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Tips for Using Visual Aids

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Plan your presentation before creating visual
aids.

 Know what you want the audience to do as a

result of hearing your presentation.

 Figure out what they need to know, what you

want them to do.

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 Create a simple outline that logically and
clearly develops your main points. Finally,
create visual aids to support your message.

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 Use visual aids sparingly.
 They are aids to your presentation – not its
sum and substance.

 Using visual aids is meant to highlight and

support your key points.

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 Make your visual aids visible to the entire
audience.

 Projecting an image people can’t see is as

senseless as speaking so softly people can’t
hear.

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Talk to the audience, not to your visual aids.

 Look at the audience at least 80% of the

time.

 Avoid turning your back to the audience.

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 Avoid laser pointers.
◊ Your visual aids should be so clear that your
audience can easily follow along.

◊ Use your hand, if necessary. If you absolutely

have to use a pointer, set it down after you
are finished.

◊ Holding on to it will only encourage you to

use it for every point on every slide.
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 Explain the content of the visual aid when
you first show it.
 As soon as you show people an object, they
will look at it – even if you’re talking about
something else.

 Don’t make them divide their attention.

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 When you finish with the visual aid, remove
it, cover it, or turn it off.
 When using PowerPoint, tap the B key and
the screen will go to black.

 Tap any other key and the screen light up

again.

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 Limit the amount of material on any one
visual aid.
 Use each slide to convey as little information
as possible.

 Bullet points – no more than four or five per

slide – explain, illustrate, or substantiate that
one point.

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 Avoid clip art from well-known sources.

 It’s almost always boring and amateurish.

 DO use images, graphs, and charts, whenever

possible and appropriate.

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 Be prepared to give your presentation
without your visual aids.

 Murphy’s Law — “if anything can go wrong,

it will” — applies in spades to anything
involving technology and an audience.

 Have a backup plan in case something goes

wrong. Take a hard copy of your slides.
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Think of using visual aids for the following
reasons

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 If they will save words - don't describe your
results - show them.

 If their impact would be greater than the

spoken word - don't describe an image - show
it.

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 Think about using a variety of different visual
images.

 Try using photographs, tables, diagrams,

charts, drawings, key words, or video
sequences.

 Be creative and deliberate in your choice of

images to achieve the most impact.
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Think of your next presentation;

 How can you display your material visually?

 What techniques might help you present your

argument or results in a stimulating way?

 What might add emphasis to your spoken

words?
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 Microsoft PowerPoint is probably now the
most commonly used form of visual aid. Used
well, it can really help you in your
presentation; used badly, however, it can
have the opposite effect.

 The general principles are:

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 White or black board
 White or black boards can be very useful to
help explain the sequence of ideas or
routines, particularly in difficult to
understand areas.

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 Paper hand-outs
 Use a hand-out if your information is too
detailed to fit on a slide or if you want your
audience to have a full record of your
findings.
 Consider the merits of passing round your
hand-outs at the beginning, middle and end
of a presentation. Given too early and they
may prove a distraction.
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 Flip chart
 It is a very useful and flexible way of recording
information during your presentation — you can
even use pre-prepared sheets for key points.

 Record information as you go along, keeping

one main idea to each sheet. Flip back through
the pad to help you recap your main points. Use
the turning of a page to show progression from
point to point.

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 Video (DVD or VHS)
 Video gives you a chance to show stimulating
visual information.

 Use video to bring movement, pictures and

sound into your presentation. Always make
sure that the clip is directly relevant to your
content.

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 Artefacts or props
Sometimes it can be very useful to use
artefacts or props when making a presentation
(think of the safety routine on an aeroplane
when the steward shows you how to use the
safety equipment).

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