations
* show us the steps of a process when you can
models
* great for informative speeches
* make sure it is large enough
* if too big, perhaps a drawing would be more suitable
photos
* size consideration: photos are usually too small
* solutions:
-- enlargement on a color copier
-- enlargement onto transparencies
-- scan and upload to the internet
drawings
* be clear if not aesthetic; you needn't be an artist, but:
-- be legible
-- keep it simple
-- keep it large enough to see from a distance
-- highlight most important information with color
graphs
* great for statistics
* great for a series of related numbers (which could be tedious to listen to)
* great way to show percentages of a whole
* great way to indicate trends over timesome examples:
DISTRIBUTION GRAPH
- Changes over time
- Trends
- Forecasts
PIE CHART
- Simple distributions
- Parts of the whole
- Percentages
BAR CHART
- Comparisons
- Amounts by time
Other kinds of charts
* summarizing large blocks of information
-- previewing your main points
-- Example using the Internet* showing the steps of a process during a process speeches
overhead transparencies
* Easy and cheap
* effective
* Kinko's or laser printer
other mediums
* audio recorder
-- testimony from interview
-- music that illustrates speech topic* instruments
-- several students have successfully integrated live music into speech
-- some have not:
-- don't play it for too long
-- it should support topic, not use up time* video
-- several students have successfully integrated video into speech
-- some have not:
-- don't play video for too long
-- it should support topic, not use up time
-- the more technical your aids, the more things can go wrong* internet
-- there is a portability advantage:
-- you upload your cross-platform files to web
-- you can access your visual aids from any browser* computer mediated
-- presentation packages create dynamic visual aids
-- make sure application is cross-platform: pc or mac
-- caution:
-- the more technical your aids, the more things can go wrong
TIPS FOR USING VISUAL AIDS
* avoid using chalkboard
-- you have to turn away to write
-- not a good idea!
-- writing message a distraction
* visual aids must be visible and legible
-- check the room for sight-lines
-- check any electronic equipment
-- make sure you know how to use it
-- technical snafus can rattle you during your speech
* prepare in advance
* integrate visual aids into speech
* rehearse using them
* rehearse maintaining speech flow as you explain visual aids
* maintain eye contact
* don't pass out items to the audience during speech
-- (afterwards, perhaps)
* reveal visual aids only as needed
-- having them out too soon can be a distraction
* use them! don't just display them!
--talk them through
--describe their features
--interpret statistics and percentages