WHY USE VISUAL AIDS?

Making use of visual aids is to add to the training and increase the levels of information withheld by the participants. It is an aid; it does not take position over the spoken word.

TO CAPTURE ATTENTION

Using visual aids is to help capture but also to maintain the attention of your audience. What visual aids used it totally up to the personal preference of the trainer, it all depends on the available resources, cost, and style of presentation, room size and audience.

TO REINFORCE POINTS

Retention is increased by 20-50% by making use of visual aids when wanting to emphasize certain points. The message is being transmitted to the audience in a verbal and visual way when keywords and graphics are used.

TO ORGANISE INFORMATION

Although not making up the core of the program, visual aids can play a very helpful role in the organization of the session allowing it to stay on track and enhance the information being given. They act as a guide for the learners as they help pinpoint the main points enabling them to follow the session. It also helps create a professional, competent and well rounded look.

TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING

As already mentioned making use of visual aids by means of graphs, charts, images and key points especially helps the trainer explain more complex views and information. It also makes the session more enjoyable instead of a trainer just rambling on and the participants losing concentration.

TO SUPPORT THE SPOKEN MESSAGE

The use of visual aids stimulates the senses and incorporating exciting and boldly coloured images, sound clips, and movies all support the information provided.

TO EMPHASIZE KEY POINTS

An experienced trainer will be aware that there will always be a mixture of participants who learn in visual, kinaesthetic or auditory ways. So designing a program that incorporates all of these will help the trainer bring across the key points and emphasis their importance.