INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY 3(2+1)

Lesson 25 : Visual Aids- Flannel Graph, Flash Cards

Flash cards

Flash cards are brief visual messages on poster board cards, flashed (turned over at short intervals) before the audience to emphasize important points in a presentation.

In flash card, messages are presented on papers measuring about 30 cm. *25 cm. A number of them are held like a pack of cards and are flashed to the audience, one-by one in a sequence along with the talk.

Flash cards are the series of cards which when presented before the audience in proper sequence, tell a complete story. Each card is of about 10’’ to 12’’ in size and contains a picture or diagram. Each individual card is ‘’flashed’’ before the audience accompanied by the verbal commentary. The extension worker or the student, who wants to use them, holds them in hand and flashes the card one after another.

Preparation of Flash cards:

1. A brief story should be written
2. The story should end with suggestions or a morale that leads to action
3. A suitable title should be selected for the story
4. The story should be divided into a number of scenes which are to be presented in a number of individual cards
5. Different scenes which remain abstract in the preceding stage appear in appealing visual forms
6. Art paper is cut into pieces of 10’’* 12’’.
7. The figures may be photographs, drawings, pictures and diagrams
8. The cards are numbered in sequence.
9. Every set of card should have a title
10. There should be a commentary written on the reverse of each card so that the person who presents it to the audience can easily read the commentary from reverse
11. Attractive lettering increases the effectiveness of the flash cards

How to use a flash card:

• The story should be familiar to the student or person who presents the card
• He must hold cards in a way that the audience can see clearly, better against the body and should point out the pictures on the cards
• He must bring local names of the people or villages
• Some important points may be jotted down by the back side of the cards to help in the telling of story
• The cards should be stacked in order, as one card is finished it may be slid behind the other. In this way they will remain in order for the next time

Advantages of Flash cards:

1. Can be made quickly
2. Can be made from inexpensive local material
3. Can be carried easily
4. Are easy to use
5. Help speaker emphasize main points of his talk

Guidelines:

1. The flash cards should:
2. Be large enough for everyone to see. Size of group of 30 to 50 22’’*28’’
3. For small groups 11”*14’’ is adequate
4. Have colour
5. Have brief wording
6. Have lettering enough for the group to read
7. Be 10 to 12 in number optimum

Points to be considered in presentation of flash cards are

• Size of audience should be under 30
• Story on each card must be familiar to you
• While commenting, use simple words and local expressions
• Use this aid along with other teaching tools