Flip Charts/Posters
ADVANTAGES:
- easy and inexpensive to make and update
- portable and transportable
- left in view of the audience
- good for interaction with the audience
DISADVANTAGES:
- unsuitable for large groups
- anxiety-provoking for facilitator with poor handwriting or poor spelling
Slides
ADVANTAGES:
- professional in appearance
- good for large groups
DISADVANTAGES:
- formal and impersonal
- shown in the dark
- not good for discussion and interaction
- more difficult to update than other visual aids
- require special equipment
Videos
ADVANTAGES:
- professional in appearance
- good for large or small groups
DISADVANTAGES:
- more expansive than other visual aids
- requires special equipment
- not good for discussion and interaction
- require accurate cueing
Overhead Transparencies
ADVANTAGES:
- good for large groups
- easy to create
- easy to transport
- provide an informal atmosphere
- open to interaction with groups
- easy to update
DISADVANTAGES:
- impermanent; they yellow with age
- require less common equipment
Computer Projections (e.g., PowerPoint™)
ADVANTAGES:
- professional in appearance
- evidence of preparation
- good for large or small group
- easy to integrate with classroom discussion
- animated
- up-to-date technology
- easy to update
DISADVANTAGES:
- require special equipment/facilities
- require initial training to create
- require significant time to create
- require basic graphics/composition skills
Samples, Examples, and Mock-Ups
ADVANTAGES:
- real-world/authentic
- three dimensional
- sometimes inexpensive and readily available
- experience may be tactile/auditory as well as visual
DISADANTAGES:
- sometimes difficult or impossible to acquire
- often difficult to handle or distribute
- require storage space
- usually out of natural environment
