Visual Organization Tools

Visual organization tools are simply charts and drawings that you can use as you study any topic. As you sketch out and review your information in these visual tools, you will reinforce the information and perhaps recall it more readily during an exam.

1. T-charts

A T-chart will help you compare and contrast. The process of creating this visual aid helps to sort and divide things like strengths and weaknesses and other contrasting traits. This is a good tool for analyzing books and characters.

2. Fishbone

A fishbone chart is a good tool for brainstorming causes and effects for a certain problems. Place the problem you are discussing on the right side of a paper in a box (the head). Draw a line to the left and create branches (bones) to indicate possible causes.

3. Web or Spider Chart

A web chart (or spider map) is useful for organizing your notes before an exam or before drafting an essay. It is also useful for organizing your oral presentation. Place a central idea or item in the center and use the “legs” to list attributes and other items. You can use a web to create a visual depiction of main topics and subtopics. The web diagram proves to be a great visual aid for studying literature and preparing debates, speeches, and argument essays. A web chart is also valuable for discerning the organization and structure of any complex problem or group.

4. Timeline

A timeline is useful for studying historic events and any process that happens over time. This is an especially good too when studying for exams. If you sketch a timeline and study it a few times, you will easily remember events in sequence.

5. Cycle Chart

Use a cycle chart to demonstrate a chain of events, show steps in a scientific process, or to clarify the order of certain repeating events. The act of drawing out the process will reinforce the information in your brain.

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Why Use Visual Aids?

If you are required to use a visual aid in your presentation, you should be glad! Visual aids can improve your presentation in many ways. They can clarify information for the audience, and help you, as the presenter, focus on the topic at hand.

Visual Aids Enhance Learning

Visual aids will make your presentation a little more interesting for the audience. It's difficult for many audience members to stay focused on a verbal presentation. Visual aids break up the monotony.

• The visual learners in your audience are able to understand information more readily by looking at images.
• Tactile learners will appreciate a prop that they can touch and experience. Period clothing and other cultural artifacts provide a good experience for the audience.
• Auditory learners will enjoy hearing sound recordings that enhance your presentation. A presentation about colonial America could be enhanced by period music, for example.

Visual Aids Help the Presenter

Props and images can make you, as the presenter, feel more at ease. Many students feel more relaxed and secure when they can redirect viewers' eyes to another object.

Visual Aids can help you when you're drawing a blank. If you forget an important statistic or date (which we can do under pressure!) you can look to your poster or chart as a prompt.

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