Visual Aid

(noun)

Visual aids are often used to help audiences of informative and persuasive speeches understand the topic being presented. There are many different types of visual aids that range from handouts to Power Point slide presentation.

Examples of Visual Aid in the following topics:

  • Choosing the Right Visual Aid

    • Avoid passing hard copies of your visual aids around to the audience.
    • Although computer generated and projected visual—and presentation—aids are commonly used, it is still important to understand how to use them or any other type of visual aids in your presentation.
    • There are many different types of visual aids.
    • Visual aids should support, clarify, and amplify, not repeat what you are saying.
    • In order to do this, test out your visual aids in different environments.

  • The Do's of Using Visual Aids

    • Visual aids will also help to improve the attention span of audience members during the presentation.
    • An effective visual aid will include the following attributes:
    • Your visual aids should not detract from the content of your speech.
    • The decisions you make when you design your visual aids should be very deliberate.
    • If you add color to a visual aid, for example, use it for a clear purpose.

  • Utilizing Devices to Enhance Audience Understanding

    • Visual aids, microphones, video screens, and/or a podium can help enhance audience understanding.
    • Visual aids help the speaker reinforce the information provided in the speech to increase absorption and retention of the material.
    • Visual aids can include objects, models, handouts, graphs, charts, photos, and slide show presentations.
    • With visual aids, a speaker needs to make sure they adequately enhance the presentation without causing a distraction for the audience.
    • The screens can help the audience see the speaker and the visual aids better, especially if they are in the back of the room or off to the far right or far left of the stage.

  • The Importance of Preparation

    • In preparing your visual aids, you should consider three important components:
    • Are your visual aids easy to understand and easy to read or view?
    • Do you know what is on your visual aids and can you present them effectively?
    • Are your visual aids easy to understand and easy to read or view?
    • Do you know what is on your visual aids and can you present them effectively?

  • The Don'ts of Using Visual Aids

    • Some "don'ts" of visual aids include inconsistent themes, small fonts, too much information, and distracting noises and animation.
    • Visual aids can be effective at enhancing your presentation and helping the audience better understand the key points of your presentation.
    • However, if visual aids do not help your message or are too confusing, they may actually detract from the presentation and hinder understanding.
    • Some key "don'ts" of using visual aids include:
    • Additionally, try to keep the number of slides or visual aids in your presentation to a minimum.

  • Visual Demonstrations

    • There are many different types of visual aids that range from handouts to PowerPoints.
    • Before incorporating visual aids into speeches, the speaker should understand that if used incorrectly, the visual will not be an aid, but a distraction.
    • Planning ahead is important when using visual aids.
    • The purpose of the visual aid is to enhance the presentation.
    • List the different ways visual aids add impact to a presentation

  • Improve Listener Engagement, Comprehension, and Memory

    • Visual aids help audience members follow the structure and flow of your presentation.
    • Use engaging anecdotes, quotes, and examples as a part of your visual aid.
    • Outlining these stories in your visual aids will help the audience remember and apply these stories.
    • For example, if a speaker uses a story to explain a concept and has a visual aid related to the story, the audience member will process both the visual aid and the story, and will be more likely to understand the concepts the speaker is presenting.
    • Similarly, a visual aid will act as a cue for the audience to remember a story or concept that the speaker is explaining.

  • Physical Objects and Animations

    • Physical and animate objects can help to integrate the verbal and visual elements of a presentation into one unified message.
    • In today's media-driven world, public speakers have a plethora of visual aids to choose from when augmenting their presentations.
    • From LCD projections to flip charts, visual aids help presenters inform and persuade audiences, as well as help them understand the presentation topic.
    • The use of objects as visual aids involves using actual objects as live demonstrations or props for the audience.
    • Choosing the appropriate visual aids depends on the speaker's preference, as well as the content and setting of the presentation.

  • Adapting to Handouts and Visuals

    • Visual aids can play a large role in how the audience understands and processes the information that is presented.
    • Visual aids are used to help audiences understand and process the information being presented.
    • There are many different types of visual aids from handouts to projections of PowerPoint slides .
    • Planning ahead is important when using visual aids.
    • It is necessary to choose a visual aid that is appropriate for the material and audience.

  • Highlighting the Main Points

    • Visual cues are cues the audience can see, including aids such as slides, handouts, and charts, and also the speaker's body language.
    • Here are several techniques for using visual aids such as slides, handouts, or posters to enhance your presentation:
    • Visual aids such as slides, handouts, and posters are excellent ways to highlight key phrases, definitions, quotes, and lists.
    • When you make an outline of your speech, keep the question of visual aids in mind.
    • Public speakers can use visual aids and textual cues to highlight their main points.