Chapter 12

Visual Aids
 Purposes of Visual Aids

• Improve clarity of complex ideas

• Improve retention of information

• Provide interest and variety

Using Visual Aids in Reports

• Visual aids help communicate

ideas.
• Each should have a specific
purpose.
• Use and placement enhance the
effectiveness of your
communication.
 Visual Aids

• Placement

• Identification of visual aids

• Identification of sources
Visual Aids
• Tables
• Graphs
• Charts
• Drawings
• Photographs
• Diagrams
• Maps
Developing Visual Aids
• Tables
– Word tables
– Numeric data tables
• Charts
– Organization charts
– Flow charts
– Pie charts
• Graphs
– Bar graphs
– Line graphs
Other Visual Aids

• Maps
• Pictographs
• Photographs
• Drawings
 To Improve Clarity of Complex
Ideas
• Tables and graphs – easy data comparisons
• Organization and flow charts - present
relationships and procedures
• Pie charts - relationships of parts to a whole
• Bar graphs - compare differences and
quantities
– Different data types at one time
– Same data type over time
– Multiple bar graphs – different items at one time
• Stacked bar graphs – differences within
variables
• Drawings – emphasize detail
Numeric Data Table
Organization Chart
Pie Chart
Bar Graph
Stacked Bar Graph
 Planning and Interpreting
Visual Displays
• Accurate and ethical visual aids
• Colors—for color prints or presentations
– Identify different items
– Show contrast of items
– Create moods
• Shading and cross hatching (patterns)
—for black and white copies
– Identify different items
– Show contrast of items
 To Improve Retention of
Information
• Visual aids promote retention of
information.
• Slides and transparencies
summarize main points.
• Handouts promote note taking.
• Physical objects appeal to vision
and touch.
To Provide Interest and Variety

• Pictographs attract attention.

• Maps show locations and
relationships.
• Photographs and multimedia
stimulate interest.
 Selecting Appropriate
Presentation Aids

• Effective visual aids

• Effective audio aids

• Effective multimedia
presentations
Visual Presentation Aids

• Slides and transparencies

• Handouts
• Flip charts and posters
• Objects
Audio Presentation Aids

• Cassette tapes

• CD’s

• Podcasts
 Multimedia Presentations
• Include several types of media—
visual, sound, action
– Slides
• Audio
• Transitions—dissolves, fades, swipes
– Computer projection links
• Websites
• Podcasts or vodcasts
• Blogs
• Video clips