ONLINE ASSIGNMENT

 

VISUAL & GRAPHIC AIDS 

INTRODUCTION

A visual graphic or graphic aid is any image that assists you, the reader, in understanding the text which accompanies the visual aid. Too often graphs,diagrams, charts, and tables are casually glanced over or bypassed completely by readers. Through this habit, the reader fails to benefit from the tremendous help these aids can provide. Text book reading is improved when you have strategies to help your comprehension and retention of what you are reading. One plan which can assist with comprehension, especially advanced or college level books, is the methodical practice of incorporating the graphs and visual aids into your reading and studying. When reading any text which accompanied by visual aids or graphs, take your time to look over the item and understand how it is related to the text. From a short explanation we can know a little about graphs and visual aids. Graphics are divided into types of graphic, graphic effects, the text doesn’t support the graphic –the graphics support the text. Graphics have seven formats such as table, the graph, the chart, photograph, drawing diagram.

VISUAL AND GRAPHICAL AIDS

Visual and graphical aids are chosen depending on their purpose, for example, you may want to:

• Summarize information.

•Reduce the amount of spoken words, for example, you may show a graph of your results rather than reading them out.

• Clarify and show examples.

• Create more of an impact

• Make a point memorable.

• Enhance your credibility.

•Engage the audience and maintain their interest.

• Make something easier for the audience to understand.

visual aids are things that your listening can look at while you give your speech or presentation. Visual aid mainly appeals to the audience’s vision more than any other sensory organ.

Why use visuals for presentations?

Types of visual aids include physical samples, models, handouts, pictures, videos, infographics, etc. Visual aids have come a long way to now include digital tools such as overhead projectors, PowerPoint presentations, and interactive boards.

1. Videos

Videos emerged as the clear winner in all our surveys. We ran these surveys on all our social handles and reached out to successful speakers. 27.14% of all respondents prefer visual aids because they are easy to understand, can be paused during a presentation, and can trigger all sorts of emotions. That being said, it is also very tough to create good videos. However, there are more and more tools available to help you create amazing videos without professional help. Hans Rosling’s TED talk, titled ‘the best stats you have ever seen,’ is one of the best speeches we have seen. He uses video pretty much for the speech’s entirety while not diverting the audience’s attention away from him. He does all this while also bringing out some optimism for the future of the world. We highly recommend this TED talk to learn how to use videos effectively as a visual aid and inject some positivity into your lives during these trying times.

2. Demonstrations

Demonstrations, also known as demos, are undoubtedly among the most effective visual aids available to you for communication. You can use demonstrations in two ways. One as a hook to captivate your audience. Prof. Walter Lewin was famous for using demonstrations as a hook during lectures. In his most famous lecture, he puts his life in danger by releasing a heavy pendulum to show that a pendulum’s period remains constant despite the mass.

3. Slides

When we sent out the survey to the Orai community and some highly successful speakers, we were sure that slides/presentations come out on top. However, we were surprised by the results. With 12.86% votes, slides are number five on our list. Presentations are effortless to create and, therefore, the most commonly used visual aid in business communications. Today, there are dozens of software programs available to help you make beautiful presentations. Microsoft PowerPoint is the pioneer in the space and continues to hold a significant market share. Whatever is your preferred software, you need to keep your audience at the center while making presentations. People described the ease of creation and the ability to incorporate other visual aids when asked why they chose presentations as their top visual aid.

4. PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is probably the most commonly used visual aid for presentations as one can easily create attractive and professional presentations with it. The advantage of being able to insert a wide range of videos, audios animations and other things into the slides helps in catching the audience’s attention better.

5. Handouts

The key information from your presentation or further information of your presentation may be given in printed form on sheet of papers. These are called handouts. They are generally used when your topic is too complex to understand just by speaking.

6. Flip chart

In public speaking, flip charts are a low cost solution to record and convey information while you present. They are very low in technology. They prove to be beneficial when you have a small audience. They are often used for brainstorming sessions to collect the ideas easily and also to summarize the information given.

7. Whiteboards

Whiteboards work great when you have to give further explanations like explaining difficult words, explaining the order of a process, creating diagrams etc. They are generally used for writing headings, important information to be displayed for the entire duration, and to note the suggestions given by the audience.

Graphic aids are charts, diagrams, graphs, maps, flashcards, posters, pictures, photographs, leaflets, folders, pamphlets, cartoons and comics. They are two-dimensional materials having no depth which communicate facts, ideas and relationships clearly through words, lines, drawings, symbols and pictures. Graphic aids can serve many educational objectives for group teaching of 20 to 30 students. 

They help to:

1. Visualize abstract concepts which are difficult to understand - concepts of size, rate of growth, inner structure of an object or machine etc.

2. Reduce the amount of verbal talking and help in giving clear explanations; visuals in charts, graphs, diagrams and posters, cut down words.

3. Present the information in a specific and systematic manner. Since majority of them are formal aids, they have to be very systematic and organized.

They are also popular because they are

1. Comparatively less expensive.

2. Easy to make as no technical skills are required. Regular teachers, with some knowledge of drawing and who desire to be creative can prepare them.

3. Easy to use. Very special arrangements and machines are not required.

4. Easily usable and reusable as they are flat, two-dimensional materials.

1. CHARTS

Chart is a combination of pictorial, graphic or verbal materials designed to present a clear visual summary of an important development. A chart is a graphical representation for data visualization, in which "the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart".

Purposes of chart

▪ For showing relationship by means of facts, figures, and statistics.

▪ For presenting material symbolically.

▪ For summarizing information.

▪ For showing continuity in process.

▪ For presenting abstract ideas in visual form.

Effective Uses of Chart

• Teacher-made chart should be preferred.

• Students should be involved in the preparation of charts.

• A chart should not contain too many details.

• A chart should not contain too much written material.

• Teacher should use a pointer to point out specific facts in the chart.

• When the teacher uses a chart in the classroom, provision should be there for its proper hanging.

Effective charts tend to be composed of a mixture of several different type of graphics:

2. MODELS

 Models tend to be superior to many diagrams and pictures. Models are replica of the original work. They are nearer to real things and used in great deal in science teaching. Models give a thought of reality and can show the function of an object.

Functions of models

▪ Simplify reality.

▪ Concertize abstract things.

▪ Explains various processes of machines and objects.

▪ It can be a topic of project work.

 ▪It gives the correct picture of an industry or/an electrical sub station.

3. DIAGRAMS

A diagram is defined as the graphic visual description of a process. It is a two or three dimensional aid of a process or a phenomenon. A diagram try to explain rather than representing a thing or phenomenon. Anderson (1997) stated more generally: 

“diagrams are pictorial, yet abstract, representations of information, and maps, line graphs, bar charts, engineering blueprints, and architects’ sketches are all examples of diagrams, whereas photographs and video are not”. On the other hand, Lowe 

(1993) defined diagrams as specifically “abstract graphic portrayals of the subject matter they represent”. Different types of diagrams are used such as Venn diagrams, 

drawing or map, flow chart and web diagrams etc..

4. PICTURES

 “One picture is worth thousand words” is an ancient proverb. Picture provide direct experience with real objects. They have permanent impression on the mind of the students. Instructors have reported that their use of images in the classroom has led to increased student interactivity and discussion. Teaching with images can also help develop students' visual literacy skills, which contributes to their overall critical thinking skills and lifelong learning.

5. POSTERS

      A poster is a bold illustration with little or no writing. A good poster conveys the message at a glance. It is not used for serious classroom teaching as its main purpose is to publicise an event - demonstration, lecture, exhibition etc. or a product - embroidered garments, children's clothes, knitted articles etc. or an idea - save money, give up smoking, preserve water, keep clean, abolish dowry, conserve energy, etc.

Preparation of a poster

1. Have only one idea suggesting an action.

2. Use a thick chart or drawing paper, which is usually available in 22 x 28 inch size, keeping to 1 inch margin on all sides.

3. Have an informal but balanced layout.

4. Use large, bold and simple illustrations for a passer by to get the message easily. Avoid details and shading.

5. Have brief, personal, forceful and appealing titles. For example eat vegetables, - be healthy - health is important, etc.

6. Use simple, large, bold, horizontal lettering.

7. Plan definite eye movement.

8. Use colour to make the poster attractive. A dark colour background with white or light colour lettering, and an illustration make a very appealing and unique poster. Use a few, well matched colours to have a pleasant picture, and bright colour in small proportion to attract attention.

Place a poster at a high level, in a place which is free from other advertisements, and from where many persons pass by; examples - cafeteria, library, common room, etc.

CONCLUSION

      Visual aids are worth including in your presentations because they can help you explain information more coherently which makes presenting easier for you and learning easier for the audience. They also help add variety to your presentation thus making it more interesting for the audience.. Visual aids help teachers establish, explain, connect, and associate ideas and concepts to make the process of learning more interesting, enjoyable, and effective. . Some of the benefits visual aids provide for teaching and learning include:

• Helping inspire students to study more effectively.

• Helping students retain information for a longer period of time.

• Providing an example to think about concepts.

• Increasing the student’s vocabulary.

• Helping students gain a proper view of topics and concepts.

• Providing hands on experience for students.

• Creating an atmosphere of interest.

• Making the process of teaching easier for teachers.

REFERENCE

 https://www.brainkart.com/article/Graphic-aids---Pictures-and-Photographs_2211/

 https://en.m.wikipedia.org

 https://introductiontoextensionandcommunication.co.in/types-of-graphic-aids/