Poster Printed Materials as Visual Aids in the Classroom
Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2010
by Rick Stephenson
http://www.PosterBurner.com
For teachers, it is an ongoing challenge to present information in an interesting yet effective way. Many have come to rely largely on poster prints, given that most people are visual learners. If you are planning to step in the same direction, read on for ways you can use make the most out of poster prints.
Conduct lectures and demonstrations in a clear and focused manner.
Large-format posters can be used to reproduce teaching materials and illustrations from books and magazines. You can also produce duplicates of maps, charts, diagrams and news clippings.
Aesthetics matters. Posters can encourage positive attitudes and behaviors from students. Studies have shown that a bland, unattractive space contributes to discontent and fatigue. A visually engaging and stimulating environment, in contrast, is conducive to learning.
Content-specific posters help reframe the mindsets of students. Entering a science room filled with related visual aids will make it easier for them to concentrate on the subject matter at hand and not that of the previous class.
Wandering minds are inevitable. In such cases, posters hanging on the classroom walls can become a welcome distraction. And as long as the visual aid is aligned with the topic, it is still helping students absorb important content.
If you're planning to incorporate visual aids in your elementary class, consider stepping beyond the standard posters of numbers, alphabets, color charts, shapes, animals, flags, the solar system and body parts.
Document a science experiment, say a chemical reaction mixture or a demonstration of the laws of physics, by compiling photographs of the main procedures in a poster.
Have illustrations of a story printed and use this as a visual guide in the discussion of the text.
To teach basic arithmetic, go on the visual route. Instead of numbers, use apples, pencils or other objects to demonstrate addition, subtraction and multiplication.
Couple foreign language lessons with images. Introduce visual representations for key vocabulary words to make it easier for kids to find an association between the two.
Create a poster form photographs of iconic figures and events in history. This will make it easier for students to relate to and imagine the circumstances being discussed.
Whether you're planning to purchase a ready-made poster or have one customized for your class, remember to keep the following in mind:
Avoid posters filled with explanatory text. Those designed as such tend to constrain the teacher's ability to use the visual aid for effective instruction.
Ensure that the text used is large enough to be read from every point in the classroom. Otherwise, students might not have sufficient time to read the key facts. For young kids, go for fun and playful font styles to keep them interested.
The larger the image, the better. Not only does this better capture a student's attention but it also encourages imagination.
Poster prints are an effective teaching tool, as long as you can maximize its potential. Explore all your options and be creative in the way you use visual aid in class. Remember to consider the needs of your students as well. This will help you create a room that fosters learning, and ultimately shapes the minds of the future generation.
Rick Stephenson is a writer, photo canvas printing expert, and photographer.
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