Preparing Visuals

The best presentation is an effective mix of verbal and visual elements. Whether you prepare your visuals by computer or by hand, the best advice is: keep it simple. Limit the amount of information on each visual. It’s better to use a series of simple visuals than to load everything you want to say on one or two. This is true both for visuals on screen in the classroom and for those seen on a TV or computer screen.

• Text should be clear and succinct
  Excess jargon or verbosity usually does not communicate effectively.
• Leave plenty of white (unused) space
  If a single graph, diagram, or text slide has too much information, understanding drops off. Research shows that the mind identifies and recalls up to six items fairly easily. After that, comprehension and recall rates reduce drastically.
• Optimum: 6 words per line and 4 – 7 lines of text for each visual
• Select a simple, bold typestyle
  Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Franklin or other sans serif font is twice as easy to read on computer and TV screens as Times Roman or other serif font. Bold, italicize, or color important words.
• Type size— letters at 1/4" high (24 point)
  Use one typestyle in 3 or fewer sizes throughout a presentation, with the largest type size for titles or main headings.
• Use both upper and lower case letters—a mixture of upper and lower case is easier to read.
• Color—good color contrast improves readability. Do not use dark ink on a dark background.
• Use bullets to emphasize items on a list—no more than 8 bullets per page.
• Use landscape layout
  A horizontal format accommodates the bias of the TV screen and projected image in class. Use a 3:4 ratio of height to width, e.g. 6" x 8" or 9" x 12."
• Test legibility before showing your visuals
  Prepare your text on an 81/2" x 11" piece of paper. Put it on the floor and stand up so that the paper is between your feet. Can you read it from this position? That’s how big it will look on the screen (assuming you are 5 – 6 feet tall).
• If a visual will be shown more than once during a presentation—make more than one copy, this will eliminate searching back and forth for a specific visual.
• Point to key features of your graphic as you discuss them. Tegrity has a specific tool for this.
• Take time with your visuals—give your students a few moments to absorb what you are showing, and to take notes. Some instructors provide handouts of the slides prior to class, or instruct the students to print them out and bring them to class before a specific lecture.
• Tegrity also has a camera capture feature, where you can take a "snapshot" of an article, 3D object, or other item, and it is then integrated into your class session. Ask the studio staff before class if you might like to use this.

Other

Instructors may prepare graphics, PowerPoint slides (the most compatible), Adobe Acrobat files, Microsoft Visio, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets ahead of time, or develop content during the class session with the computer tablet and stylus.  

Other classroom aids may be interfaced in your lectures (see below). Give all aids along with instructions to the studio director well in advance of the class start time.

• VHS and multi-standard VHS tape—Cue to the desired start point.
• DVDs – Advise the studio staff which cuts you want played.