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DISCUSSION ON THE GOOD PREPARETION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING
AIDS TO THE LEARNERS.
There are many different ways in which a trainer can make the learning experience more
interesting and memorable for learners. One major technique to use are teaching aids; Kay N.C
(1971:37) defines teaching aids as “things which are intended to help the teacher to teach
more effectively; or better still, which enable the students to learn more readily.” Teaching is a
process that facilitates learning. (Farrant, 1980; 164). Learning is a permanent change in
behavior brought about through experience. (Lahey, 2009; 200).
This essay will try to discuss the assertion of good preparation and the importance of using
teaching aids in order for the learners to understand well.
As a matter of fact, good planning and adequate preparations are essential aspects in every
area of human endeavor and life in general. There can never be any degree of success without
a tentative good preparation of teaching aids. Similarly, for any learner to learn effectively and
for the teacher to accomplish and to achieve his/her objectives, he/she is to prepare and
familiarize himself/herself so that his objects can be achive.
According to Derek (1972:32) he stated that “teaching aids have an important role to play in
the teaching and learning process because they simplify and clarify that which is complex and
difficult to express in words” therefore, various teaching aids have come to the assistance of the
teacher; things like radio, television, slide projectors, overhead projectors, computers and tape
recorders. When these are used properly, they make teaching and learning easier and more
effective because they enhance clarity of communication and they increase the speed of
comprehension.

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Furthermore, there is a great range of instructional aids that are available to help the teacher
and the learner communicate effectively and these falls in three major categories as, visual aids
audio aids and audio- visual aids. Natal College of Education (1997: 169) points out that, most
learning aids are visual aids and this is so to help the learners’ picture what is being talked
about and to give meaning to words.
Additionally, teaching aids simplify for the learners what may be complex and difficult. By doing
this they reinforce learners’ memory and they help the learners to acquire listening and
observational skills. Therefore, for the teacher, teaching aids are used for the purpose of
achieving higher level of learning and are meant to help him/her achieve the learning objectives
of the lesson being presented.
It can be furthermore stated that, well prepared and designed teaching aids add interest to a
presentation and they promote understanding. This means that with greater perception there is
likely to be greater understanding. Macmillan dictionary defines interest as “something that
keeps ones attention.” Learning occurs in human beings when they have interest in what is
being taught, therefore even the teacher should have interest and the zeal to make the subject
interesting. Hence good teaching aids starts in the mind of the teacher with the idea of putting
across to the learners, the subject matter in the most convenient way and to make the learning
easy and interesting. Therefore, learning aids stimulate interest and the desire to learn. (Pule
BL, 2009; 7).
Generally, well designed and prepared aids should motivate and arouse interest in the learners.
This means that as the learners use more than one of their senses especially when you use
visual aids, you are more likely to arouse their interest.
Moreover, in the learning situation, well prepared teaching aids increase retention time of
materials learnt. This is achieved in that the learners senses are held captive by the teaching

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aids as such the teacher teaches the lesson without difficulties. Phiri H (2007:13) has stated
that we store what we have seen, the modes of doing in the form of mental images or verbal
description. Therefore, the learners makes sure that they retain the materials learnt and they
have to see a meaning or purpose for that information which they can later bring up the image
or description which they can later reproduce with their own behavior.
For instance, in the case of visual aids, sense of sight is involved. This makes and puts an
important emphasis on the learning aids because it is said that learning can be more effective if
almost all the human senses are employed, for example, pictures help to illustrate and bring a
sense of what is taught, whereas charts contain the lesson materials itself.
On the other hand, teachers shun producing and using certain teaching aids because:
On the whole, teaching aids have the ability to attract and hold attention throughout the lesson
if they must be carefully designed, well prepared and selected to support a lesson and a

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particular audience. For they also have the ability to focus attention on the essential elements
to be learnt at the proper time.
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