Before the speakers used PowerPoint, there were overhead projectors, flip charts, brochures, and white boards. Before that, there were slide projectors and movie projectors. Sometimes people wore accessories.

Before that, there were blackboards and before that, well, there were only speakers! And believe it or not, the speakers were very effective, even without images.

There is no question that visuals provide additional benefits to a presentation. According to “Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach” by Steven A. Beebe and Susan J. Beebe, Presentation Aids

“improve understanding”, “improve memory”, “help listeners organize ideas”, “help gain and maintain attention” and “help illustrate a sequence of events or procedures”.

Read on for tips on effective and creative old-fashioned, low-tech visual aids.

1. Before the presentation

Flip charts

Write your flip charts ahead of time (unless you are writing comments or questions from the audience). Leave a blank page or two between the prepared pages, in case you want to add something during your presentation. This also prevents the following pages from being displayed.

Make sure the text is large enough for everyone in the room to see; Letters should be 2 “to 3” high, depending on the size of the room. Text should be in dark colors so your audience doesn’t have to strain to see

that. Using a perforated grid pad ensures neat writing and tearing. And check your spelling before putting your flip chart away!

I like to use the sticky flip chart paper; it’s like a giant Post-it® note that I can tear off and stick to the wall. The page can be repositioned as needed and the graphic can be placed on a table. Not

You need tape or an easel.

See Garr Reynolds’ Flipchart Suggestion Resource List: http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2007/04/presentations_e.html

Brochures, part 1

Prepare only what is necessary to recap your main points or provide additional resources, such as a copy of a magazine article or a list of websites or books to use for further research on your topic.

You may want to include a simple marketing document, such as a brochure, but don’t go overboard with your marketing materials; including your name and contact information at the bottom of the brochures should be sufficient. And keep your documents simple and easy to read; don’t overwhelm your audience with too much reading material.

Print brochures on colored paper to differentiate each one for your audience and to eliminate the monotony of completely blank brochures.

Large signs, posters, or images

You may want to give your audience something to watch as you walk into the room and take a seat. A poster-sized photograph or other eye-catching image that relates to your topic is a great image to get

all on the same page. Just be sure to cover or remove it before you start speaking, so the audience isn’t distracted by it.

2. During the presentation

Accessories

Accessories can add interest and humor to your presentation and help illustrate your points, as long as you don’t overuse them and practice before your presentation.

Props can be items placed around the room for audience members to use or enjoy before or during the performance, such as candy, snacks, puzzles, or toys. They work best in interactive workshop settings,

where you expect your audience to be active.

Props can help you remember certain parts of your presentation without using notes, such as an item you take to demonstrate a particular point. Props, as a visual cue, also help your audience remember

what you talked about. For example, one speaker, whose topic was compulsive shopping, handed out her brochures to her audience in mini shopping bags.

Instead of a pie chart, how about cutting a real pie? Or put on multiple hats to represent different sections of your presentation. Accessories don’t have to be complicated. Any well-used accessory can add a special touch.

to your presentation. Make sure everyone in the room can see the accessory and don’t remove it until you’re ready to use it.

Demonstration

Is there something related to your topic that you can demonstrate as part of your presentation? Can you make an origami crane, or do a small craft project, or demonstrate how to re-plant a plant?

The demonstration is a great teaching tool if it is clear, concise, and provides well-organized instructions.

Brochures, part 2

Save the brochures to the end, or if you need your audience to follow a document, just deliver the one they need when they need it. Brochures are distracting and diverting the speaker’s attention, so plan carefully when to distribute them.

3. After the presentation

Ideally, you have a table at the back of the room where you can display additional brochures, books, brochures, business cards, and other resources for your audience. Make a vertical display board for this

table that includes photos, maps, graphs, charts, text and other visual elements to capture the audience when they enter and when they leave the room. This is a good way to display complex information that is not

appropriate to review in detail during the presentation.

Using a variety of visual techniques helps you capture and hold your audience’s attention, and helps them retain what they learn. Try something new – Images don’t have to be high-tech to make a big impact.

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