The document discusses various presentation aids that can be used independently or together when giving a presentation. It identifies some common aids like flip charts, handouts, overhead transparencies, and posters. The document then examines four of these aids in more detail, outlining their advantages and disadvantages. For each aid, it provides examples of how they can be used and prepared. In conclusion, it stresses the importance of evaluating which aids are most appropriate and designing the presentation to allow for questions and review.
2. Introduction
There are numerous presentations aids that
are likely to be independently used or in
combination with others during a presentation.
However, the presentation aids are anything
that aids the presenter to effectively prepare
for a presentation.
Nowadays a number of presentation aids
incorporates audio, visual and projection
needs all in a single package.
Effective presentation requires establishing
presentation objectives, planning and
organizing materials to be used as well as
using appropriate presentation aids.
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3. Types of presentation aids
Every type of presentation aid that a presenter choses to select has both benefits and
drawbacks. Therefore, the selection should be done carefully to ensure the most
effective presentation aid is selected.
However, presentation aids can be used independently or in combination with others
and they include:
Overhead Transparencies
Flip charts
Photographs
Video
White boards
Handouts
Physical models
Video segments
Video Conferencing
Posters
Démonstrations
Experiments
Illusions
Role plays
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4. Four presentation aids selected
Among the presentation aids identified only
four of them will be considered in this
presentation.
Both advantages and disadvantages of the
selected presentation aids will be
evaluated.
The selected presentation aids include:
Flip Charts
Handouts
Overhead Transparencies
Posters
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5. Flip Charts
Flip charts are quick, inexpensive visual aids for briefing small
groups. The charts, felt-tip markers and graphic materials are
readily available, and with a modest ability at lettering, the
presenters can compose the desired visual aid in-house.
Advantages;
help the speaker proceed through the material,
can be prepared prior to or during the presentation
provide the audience with something to look
convey information,
can be converted to slides.
Disadvantages
may require the use of graphics talent,
may be difficult to transport,
are not suitable for large audience settings.
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6. Handouts
Handouts are one of the often used type of presentation
aid especially for business presentations.
The presenter issues a paper consisting of the information
about the presentation and contacts.
The inclusion of figures and good facts ensures the
handouts are kept for longer compared to business cards.
Advantages
allowing the presenter to cut down on the material
required to cover the presentation
providing adequate information to the audience
making it easy for the members of audience to contact
the presenter later
Disadvantages
Time consuming
expensive
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7. Overhead Transparencies
Overhead transparencies are very effective presentation aids for
audiences that are between 20 to 50 people. They can be
produced easily, quickly, as well as inexpensively. However,
any camera-ready artwork, whether illustrations, word charts, or
diagrams are capable of being used in overhead transparencies
by the use of the standard office paper copiers.
Advantages
Easy to prepare
Less demanding
Inexpensive
Disadvantages
The projected image size is sometimes too small.
It is difficult to write on the transparency while it is on the
projector.
Some speakers feel captive to the machine since the machine is
very manual.
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8. Posters
Posters are prepared graphic devices that can be made of
a variety of materials and media - photographs, diagrams,
graphs, word messages, or a combination of these.
Posters work best in smaller audience sizes.
Advantages
Posters can be very elaborate or simple.
Posters can be used alone or in a series to tell a story.
Posters are permanent and portable.
Disadvantages
Posters tend to contain too much detail.
Transporting them can be difficult.
The more elaborate posters require extensive preparation
and can be quite costly.
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9. Conclusion
Evaluation is very essential when considering the
appropriateness of a presentation aid. This allows
the evaluation of how best to prepare them and their
effectiveness in the overall presentation.
However, the presentation should be designed so
that amble time is allocated to not only presenting
the information but at the same time allowing for
questions as well as review of the materials.
Moreover, the presenter should prepare his/her
presentation aids in order to provide an environment
in which participants feel sufficiently comfortable in
order to ensure they are part of the presentation.
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10. References
Radel, J. (2000). Preparing an Oral Presentation:
Suggestions and Strategies for Scientific and
Academic Settings. Kansas: University of Kansas.
Sprague, J., Stuart, D. & Bodary, D. (2008). The
Speaker’s Handbook. New York, NY: Cengage
Learning.
Sullivan, R.L. & Wircenski, J.L. (1996).Technical
Presentation Workbook: Winning Strategies for
Effective Public Speaking. New York, NY: ASME
Pres.
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There number of presentation aids at disposal for presenters are many and diverse and can either be used alone or in combination with other during a presentation. However, the overheads tend to be the ones often used, usually in transparency format, in addition the presentation aids that are computer based are being used more and more (Sprague, Stuart & Bodary, 2008)A presentation aid can be regarded as anything which helps in making a presentation to be more effective. Moreover, the secret behind developing an effective presentations is to ensure that the presentation objectives are establishing, there is adequate planning and organization of the presentation material, however using appropriate presentation aids for the necessary audience is the overall (Sullivan & Wircenski, 1996). Hence the recipe for a good presentation needs incorporation of all these factors in order to make sure that the presenter’s ideas are effectively illustrated and emphasized your more than words alone.
There are various presentation aids that can be used and each of them has their own benefits and drawbacks. Therefore, the process of selecting presentation aids to be used should be carefully made to ensure that only the best presentation aids are selected for an effective presentation session. However, not all the presentation aids can be used independently because other are used in combination so as to make sure that the quality of the presentation is enhanced while at the same time boosting the audience interest and information retention (Radel, 2000). There are many presentations aids but the those that are commonly used include overhead slides, white boards, handouts, photographs, video, flip charts, prototypes & models, physical models, d emonstrations, illusions, role plays and experiments (Sprague, Stuart & Bodary, 2008).
Among the presentation aids identified four of them will be evaluated for the purpose of this presentation. This selection considers the appropriateness of the presentation aids that I have selected due to the fact that their advantages outweighs the disadvantages by a very big margin. Therefore, in particular the presentation aids selected for evaluation are the flip charts, handouts, overhead transparencies and the posters. A brief overview of these presentation aids will be considered as well as their advantages and disadvantages in addition to the audiences where they can be appropriately used.
Flip charts are quick, inexpensive presentation aids aimed for small groups. The charts, graphic materials and felt-tip markers are readily available. Therefore, the presenter is capable of writing on these materials thereby making it possible to compose desirable visual aid in-house. Advantages include; help the speaker proceed through the material, can be prepared prior to or during the presentation, provide the audience with something to look , convey information, can be converted to slides . However, there are some disadvantages which include; may require the use of graphics talent, may be difficult to transport, and are not suitable for large audience settings.
Handouts are commonly used presentation aids for business presentations. This is mainly because they gives the clients a chance to get a paper containing necessary information and your contact details. This ensures that the clients are likely to contact you in case they require more information (Radel, 2000). Moreover, since handouts mostly consist of figures and good facts the clients will always want to keep them safe, hence faring much better than the business cards (Sullivan & Wircenski, 1996). However, the handouts have numerous advantages which include; allowing the presenter to cut down on the material required to cover the presentation, providing adequate information to the audience, and making it easy for the members of audience to contact the presenter later due to the contact provided. Moreover, there are some disadvantages involved in this presentation aid including that they are time consuming are more costly in comparison to most other presentation aids. However, there are several tips which can allow effective preparation of the handouts as presentation aids including that they should be prepared in plenty of time, the handout should include as much information as possible, and also the presenter should make sure that the handout reflect his or her presentation (Sullivan & Wircenski, 1996).
Overhead transparencies are very effective presentation aids for audiences that are between 20 to 50 people. They can be produced easily, quickly, as well as inexpensively (Radel, 2000). However, any camera-ready artwork, whether illustrations, word charts, or diagrams are capable of being used in overhead transparencies by the use of the standard office paper copiers. Advantages; Easy to prepare Less demanding Inexpensive Disadvantages; The projected image size is sometimes too small. It is difficult to write on the transparency while it is on the projector (Sprague, Stuart & Bodary, 2008). Some speakers feel captive to the machine since the machine is very manual.
Posters are prepared graphic devices that can be made of a variety of materials and media - photographs, diagrams, graphs, word messages, or a combination of these. Posters work best in smaller audience sizes. Advantages; Posters can be very elaborate or simple. Posters can be used alone or in a series to tell a story (Radel, 2000). Posters are permanent and portable. Disadvantages; Posters tend to contain too much detail. Transporting them can be difficult. The more elaborate posters require extensive preparation and can be quite costly.
Explicit evaluation of the presentation aids to be used is a very crucial step towards making sure that the selected presentation aid will result into an effective presentation. Therefore, an evaluation of their effectiveness, the ways of how best to prepare them is a very essential practice prior to presentation. However, it is always advisable to ensure that there is a visual dimension to a presentation since it is very critical in contributing to presentation's overall success. Moreover, the presentation sessions should always be designed in a way such that sufficient time is allowed in order for the presenter to not only adequately cover the information in the presentation aids but also to make the presentation session an interactive process. Thus the presentation aids should be appropriately picked to effectively suit the target audience in order to ensure that they are comfortable and able to ask questions or clarifications where necessary.