Video and Audio aids are videotapes, cassettes,
CD’s, overhead projectors, slide shows, and more that you use during a speech
to illustrate and emphasize a point. For example, you could play a videotape of
parts of a rugby match to illustrate parts of the game. You could use an
overhead projector to point to and draw parts of a hair-drying machine.
Tips
for Visual, Video and Audio Aids
·
USE NOTEWORTHY AIDS
Use
colors, charts, and pictures for visual aids. Use vivid, action filled
videotapes for video aids. Use clear, distinct music and speaking for audio
aids.
·
KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE
Stick
to graphics, pictures and bulleted lists of short items. Long definitions, lots
of written text, complicated tables or charts reduce clarity and lack visual
impact. Keep video and audio aids to no more than 30 seconds maximum. Long
sections of video or music divert our attention from your speech to the video
or audio aid.
·
USE THICK, HARD PAPER FOR PAPER VISUAL AIDS
Otherwise,
it curls up and falls down during your speech.
·
USE LIGHT PAPER AND DARK, THICK PENS FOR WRITING
Otherwise,
we will not be able to see your points.
·
KEEP VISUAL AIDS BIG, BIG, BIG!
If your
visual aid isn’t really big--people will not see it. Plus--write big! TIP:
Write 3 times bigger than you think you should.
·
USE AIDS THAT LOOK PROFESSIONAL
Avoid
sloppy art, stick figures, sloppy writing, choppy videos, hard to hear tapes,
misspellings, etc. unless you are doing it for a specific effect.
·
BE CAREFUL IF YOU WANT TO PASS OUT VISUAL AIDS
Use
handouts only if you are going to have the audience do something with the
handout (like fill something out, do an exercise or game, or if you plan to
point to things on the handout). OTHERWISE--If its small--then move close to
the class and show us. If its detailed information--hand it out at the end of
the question and answer period.
When
you use the Aid in your speech:
·
AVOID PLACING VISUAL AIDS ON THE CHALKBOARD
They
will fall down. Hold on to visual aids or bring in a visual aid holder.
·
USE THE AID
Don’t
just show it and talk about something related to the aid. Actually talk about
the aid as you show it or immediately after showing it.
·
Point to THE AID
As you
speak about issues, statistics, etc. on the aid--point to them.
·
MOVE SMALLER VISUAL AIDS CLOSER TO THE CLASS
Move
around the class to show smaller pictures, etc.
·
Hold up VIDEO AIDS straight
Avoid
bending it over, turning it slightly, etc. Hold it so we can see it.
·
HOLD IT UP LONG ENOUGH
Hold it
in place long enough so that people can see it and understand it.
PUT THE AID AWAY WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH IT
Why?
Because it distracts your audience from your other points.