Effective Presentation Techniques: AV Aids and Presenter Poise

Audio-Visual Aids

Audio-visual aids can be broadly classified as follows:

Classification of AV Aids

• Audio:
  1. Tape recorder
  2. Gramophone or compact disc
• Visual:
  • Non-Projected (Data Collection and Measurement):
    1. Blackboard
    2. Bulletin boards or flip charts
    3. Models
  • Projected:
    1. Epidiascope
    2. Overhead
    3. Slide
    4. Film strip
    5. Tachistoscope (Slide projector with a timer)
• Audio-Visual:
  1. Film (8 mm, 16 mm)
  2. Videocassette

The Usefulness of AV Aids

Since AV aids help in recreating reality in a miniature form through visuals and sound, greater credibility and clarity can be achieved in presentation.

Since both sound and sight senses are activated at the same time along with the body language, concentration, retention, and recall can be obtained in presentation.

Suggestions for Preparing AV Aids

1. Organize the material into small modules.
2. Do not put more than seven or eight lines on a transparency.
3. Use as few words as possible. Use telegraphic style, abbreviations, and symbols which the audience can understand.
4. Visualize or picture your ideas if possible.
5. Make the pictures and letters bright enough to be visible from a distance.
6. Make the letters big and thick enough to be read by all.

How to Use Some AV Materials

Blackboard

1. Plan: What goes on it? When does it go on it? Where is it to be entered? What is to be retained and what is to be erased?
2. In planning the arrangement of materials on the blackboard, it will help to mentally divide the blackboard space into different parts.
3. For writing on the blackboard, break the chalk into two pieces and use the soft inner side for writing to avoid the squeaking noise. Hold the chalk like a brush to get large and thick letters.

Bulletin Boards

The following materials are used for bulletin boards:

• Wood
• Felt
• Pulp
• Thermocol
• Steel (Magnetic) and Prestograph sign boards are also available.

Bulletin boards are useful for exhibiting samples and drawings.

Flip Charts

1. Can be an extension to the blackboard and the overhead projector.
2. Useful, like the blackboard, for interactive communication. Flip charts, like OHP transparencies, can be prepared beforehand.

Felt Board

1. Useful for demonstrating changes.
2. Use sandpaper strips or any stick-on material at the back of the paper for sticking to the felt.
3. Materials tend to fall off after a few minutes.

Overhead Projector

1. It can project:
   • transparencies,
   • cutouts and outlines (silhouette) of small objects,
   • negatives,
   • material on transparent glass, and
   • transparent colours.
2. Writing on the transparencies at the time of presentation is possible.
3. More matter can be accommodated than on a blackboard.
4. Highly flexible: Matter can be exposed either for long periods or short periods. Material can be partially hidden if needed.

Making of Transparencies

1. Thin plastic sheets and acetate or triacetate films can be used for making transparencies. Plastic sheets are cheaper than acetate or triacetate sheets.
2. Can write on plastic sheets and films with OHP pens. While writing on a transparency, put a graph paper underneath the transparency to be able to write uniformly big letters.
3. Photocopying can be done on plastic sheets and films.

Opaque Projector (Epidiascope)

1. Useful for projecting non-transparent material—printed paper, cloth, or small objects—in actual colours.
2. Dark room is essential.

Slides

1. Can be made in black and white or in colour. Best for highlighting coloured and halftone pictures.
2. Can be synchronized with running commentary on a tape recorder.
3. Presentation sequence can be changed.
4. Useful for showing on and off during the talk.
5. Audience attention can be held for about 30 minutes.

Presenter's Poise

The presenter himself is an essential part of the presentation. His poise and confidence matter a lot in putting across the ideas.

First, the presenter’s posture and movement on the dais or at the speaking place and his hand gestures indicate the level of confidence of the presenter. Slouching positions, leg crossing, rubbing hands or wild gesticulation, or hands in pockets indicate lack of authority and confidence in the presenter. Sometimes the presenter’s habits may become dysfunctional because they draw the attention of the audience away from the main theme.

Second, the presenter’s ability to maintain eye contact with the audience and keep his facial expressions suited to the subject also become important. Lack of eye contact with the total audience, not just with one or two persons in the audience, indicates lack of confidence in the presenter.