Chapter 8: Using Presentation Aids

Have you ever put a project together and wondered, “Which training aid should I use? And how do I use this aid effectively?” Chapter 8, Using Presentation Aids, has been designed to help answer these questions in just two easy parts. For this class presentation, we will focus on part one which discusses the purposes of presentation aids along with the strategies for using presentation aids. First, let’s discuss the purposes of presentation aids. Before designing presentation aids, the trainer must first analyze the purpose of their aid. It is important to understand that a presentation aid is not the actual presentation but a benefiting factor to what is being discussed. Aids can help with the success of a topic or the downfall of one. To ensure success, any aids used in a presentation should do the following: Promote interest by capturing the attention of the trainee, Clarify complex concepts or ideas, Demonstrate how to complete a skill, Enhance retention by finding a way to relate information, and Enhance training transfer by ensuring a trainee is able to successfully use the new behavior or skill. Now that purposes of presentation aids have been listed, let’s move on to strategies for using presentation aids. The strategies for using presentation aids have been written to ensure that trainers are using presentation aids to their fullest potential. Keeping presentation aids simple, is the first fundamental in the strategies for using presentation aids. By keeping the aids simple, the trainer will want to make sure that the focus of each aid has been narrowed down, aids are being used to explain a concept or skill through key words and phrases rather than paragraphs, appropriate fonts are used, and that words are replaced with pictures for subjects that make retention easier through visuals. The second fundamental refers to communication with trainees and not presentation aids. In order to successfully build a relationship with your audience rather than having focus on the provided aid is to make sure that the content being covered is already understood by the trainer, the sequence of the presentation is memorized, and that a relationship of the trainer and trainee has been made before the start of the presentation or the introduction to the aids have been made. The third fundamental continues with making sure presentation aids are large enough to be seen. Some things that should be taken into consideration when preparing presentation aids include examining the size and shape of the room being used for the training session, making sure that if a projection screen is used the size is large enough for everyone to see or small enough not to overpower the room, handwriting is neat and visible if using a while board, and that handouts are available in any training session. Fundamental four is making sure that in an absence of presentation aids, the trainer is still ready to present. The text uses the definition of Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong, to show the importance of being prepared. The best thing to do when getting ready for a presentation is to make sure that your presentation has a backup and that your backup has a backup. When using a technology based presentation aid, make sure that an extra electronic copy is readily available to you and that your presentation aides are accessible through an online source. For example, presentation aids could be saved on flash drive or disk, and also sent through email or saved to a website. Always remember that hard copies are important to have on hand too. Our final fundamental is practicing with your presentation aids. A great trainer knows their presenting area and presentation aids backwards and forwards by rehearsing with them. Practicing will allow for easy transitions and ease when using projectors, laptops, and any other necessary equipment. Basically, when a trainer is prepared by rehearsing their presentation it can make a good presentation into a great one. Now that we have discussed part one of Using Presentation Aids in Training, it is hopeful that there is now a better understanding of the purposes of presentation aids and the strategies for using presentation aids. Good Luck! Please check out the following link on how to promote interest through visual aids before class on Monday. This will help you understand the references in the speech: http://www.businessballs.com/visualaids.htm By: Amanda Caston