Tip Sheet No. 1

Tips on Overheads:

"Overheads: Communicating Visually"

by Jacqueline Schliefer, Business Education

September 12, 1994

1. Use color -- color O.H. film is available free at CTL and Media Services.
2. Use cartoons for humor. If necessary, enlarge the image or reset the caption.
3. Use symbols for emphasis, for framing, and as stop signs (many are available in WordPerfect).
4. Use graphics to add visual excitment and interest. CIL has various clip art sources.
5. Follow the 6x6 Rule: limit text to 6 or 7 words on each of 6 or 7 lines.
6. Use a combination of upper & lower case letters creating more readable O.H's.
7. Prepare O.H.'s in landscape orientation (lengthwise). Readability is enhanced.
8. Use 36 or 48 point fonts.
9. Never move a hot overhead projector. Bulb filaments are fragile.
10. Overlay transparancies to show successive processes. Reveal each layer as needed.For more information about this workshop contact any of the following individuals or the Center staff at 6508.
Dawn L. Bolton, Sally Kuhlenschmidt, Joyce Rasdall, Wayne Davis, Mary Alice Hildreth, Janet L. Holloway, Linda Todd, Martha Houchin, Carol Khatir, John White, John Long, Mar- garet Underwood, Mary Wolinski, Rose Davis, Connie Fos- ter, Elaine Moore, Freda Mays, Arlene Escobbar, Laura Black, and Debra Cooper.

This workshop Is avallable on video tape.

Count on Overheads
(preparing overheads for the classroom)

by Ed Counts, Teacher Education

1. Transparencies are a separate medium from print and serve a different educational purpose. Know your purpose. For example, transparencies allow the teacher to face the audience, keep the teacher structured, and slow down the pace of the lecture to allow students to keep up. They can help students structure their notes.
2. Use transparencies for outlining material. Simplify and edit your text. Don't merely photocopy text onto overheads. Use at least a 1/4" font size as well as a simple font.
3. Clip art and scanned images can be added for visual interest.
4. Present material horizontaUy rather than verically because that better fits the conformation of the projector.
5. Use overlays for disclosing information logicaUy or to show a sequence. Material progressively disclosed keeps the students interested.
6. Don't use your finger to point, use a pen or other tool.
7. Turn off the project between overheads so it does not distract the students.
8. Resources on campus for transparencies include the CTL (Cravens, 6508) and Media Services (TPH, 6274). They have color transparencies, clip art, and scanners available.
For more information about this workshop, contact any of the following individuals who attended or the CTL staff: Jim Ashby, Beverly Foshee, Adam Hall, Susan Johnstad, Wayne Jones, Nick Nichols, Sandy Novosel, Dean May, Carrie Morgan, Loretta Murray, Shula Ramsay, Renee Shaw, Fina Simpson, Ricky Stagg, Davy Stone, & Charity VanWinkle