Effective Use of Teaching Aids

Learning OutcomesBy the end of this session, you should be able to:• Choose the most appropriate visual aid for your

purpose and context,• Use the black-/white-board effectively,• Make the most of the overhead projector,• Produce a basic presentation with MS Powerpoint,• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of other

media.

DefinitionA teaching aid is a tool used by teachers,

facilitators, or tutors to• help learners improve reading and other skills,• illustrate or reinforce a skill, fact, or idea, and • relieve anxiety, fears, or boredom, since many teaching aids are like games.

Kinds

• A chart

• A flash card

• A poster

• A calendar

• A flip chart

Here are some kinds of teaching aids :

• An easy reader• Tape-assisted reading

 

Computers and other equipment such as video and audio cassettes can also be used as teaching aids.

Introduction

 

A chart is a useful way to present and display information or instructions, especially in a classroom or other educational situation. It can range in size from a large wall chart to a single piece of paper.

Definition

 

A chart is a group of related facts presented in the form of a diagram, table, graph, or other visually organized model.

Introduction

 

Flash cards are useful for drilling new letters, syllables, words, and other information. They are normally used in a classroom, but can also be used more informally.

Definition

 

A flash card is part of a set of cards on which are written items to be studied. They are “flashed” (shown quickly) one by one to a learner to elicit a quick response.

Features  Here are some features of flash cards:

 

Flash cards are sets of cards printed with information to be studied, such as

oformulas oletters omultiplication tables odefinitions oprefixes osyllables, or owords.

 

If there is an answer or solution to what appears on the front of the card, it is printed on the back so that the person showing the cards can see if the learner's answer is correct. 

Example:

oThe front of a card shows a term to be defined. The back shows the definition.

Flash cards can be made fromoindex cards cover or card stock, or oother heavy paper.

Introduction

 

A poster is an informative, often decorative way to attract attention to the information it contains.

  Here are some ways to use posters in a

literacy program:

 

To advertise events or products To display information or instructions To teach some kinds of information

Definition

 

A poster is a bill or placard usually displayed in a public place. It is often decorated with designs or illustrations.

Here are some kinds of posters: • Posters you make yourself.

Ready-made posters from business organizations

–community development organizations –government offices medical companies, or tourist agencies. .

Introduction  Calendars are a popular item in most parts of the world.

 Here are some ways to use calendars in a literacy program:

 

As a teaching aid For fund raising As gifts, incentives, or awards As motivation to read For reading practice

Definition

 

A calendar is a page or a series of pages that shows the dates, days, and months of one year.

Features

 A calendar usually contains numbers, text, and illustrations.

 

 

  Here are some kinds of text to use on calendars:

 

Months and days of the month in the local language and possibly in other appropriate languages Proverbs and folktales Quotes from famous people or literature Self-help information Stories

Illustrations

Here are some kinds of illustrations to use on calendars:

Charts

Diagrams

Locally drawn pictures

Photographs

 Here are some kinds of calendars: • Calendars with

– every month printed on one large sheet of paper, and – enough room for some pictures and text.

• Calendars with – one picture and some text on a large colored piece of

paper, and – pages for each month written on smaller pieces of

white paper and stapled on to the large colored paper.

• Calendars with – a separate page for each month, with – an illustration, and – some text on each page.

• Commercially produced calendars with handwritten local language text added

• Pocket or desk agendas

Introduction • Flip charts are a useful teaching aid. You can

purchase prepared or blank flip charts, or you can make them. Flip charts are useful in teaching situations where you need to teach a number of people at a time. They are used:

 1. when books are unavailable, scarce, or too

expensive for individuals to have their own copy

2. when other media such as overheads and slides are not available, and

3. where group learning is most culturally appropriate.

Definition • A flip chart is a collection of large

pages which are bound together at the top. The pages are “flipped” or brought up to the back as they are used.

Definition

An easy reader is a short book with a small amount of text and large illustrations. The illustrations are designed to give clues to what the text says. 

Introduction

Easy readers are good for beginning readers. They can help motivate beginning readers by giving them a whole book that they can read by themselves.

Definition

 • Tape assisted reading is an individual or

group reading activity where a learner reads along with a passage which has been recorded on audio or video tape.

Why use teaching aids?Teaching aids are useful to:• reinforce what you are saying,• ensure that your point is understood,• signal what is important/essential,• enable students to visualise or experience

something that is impractical to see or do in real life,

• engage students’ other senses in the learning process,

• facilitate different learning styles.

Why use teaching aids?• To save time and effort.

• To stimulate interest in the foreign language.

• To explain concepts & illustrate meanings.

• To reinforce meaning.

• To direct or promote conversations in groups.

• To provide cultural background.

30% of what we SEE

We Learn and Retain:

10% of what we READ

20% of what we HEAR

50% of what we HEAR and SEE

Higher levels of retention can be achieved through active involvement in learning.

10% of what we READ

WHITE-/BLACKBOARDAdvantages• No advanced preparation

required,• except when displaying a

complex table/chart/ diagram.

• Technology is not dependent on electricity or other possible glitches.

• Can be used by students for problem-solving, etc.

Disadvantages• Time-consuming if you have

a lot to write.

• Handwriting may be difficult to read (legibility, size, glare, etc.).

• Turn your back on audience.

• Cleaning the board (chalk dust, permanent marker, etc.)

• Can’t go back to something you’ve erased.

WHITE-/BLACKBOARD

TIPS• Get to the lecture hall early to make sure that the

board has been cleaned.• Bring your own chalk/markers and eraser.• If you have problems with keeping your writing level,

draw horizontal lines in advance using a pencil and metre stick.

• Draw complex diagrams, charts, etc. in advance and cover with a piece of newsprint until needed.

“Technology will not replace teachers. Teachers who use technology will probably replace those who do not”

Ray Clifford

OVERHEAD PROJECTOR

Advantages• Allows you to prepare all

your slides in advance.• Particularly suited for

complex diagrams, charts and illustrations.

• Can build up information point-by-point through the use of overlays.

• Don’t have to turn your back on the audience.

Disadvantages• A blown bulb or power

failure can spoil all your hard work.

• Image quality can also be a problem.

• Can be disorienting to manipulate transparencies on projector plate.

OVERHEAD PROJECTORSelecting Text• Avoid overcrowding• Avoid continuous prose• Bullet or numbered points preferred• KILLS

Keep It Legible, Lean and Simple

OVERHEAD PROJECTORPreparing Transparencies• By hand, or• Computer application (eg. MS PowerPoint, MS

Word, HTML documents)• Printing - colour or B/W• Printer (laser or inkjet), or • Photocopier

OVERHEAD PROJECTOR

Please observe the rules prohibiting the

combustion of vegetable material

and the exhalation of noxious fumes in this

auditorium.

NO SMOKING

Keep words to a minimum:

OVERHEAD PROJECTOR

1st Qtr. 2nd Qtr. 3rd Qtr. 4th Qtr.East 20.4 27.4 90.0 20.4West 30.6 38.6 34.7 31.5North 45.9 46.8 45.0 43.9

Tables are best avoided:

OVERHEAD PROJECTOR

0

5 0

1 0 0

1 5 0

2 0 0

1 s t Q t r 2 n d Q t r 3 r d Q t r 4 t h Q t r

N o r t h

W e s t

E a s t

Use Charts/Graphs instead:

OVERHEAD PROJECTORChoosing a Font• Size - minimum 20pt

(5mm high)

• Sans serif fonts preferred

Examples:• 14 pt Tahoma

• 20 pt Tahoma

• 28 pt Tahoma

• 36 pt Tahoma

• Times New Roman

• Arial• Comic Sans

OVERHEAD PROJECTOR

Style Notes for Transparencies• Allow a margin of 5 cm (2”) all round.• Avoid TOO MUCH UPPERCASE TEXT• For emphasis, use bold or underlining instead of

italics• Keep titles systematic and consistent• Justification - left or centred• Avoid light text on dark background.

OVERHEAD PROJECTORDuring the Lecture• Keep used and unused

slides in separate piles.• Cover the slide with a

piece of cardboard and slide it down to reveal text as you go.

• Use a pen on the OHP glass rather than pointing to the screen.

Beforehand• Get to the room early to

make sure the OHP is working.

• Check the aim and focus.

• Walk to the back of the room to see whether the smallest print is readable.

• Relax (if possible).

DATA PROJECTOR (portable)How to connect your Laptop to a portable

data projector: • Attach one end of the data cable to the serial port of

the laptop.• Attach the other end to the RGB IN port of the data

projector.• Switch the data projector on followed by the laptop.• Press the 'Fn' and the appropriate function key to

display.

OVERHEAD PROJECTORStyle Notes for Transparencies• Allow a margin of 5 cm (2”) all round.• Avoid TOO MUCH UPPERCASE TEXT• For emphasis, use bold or underlining instead of

italics• Keep titles systematic and consistent• Justification - left or centred• Avoid light text on dark background.

Other Media AUDIO TAPES or CDs

When to USE:• Particularly suited for

language learning, media studies, English literature, etc.

• Valuable when referring to recorded historical events (e.g. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech).

• Background music can also be played before class starts and during group activities.

TIPS• Check the room and

equipment beforehand.

• Can it be heard from the back of the room?

• Find the right spot on the tape/CD and queue it up in advance.

• Don’t play more than a few minutes of audio at one time.

• Break up longer clips into segments, interspersed with discussion or other activities.

Other MediaFLIPCHART

When to USE:• if electricity is

unavailable,• to enable

students to illustrate group reports,

• to provide a written record of points made by students.

TIPS• Check the room and

equipment beforehand.• Get your own pad of

newsprint.• Write out important pages in

advance.• Don’t put too much on a page.• Carry a collection of felt-tip

pens and check that they haven’t dried out.

• Bring along some Blutack.

Other Media AUDIO TAPES or CDs

When to USE:• Particularly suited for

language learning, media studies, English literature, etc.

• Valuable when referring to recorded historical events (e.g. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech).

• Background music can also be played before class starts and during group activities.

TIPS• Check the room and

equipment beforehand.

• Can it be heard from the back of the room?

• Find the right spot on the tape/CD and queue it up in advance.

• Don’t play more than a few minutes of audio at one time.

• Break up longer clips into segments, interspersed with discussion or other activities.

Other Media VIDEO TAPES or DVDs

When to USE:• Adds a dimension not

available through audio alone - helps students to visualise.

• Essential when illustrating things that are impractical to do in real life.

• Particularly suited for language learning, media studies, engineering, etc.

• Valuable when referring to recorded historical events.

TIPSSame as for CDs/audio tapes• Check equipment

beforehand.• Can images be seen from

the back of the room?• Queue up the tape in

advance.• Break viewing into short

segments, interspersed with discussion or activities.

Conclusion Each teaching aid has its own characteristics and function.

Some teaching aids are more effective than others.

The teacher should be careful to choose the most appropriate aid that best serves the teaching purpose.

Teaching aids are corner stones in the teaching process which help conduce to the improvement of teaching and learning. Using suitable teaching aids empowers teachers to cultivate interest in students.