Preparing Effective Teaching Aids

Nomar M. Alviar, MD, MHPEd

A ‘medium’ (plural: media) is any channel that carries information between a sender and a
receiver. This is illustrated by the Shannon-Weaver model of communication (see below).
These channels of communication are considered ‘instructional media’ when they carry
messages that have an instructional purpose. The purpose of instructional media is to facilitate
communication and learning.

MES-
SENDER SAGE RECEIVER
channel

Figure 1: Shannon - Weaver communication model

The Roles of Teaching Aids

 Simplify information  Illustrate, provide examples

 Organize information  Engage attention
 Emphasize important information  Compensate for language barriers

Effective Use of Graphics / Images in Teaching Aids

Different types of graphics (or images) are best suited for various instructional goals. When we
design our visual aids, we need to use the appropriate graphics.

When teaching… Use this type of graphic

Facts specific information like names, places, representational, organizational
dates, events
Concepts groups or categories of objects or events representational, organizational,
designated by a single name interpretive
Processes description of how something works transformational, interpretive,
relational
Procedures series of steps resulting to the completion of transformational
a task
Principles cause-and-effect relationships transformational, interpretive

 representational graphics: images that illustrate the appearance of an object

 organizational graphics: visuals that show qualitative relationships among content
 relational graphics: visuals that show quantitative relationships among content
 transformational graphics: images that show changes of objects in time or over space
 interpretive graphics: images that make intangible phenomena visible and concrete
 Clark, R.C.C., & Lyons, C. (2004). Graphics for learning. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer.

General Guidelines for Preparing Effective Teaching Aids

The best visual aid is a simple visual aid

 Focus on just one point per slide / flipchart page

 Don’t overload with text and distractions

If you can’t see the message, there is no message

 Text must be large enough to be read

 Use plain (not decorative) fonts
 Use lower case letters
 Make sure there is adequate spacing between the lines
 Make sure the there is contrast between text color and background color

Unify your teaching aids

 Place similar elements in the same locations

 Use consistent styles and effects
 Have a consistent color scheme