Simple Rules for Better Visuals

Whether you design your visuals using Microsoft PowerPoint or put them on paper to display with a document camera, the principals of good design still apply. A TV monitor has a different shape than 8.5 X 11 paper or overhead transparencies, so make sure printed visuals fit within a 3 X 4 ratio. It's also safe to use a "landscape" orientation with a 3 inch, text-free boundary. Your best bet is to practice ahead of time.

Here are some useful and practical tips:

1. Use large, bold fonts. Point sizes 24-44 for text. Helvetica, Arial, Fontura, Palatino fonts are most visible/readable. Do not use ALL CAPS.
2. Color is better than black and white.
3. Use phrases with bullets, or keywords and phrases.
4. Use landscape mode for layout (horizontal) that follows the ratio of 3 units high/4 units wide.
5. One-inch borders keep images/text from disappearing from remote site monitors.
6. Avoid drop shadows on fonts.
7. Use colored paper & ink (if using the document camera).
8. Use graphics to create visual impact and plan to triple the visuals you normally use in a face-to-face classroom. Realistic, simple and uncomplicated visuals are better.
9. Use a consistent background.
10. Clear the slide transitions and animated graphics you normally use in PowerPoint. These do not transfer well in an interactive video mode.
11. Use colors in the middle of the color spectrum. Yellow on blue is good, because it presents a clear, readable image. Black print on pastel paper should be adequate. For on-the-fly writing, use a bold color ink pen on pastel paper.
12. Allow time for viewing graphics. Display text material (i.e. chart or list) long enough for a slow reader to read. Non-text material often requires less time (3-4 seconds).
13. Double-check sound and visuals. Make sure everyone can see or hear your media before you launch into your lecture.

The following tips apply specifically to the use of a fixed document camera:

1. Keep a stack of white paper on the surface for writing, notes, tips, drawings, etc.
2. Use bold markers (medium/fast drying)
3. Don't write in cursive; print clearly, 24 point
4. No more than 10 lines per page, 30 letters per line.
5. Use graphics when at all possible: photos/slides, posters, books, maps, newspapers, models, specimens, objects (small and leak-proof).