Graphic aids - Charts

GRAPHIC AIDS

Graphic aids are charts, diagrams, graphs, maps, flashcards, posters, pictures, photographs, leaflets, folders, pamphlets, cartoons and comics. They are two-dimensional materials having no depth which communicate facts, ideas and relationships clearly through words, lines, drawings, symbols and pictures. Graphic aids can serve many educational objectives for group teaching of 20 to 30 students. They help to:

1.     Visualise abstract concepts which are difficult to understand - concepts of size, rate of growth, inner structure of an object or machine etc.

2.     Reduce the amount of verbal talking and help in giving clear explanations; visuals in charts, graphs, diagrams and posters, cut down words.

3.     Present the information in a specific and systematic manner. Since majority of them are formal aids, they have to be very systematic and organised.

They are also popular because they are

1.     Comparatively less expensive.

2.     Easy to make as no technical skills are required. Regular teachers, with some knowledge of drawing and who desire to be creative can prepare them.

3.     Easy to use. Very special arrangements and machines are not required.

4.     Easily usable and reusable as they are flat, two-dimensional materials.

Graphic Aids - I

This section includes those graphic aids which have similar principles of preparation, presentation and storage, and can be employed to do serious classroom teaching in home science.

CHARTS

A chart is a visual aid which helps in explaining the subject matter through such processes as summary, contrast and comparison. It may be all writing or some writing and pictures. There are many types of charts.

Any information to be plotted with time is presented in columnar form. Columns can be added or reduced depending upon the information to be presented.

Growth and development can be shown. It starts with a single source/stem and then spreads out into branches.

Functional relationship within an organisation or an institution can be shown by lines or arrows; examples:

Administrative structure of

1.     Residential University

2.     All India Home Science Association

3.     Integrated Child Development Scheme, etc.

Similarities and contrasts between two or more things such as methods, institutions, products, persons, theories, architecture, schemes, etc. can be shown.