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Using Flipcharts Well
While multimedia projectors are certainly the preferred
media for visual communication, other tools can enhance a multimedia presentation as well. Consider
the familiar flipchart. Let's assume you are delivering a multimedia presentation on a new marketing
program to your colleagues. You want to offer them the basic program information, but you also want
to solicit their creative input. Why not use a flipchart in tandem with your multimedia projector?
The flipchart is an excellent tool for brainstorming sessions and group activities.
Flipcharts are consistently one of the most popular
forms of visual aids. Below are some advantages and disadvantages of using flipcharts.
Advantages
- Excellent for small groups
Flipcharts are on of the most effective visual aids when presenting to groups of 25 and under.
- Encourage group interaction and involvement
Flipcharts are an excellent tool for group activities and exercises such as brainstorming
and group problem-solving exercises.
- Promote instant reinforcement of presentation messages
By visually displaying key words/ideas, you can increase the retention of key presentation
messages.
- Good low-tech alternative for technophobic presenters
- Easy, inexpensive way to make colorful visual aids
Disadvantages
- Illegible flipcharts defeat the purpose of using them as visual aids
Poor flipcharts frustrate an audience and cause them to lose interest and focus.
- Flipcharts don't hold up well over time
If you plan to reuse flipcharts, make sure you have a sturdy traveling case. Curled or torn
pages make your visual aids look old and worn.
- Difficult to see
You must make sure to position the flipchart so that furthest audience member can see it
without a problem.
- Difficult to move
You must make sure the venue will provide a flipchart OR make proper shipping arrangements
beforehand.
If you decide you want to use a flipchart in your next
presentation, check out the following tips for good flipchart design.
Design Guidelines
- Key words only (less than 10 words a page)
Don't crowd the page with words. Keep your audience focused on the important points.
- No more than 5 lines of text
If you put too many thoughts or ideas on the page you run the risk of losing the audience's
focus.
- Letters at least 2 inches tall
This is a general rule, good for most instances in which flipcharts are effective visual aids.
For larger audiences (those with more than 30 people), increase letter size as needed.
- Bullets
Help your audience separate key points/ideas by using bullets.
- Color to highlight
Consider alternating between two colors so the audience can tell where a new idea begins and
ends. Or, use one line of a contrasting color to make a selection stand out.
- Plenty of blank space
White space on the flipchart enables an audience to better focus on key points.
General Tips
- Leave a blank sheet between pages
There is nothing worse than watching an audience strain to see the underlying page in a flipchart.
They squint their eyes and turn their head, eagerly trying to decipher the image. And, in the
mean time, they don't pay attention to the topic at hand. You can eliminate this problem by
inserting an extra sheet between flipchart pages. These extra pages hide whatever follows and
even serve as impromptu notes pages if needed.
- Bring your own markers
Don't rely on the venue to supply you with markers for your presentation. Instead, plan
ahead and bring a set of color markers with you.
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Basics
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