Page 43 - Teaching Principles and Methods Student Textbook short

Study Section 9: Using Audio-Visual Aids to increase learning.

9.1 Connect

A couple of years ago I got the privilege of going to Israel. We toured the sites where the
characters of the Bible walked. Before that experience, I viewed Israel through the various
pictures that I had seen, but by actually going there, the sights and sounds of the Bible came
alive. I was able to visualize distances, elevations, and the locations of so many Biblical events.
I stood in the valley of Eluh, where David confronted Goliath. I climbed Mt. Nebo where Moses
stood, looking over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. To visualize it with my own eyes made all
the difference in my understanding!

Using aids that help a student “see” or visualize the teaching concept, in the same manner, makes all the
difference in the world between a “standard” lesson and an amazing lesson. Today, we are going to see
how audio-visual aids can tremendously enhance your teaching skills and ensure that your students will
understand the concepts of the lesson. Let get at it…

9.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain how audio-visual aids increase learning and
motivation.

2. The student should be able to describe some principles in creating effective audio-visual aids.

3. The student should be able to describe how the use of colors in their visual aids effect the viewer.

9.3 Audio-Visuals Aids

The word “audio” means that a person hears something to reinforce an idea. It includes such
things as music, narration, sound bites, and of course, what the speaker is saying. The word
“video” means the person sees something to help them visualize a concept. The
two tools can be used separately. For example, you could have a series of
pictures that illustrate what you are teaching. Large pictures showing Lazarus coming out
of the tomb may be used to impact the minds of children. You could play a story on a CD
that is being read or narrated as a point of interest and reinforcement.

But tying an audio and visual presentation together you increase the overall impact on the
audience and thereby increase the probability that they will recall the information you are
presenting. Also, audio and visual tools tend to impact the emotions of an audience,
which again increases the likelihood that they will apply the information you are giving them in their
lives.

And if you make the presentation interactive (audience participation), you again increase retention
because the audience is “doing” something to relate to the topic. You can tell a story, ask questions

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