Visual aids can be used to encourage learning through sight and include print materials like textbooks, as well as non-projected materials like pictures, models and graphs. They can also be projected materials like slides and filmstrips. Examples of important visual aids discussed are textbooks, which should be appropriately graded and illustrative; maps and models for teaching places and processes; and the blackboard, which is widely used for writing and drawing. Other aids mentioned are pictures, flashcards, the epidiascope for enlarging images, educational television, filmstrips and slides, and the overhead projector.

1. Visual Aids

2. Audio Visual
‘Audio’ means to hear and ‘Visual’
means to see
According to Dictionary of Education,
‘Audio-Visual aids are any device by
means of which the learning process
may be encouraged or carried on
through senses of hearing or sight’

3. Visual Aids
 Visual aids appeal the visual or seeing function
 It helps in achieving the cognitive, affective
and psychomotor objectives

4. Visual Teaching Aids Can be classified
into the following types:
 Print
e.g. textbooks,
magazines, newspaper,
encyclopedia
 Non-projected 2-
Dimensional
e.g. graphs, charts,
pictures, comics
 Non-projected 3-
Dimensional
e.g. models, diagrams,
globes, specimens
 Projected-still
e.g. slides, filmstrips,
microfilms

5. Use of some important
visual aids

6. Text Book
According to the Modern Trends in
Education,
‘The text book does enjoy monopoly
over teaching. It is a tool, an aid and a
source of knowledge. It is regarded as a
faithful servant and not as a master’

7. A good text book should have the
following qualities
i. The subject matter should be based on the need,
liking and interest of the students.
ii. The subject matter should be according to the
standard of the students.
iii. The subject matter should be properly graded.
iv. It should cover the objectives of teaching.
v. The textbook should be well-printed, attractive
and suitably illustrative.
vi. At the end of each chapter, sufficient exercises
should be given for practice.

8. Figures, Charts, Maps and Models
• Figures and charts are easily available. They
are neither costly nor difficult to handle.
• Things which cannot be taught with pictures
can be taught by figures.
• Maps are essential to teach historical events,
facts and places.

9. Black Board
• Blackboard is the cheapest and most widely
used visual aid.
• Usually the size of the blackboard is 48”x36”

10. Blackboard can be used for the
following purposes:
i. Exposition and explanation of words and
phrases
ii. Teaching structure
iii. For teaching spellings and definitions
iv. For writing sentences, answers and
composition
v. For drawing figures, charts, and diagrams.

11. Precautions about the use of
blackboard:
I. The color of the blackboard should be
painted in green or black so that it is
soothing to the eyes of the pupil.
II. White or colored chalk should be used
III. Writing should be large, neat and legible
IV. Scribbling should be avoided

12. Flannel Board
Flannel Board is a rectangular wooden ply board on which a
piece of flannel usually grey or dark blue in color is pasted.
The teacher may put various objects such as ‘cut-out’ of
newspaper, magazines or pictures

13. Merits:
It is flexible
New materials can be added or deleted as and
when required
It is portable. It can be carried whenever there
is a need of presenting things
It is a wonderful device in the hand of a
English teacher who can use his imagination.

14. Pictures
According to Ruskin, ‘ A room without a picture is
like a house without windows’.
Pictures are widely used and a very useful aid in
teaching.

15. While selecting the picture, the teacher
should keep the following points in mind:
 The picture should be precise, colored and
attractive
 Only relevant things should be shown in the
picture
 The picture should be large enough so that
every pupil can see it without difficulty.

16. Flash Cards

17.  Flash Cards have pictures of objects
and actions with the corresponding
words written below it.
 Several objects and actions can be
taught with the help of a flash card.

18. Epidiascope
It is an opaque projector which enlarges
the image by reflection and illuminates
them brilliantly on to a screen.

19. Merits
Epidiascope presents the large image of the
objects.
It saves the energy of the teacher as they can
store the small pictures easily.
It makes teaching interesting
It is helpful in revising the lesson.

20. Television
• Television is one of the major means of mass
communication
• It can provide formal as well as non-formal
education
• The educational television is a system that
presents learning content in various subjects
through programs presented by a central
agency.

21. Educational programs introduced in
India:
• Satellite Instructional Television Experiment
(SITE)
• Indian National Satellite(INSAT)
• Delhi Agriculture Television(DATV) popularly
known as ‘Krishi Darshan’
• Secondary School Television Project(STV)
• Higher Educational Television Project(HETV)
OF UGC

22. Merits and Demerits of Educational
Television
Merits
• Higher quality of instruction
• Caters to distance and mass
education programmes
• Provides stimulation
programme which creates
awareness in the people
• Reduces the dependency
on teachers
• Provides best teachers who
are specialized in their field.
Demerits
• Only one way communicatio
• Costly affair
• Does not cater to individual
differences
• Not accessible to all the
villages in India where it is
required the most.

23. Cinema or films
Cinema or a film is an expensive but very
useful Visual as well as audio aid.
It appeals not only to eyes, ears but also
emotions.
It provides direct experiences to the learner.

24. Film-Strips and slides
Film-strips can be a very helpful aid in
teaching. About 15-20 slides can be
transferred on photographic films to
prepare a film strip which can be
projected with the help of a projector in
the classroom

25. Overhead Projector (OHP)
It is a simple device consisting of a
strong energy force, fixed mirrors,
projection lens and a platen.

26. Features of an overhead Projector
Does not require a dark room
Acts as a projector as well as a board
Needs no maintenance
Handy and portable
Not very expensive
Facilitates interaction between student and
teacher.