Utilization Of Charts To Present A Boring Topic In An Interesting Way

“A chart is a visual aid which facilitates the use of information about a particular topic with the help of graphs, pictures, numerical, comparisons, contrasting or performing other services. ”In simple they are a diagrammatic presentation of facts and ideas. Charts are advantageous in presenting a boring topic in an interesting way which helps to get the attention of the audience/learners. It must be noted to avoid too much stuffings in the chart. The main points can be highlighted in the chart and audience must be able to visualize it properly at a distance.

Guideline for making a Chart

The art of designing a chart requires a lot of ideas, planning, creativity, and skill. Make sure that your audience gets impressed by your chart presentation in a single glance. Your chart should be simple, bold, clear and attractive without too much of decorations.

Step 1. Identify the Target Group: Identifying the target group for the presentation of your chart is a big step when it comes to ensuring success. You need to know exactly who your chart is aimed to ensure that the elements in your chart appeal to that target audience.

Step 2. The right size: Before you can start designing, you have to decide how big or small you want your chart to be. The standard size of a chart is usually is 60 X 90 cms. It should be large enough for the audience to view the chart from a long distance. Care must be taken to make the letters large enough. Generally, the size of the letters for the titles are 2”X 2” or 4cm X 4cm. The subtitles and headings are 2cms high and the space between line is 2 cms to 3cms.

Step 3. Choose your colours: Charts are used to grab the attention of the audience/learners. Choose the colours that complement your diagram and message. Avoid using too many colours in your chart because too many colours can distract you from the message and may spoil the appearance of the chart.

Step 4. Include Text: Your chart must consist of titles and the main points. Try to keep the title and main points simple and bold so that it seeks the attention of the learners and help the learners to understand what it intends to convey at a glance itself. Avoid using too many fonts which can spoil the appearance of the chart. Try to avoid using more than three fonts and colours in a chart.

Step 5. Include visual elements: Create visual elements in your chart which makes the chart attractive and makes the understanding at ease. With the helpful visual elements—like Diagrams, graphs, pictures, and tables make it more interesting to the audience.

Advantages

1. Easily portable
2. Draws the attention of the public quickly
3. Arouses the interest of the audience very quickly.
4. Messages can be understood by the illiterate or semi-literate public.
5. Creates an impression on the minds.
6. Could be used for highlighting current activities.
7. Charts can be repeated based on the extension activities.
8. Less expensive.
9. Used in areas with no electricity.

Disadvantages

1. Requires lot of time, energy for the planning and preparation.
2. Corrections are difficult to make on the prepared chart.

Types of Charts

1. Simple chart: From the name itself it indicates this type of chart is used to provide information about a particular topic in a simple way that can be easily understood by the audience. The chart is represented in a straightforward manner without complicated words or much decoration.
2. Bar Chart: This is also known as Bar graphs or Histograms. They represent categorical data with rectangular bars based on a measured scale. The bars can be plotted vertically or horizontally. One axis of the chart shows specific categories being compared, and another axis represents a measured value.
3. Line Chart: These charts are useful in showing trends and relationships. A single line may represent growth or expansion.
4. Pie Chart: A Pie chart is a circular graph that has been divided into slices to show how several parts make up a whole. Each slice of the pie diagram is known as sectors. Each sector of the pie should have its own colors or code in the margin which will help the audience to understand what each sector represents.
5. Tabular Chart: Tabular can be described something flat like a table. So, information that is presented in a table format is tabular. A tabular chart consists of information arranged in rows and columns. Sports, population, agriculture-related statistics are usually presented in a tabular format.
6. Tree Chart: This is also known as stream chart. A tree chart indicates a tree having a trunk and its branches. The tree's trunk represents the main topic and branches represent relevant facts, factors, influences, traits, outcomes etc. Tree chart shows how items are related to one another.
7. Flow Chart: A flowchart shows the organizational structure, workflow or process. The flowchart shows the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting the boxes. This diagrammatic representation illustrates a solution model to a given problem. Flowcharts are used in analyzing, designing, documenting or managing a process or program in various fields.
8. Pictorial chart: Also known as Pictograph Chart, Pictogram Chart, Pictorial Unit Chart, and Picture Graphs. Pictorial charts are a visual representation of data by pictograms. It includes pictures, icons, and symbols. The use of icons, pictures or symbols can sometimes help to overcome differences in language, culture, and education. Icons, pictures, and symbols can also give a more representational view of the data. So for example, if your data is of the population, you can show the icons of human beings in the chart. Two things to avoid when using Pictogram Charts are: I. Using them for large data sets, this makes values on the chart hard to count. II. Displaying partial icons, as this can add confusion to what they represent.
9. Pull chart: It consists of a large sheet of paper with the written content. Each written content is hidden using a think piece of paper, cardboard or plywood held in position. Each concealed strips can be pulled out and shown to the audience and must be held back to the position concealing the written content after the presentation.
10. Striptease chart: This is also known as suspense chart. The appeal of the striptease chart is in its suspense. It teases the interest and imagination of the audience. The information on the chart is covered with a thin paper strip to which has been applied wax, tape or other sticky substance at each end of the strip. Pins, tacks can be used. As the speaker wishes to visually reinforce a point with words or symbols, he removes the appropriate strip of paper. It produces interest and helps in an active recall.

The term Flip means to turn over from one side to another or end over end. So from the name itself, the meaning of Flipchart can be understood as the sequential arrangement of charts or large sheets of paper which are bound together and that can be turned over which carries a serious of related messages. It is typically fixed to the upper edge of a whiteboard, or hung on a supporting stand. The messages in each sheet of paper or charts are arranged in a step by step process. Such charts are commonly used for presentations. Flip charts are used in many different settings in extension teaching such as:

• In any type of presentation where the papers pads are pre-filled with information on a given topic.
• For capturing information in meetings and brainstorming sessions.
• In classrooms and teaching institutions of any kind.
• As a creative drawing board.
• For teaching.