Computer Generated Visuals
DEPARTMENTS
Training Notebook
As an instructor, it has been my observation that instructional activities are enhanced by a number of factors. One of the major factors is the use of visual aids. Finding just the “right one” varies with the subject matter, the student, and, of course, the instructor.
Early in his career, an instructor will usually decide on a favorite medium, one that satisfies the desire to effectively communicate with a student. An instructor must also recognize that the medium must be varied for the student’s benefit. The use of 35mm slides, movies, and videotapes helps implant on the student’s memory the key points being made.
If, as instructors, we submit to the three-part teaching theory “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and tell them what you told them,” we should be able to appreciate how various visual tools do their jobs.
My favorite visual tool for instruction purposes is the overhead projector. The overhead permits maintenance of lights in the classroom, the instructor can face and interact with the students, ongoing additions to the overhead can be made as the program continues, and a variety of work activities can be done.
What’s out there now?
We know there are commercially available visual aids and aids that can be professionally made. Each of these options results in an expenditure of money—lots of money!
We also have the opportunity to make our own. Making a transparency can, of course, be quite time consuming. Using temporary or permanent transparency pens, we can draw freehand diagrams or print our key points. If you’re a “not so good” printer or artist, the results obviously show. Press on letters require a straight line and a steady hand. Then, of course, if there’s a Kroy lettering machine close by you can get some excellent results using several type styles and sizes.
If you come across an excellent picture, black and white or color, there is a method whereby we can “lift” a picture from the printed media to acetate. Still another method uses plain paper with the instructor using ruler and pen to draw and/or print what is needed. This can be made into a transparency by use of the correct combination of acetate and office copy machine.
In addition, a number of manufacturers have a variety of pre-formatted graphic “masks” into which you can insert your message. To add color, you can obtain a rainbow of self-adhering colors that can be cut to fit the picture drawn.
Watch those presentations!
As instructors, we should use care in our presentations. An effective instructional message can be scuttled by improper use of the overhead. Some points we should watch include:
- Proper size of lettering. The use of a typewriter results in a letter size that is too small to be seen from the back of any classroom.
- Use of keywords only. Many instructors will attempt to put their entire message on an overhead. The student becomes so involved in reading, or attempting to read the transparency that the message is lost.
- Use of an acetate mask. The use of an overhead without a mask results in excessive light transmission. However, masks are expensive and therefore eliminated by many. It is my recommendation that whenever possible you should use the mask. One of its benefits is the ability to place notes on the mask.
- Proper masking of transparency work surface. When using a masked sheet of acetate, a number of projectors permit light to escape around the side of the mask due to the fact that the working surface is larger than the masked transparency. This may result in light transmission around the sides of the mask, a very annoying item. Duct tape provides such a mask.
- Leveling transparency. When a transparency is set on the projector’s working surface, you should see that it is level. Again, several layers of duct tape will provide an automatic stop.
- Proper change of acetate. For most effective use, it pays to shut off the projector as you change from one acetate to the next. Failure to do so usually results in a blur and distraction to the student.
There is a method of keeping the light on and yet blanking it out for transparency change. By taping a piece of cardboard to the top of the lens, you can keep the light on all the time; it simply requires flipping it down when you want to remove the transparency. A word of warning: I have seen these cardboard lens covers catch fire due to the heat and magnification through the lens!
What was that electronics about?
My only hassle has been the time required to put together an appealing transparency in a minimum amount of time. Now, who doesn’t have that problem? The results of haste combined with poor penmanship make fora very poor transparency.
There are several computer programs designed to make signs and overhead transparencies. One such program is Pyxel Visuals designed for the IBM-PC. One demonstration will show you how valuable such a software program can be. First, it’s easy to use. Honest. Everything is in nice plain language and computer lingo is not needed. The software package includes a manual that provides all the instruction needed. In fact, one quick review of the manual is all that’s needed.
Once the program is “booted,” a 10 item menu appears. The menu is controlled by the 10 function keys on the IBM. One permits you to create the text.
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Once into the creation portion, the program offers you one of four type sizes: 3/16, 3/8, 9/16, and 3/4 inch. Once you select the size of letter, a highlighted line appears indicating how much type can go on that line.
After typing in the text, you type ESC (ESCape) and the menu reappears. At this point another key selection provides screen display of what you created.
With a third key, you can move the text into various positions on the screen. Next, use another key to bring a line movement into use. With the line, you can do basic graphics such as horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines that permit underlining and creating arrows, boxes, and other highlight configurations.
To edit an existing line or to enter a new line, use another menu selection. Another key selection permits you to save your disk, another is for loading programs and another permits printing. There is also an on-screen help key and an ending key.
Once you have created your text and/or basic graphics, you can obtain hard copy through a dot matrix printer by use of the appropriate key. The printer can print vertically or horizontally, however, for overheads it is recommended that vertical print be used. It takes about three minutes to obtain a hard copy.
From this point the hard copy can be run through a copier to give a good carbon copy, then through your normal transparency maker. The result is a clean, neat and easily readable overhead transparency.
Pyxel Applications also has a batch printing program. With Batchprint, the user is able to create all of the visuals needed and can print all of the overheads at one time. In addition, the Batchprint utility provides for high resolution and creates the roman bold and roman medium font. Without Batchprint, you must print out the hard copy one at a time, a time-consuming job at three minutes per screen.
Summary
Each instructor needs to review the visual media used for clarity and viewer appeal. Overhead transparencies provide a media in which the instructor can maintain contact and carry on a discussion with the students.
The use of existing electronic presentation methods gives the instructor the ability to use his creativity in making an overhead. That creativity will enhance the material delivered and hopefully increase the students’ retention of that material.
