Visual Presentation

Audiovisual Aids
Anything that audience members can see or hear (in addition to your speech) that helps them understand and remember your speech topic

Seeing (and Hearing) Is Believing

Audiovisual aids can enhance understanding and retention of concepts. Facts and concepts are more likely to be learned if they are accompanied by visual cues. Audiovisual aids should be relevant to the speech topic.

Types of Audiovisual Aids

The Speaker
The speaker sometimes becomes a visual aid when an explanation requires modeling.
Physical movement Clothing

Types of Audiovisual Aids

Physical Objects
Any physical object can be a visual aid.

Types of Audiovisual Aids

Assistants
Use an assistant when a demonstration might cut into speech time or decrease interaction with the audience.

Types of Audiovisual Aids

Maps, Charts, Graphs, Drawings, and Photographs
Map: a visual representation of geography Chart: any graphic representation that summarizes information and ideas Graph: usually employed to show a quantitative relationship

Types of Audiovisual Aids

Maps, Charts, Graphs, Drawings, and Photographs
Three types of charts:
verbal chart: uses words to explain ideas, concepts, or general information pie chart: displays proportions and percentages in relation to each other flow chart: demonstrates the flow or direction of information, processes, and ideas

Types of Audiovisual Aids

Maps, Charts, Graphs, Drawings, and Photographs
Two types of graphs:
Line graph: shows the linear relationship between data plotted on the horizontal axis and data plotted on the vertical axis Bar graph: consists of parallel bars of varying lengths -- those lengths being proportionate to the quantities being compared

Types of Audiovisual Aids

Maps, Charts, Graphs, Drawings, and Photographs
Use a drawing or photograph to depict what is being described orally

Types of Audiovisual Aids

Computer Technology and Visual Aids
Use software programs to create tables, charts, and graphs. Other programs can help you create illustrations, scan photographs, or use pictures from digital cameras.

Types of Audiovisual Aids

Technology and Audio Aids
For audio aids consider CDs, audiocassettes, and records. Some presentations may benefit from multiple audio aids.

Audience Analysis and the Selection of Audiovisual Aids

Consider the forum where your speech will be held. Consider the demographics of your audience. Remember that your audience may have some prior exposure to your aid.

Advantages Offered by Audiovisual Aids

Audiovisual aids can...
make a dull or boring presentation more interesting simplify a complex speech message

Rules for Preparing Audiovisual Aids

Be sure that the audiovisual aid supports your point. Consider your audience analysis when deciding what audiovisual aids you will use. Make sure your audio aid is loud and clear. Make sure your visual aid is large enough to be seen.

Rules for Preparing Audiovisual Aids

Make sure your visual aid is legible and easily understood. Follow the rules of contrast.
Use dark colors against light backgrounds and light colors against dark backgrounds

Keep the message of the audiovisual aid simple. Do not create the audiovisual aid while you speak.

Rules for Delivering Audiovisual Aids

Make sure your audiovisual aid is accessible to everyone in your audience. Control audience interaction with your audiovisual aid. Do not use the visual aid as an excuse to avoid looking at your audience.

Rules for Delivering Audiovisual Aids

Remember the role that the audiovisual aid plays in your speech. Visual aids should be displayed only during the time that you are using them to make a point in your speech.

The Power of Audiovisual Aids: Ethical Implications

There is a great potential for abuse of audiovisual aids. Be careful not to glamorize or popularize difficult topics as you translate them to a visual medium. Be aware that aids can oversimplify complex messages. Make sure your aids do not dilute or trivialize the content and power of your message.

The Power of Audiovisual Aids: Ethical Implications

Be aware of the power of an aid. Do not change the meaning of a photo by digitally altering it or use a bite of audio out of context.

Organizing Clip Art and Pictures

Remember: use clip art, pictures, charts, and graphs only to illustrate points, not as fillers.

Giving Your Presentation

Make sure you have practiced giving your speech while using your PowerPoint presentation. It may be helpful to make notes on your cue cards or outline indicating when to move from one slide to the next. Time yourself giving your speech with the presentation. Make sure that you are within your assigned time limit.

Giving Your Presentation

In case of technical problems, be prepared to give your speech without your PowerPoint presentation. Consider making printouts of your presentation to give your classmates in case of technical problems.

Giving Your Presentation

To keep your audience from becoming distracted, you should also use blank slides when you are done with one slide and not yet ready for the next one. Consider this as you practice your speech with the presentation. Insert blank slides where you are speaking about something that departs from the contents on the slide.

The End