VISUAL AIDS

The Kinds of Visual aids are:

• objects/realia (i.e. the real object)
• models
• photographs
• drawings
• graphs
• videos
• the speaker (e.g. body, movements,
etc.)
 What should we put on power
point slides?
• key words
• technical words
• lists
• examples
• diagrams
• charts
 Designing visual aids
• use one simple idea for each visual;
• make the text and diagrams clear and
readable;
• avoid cluttering the image (by including
unnecessary pictures or animations);
• keep your images consistent (use the same
font, titles, lay out etc. for each image);
• make sure your images are of a high quality
(check for spelling and other errors).
• Always remember that an audience should
be able to understand a visual image in a
matter of seconds.
 The size of the fonts
• maybe 20 or more, depending on
the size of the room you will be
speaking in. (A good idea is to use
different sizes for different types
of text: i.e. 20 for main headings,
16 for subheadings, 14 for other
text.)
 Fonts
• Fonts: Arial, Times New Roman,
Verdana, New Century, and Courier.
(Some companies impose a
particular style.)
• Make sure the fonts are legible.
 Layout, font (typeface) and colors
• Layout should be pleasant and easy to read:
horizontal/landscape layout is preferable.

• Use CAPITAL LETTERS, bold face, italics,

underlining, reverse (white on black) or
shading to highlight.
 In brief, the
General Principles are
Dos Don’ts
• use a big enough font • make it so small you
(minimum 20pt) can't read it
• keep the background • use a fussy
simple background image
• use animations when • but don't over-do the
appropriate animation - it gets
• make things visual distracting
• use endless slides of
bulleted lists that all
look the same
CONTRASTS
■ Greatest contrast – pairs of primary colors
■ Least contrast – pairs of secondary colors

GOOD POOR
This pair of primary This pair of secondary
colors has good colors has poor
contrast contrast

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GRAPHICS
A

Too small
B

Just right
C

Options

Spidery Visible

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GRAPHS, TABLES & CHARTS
•Clean lines
•Complementary
colors
•Sufficient color
contrast
•Explanatory key

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POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS

■ Template choice: not busy

■ Transitions: left-to-right, top-to-bottom,
minimal
■ Timing: sufficient to read
■ Backup: plan for technology glitches
■ Black screen: focus attention

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Make the slides for your
next presentation
■ Take the principles into account
■ You have to have submitted it
on our google classroom by
Tuesday, 21 April 2020 at 10am.