M3.2.3: Teaching Materials/Aids

• TEACHING MATERIALS/AIDS

  Include all materials that are used as teaching aids to support the communication process and bring desired effect on the audience.
• COMMONLY USED TEACHING AIDS

  Audios
• AUDIOS

  ● Includes anything heard such as spoken-word (talk), music or any other sound.

  ● Talks are the most commonly used audio teaching method.
• HEALTH TALKS

  ● Most common way to share health knowledge and facts

  ● Takes place in a health center or clinic or in a hospital ward

  ● Becomes more effective when combined with other methods, especially visual aids, such as posters, slides, demonstrations, video shows, etc.
• POINTS TO CONSIDER IN DELIVERING TALKS

  1. Know the group’s interests & needs
  2. Select single and simple topic. Ex: Breast-feeding, Use of oral contraceptives, etc.
  3. Prepare correct and up-to-date information
  4. Limit the points to cover the most important subtopics
  5. Write down what you will say, use examples, proverbs and stories to help emphasize points
  6. Make use of visual aids
  7. Practice your whole talK
  8. Make the talk as short as possible – usually 15-20 minutes talk and 15 minutes discussion
• GOOD & BAD HABITS WHEN GIVING A HEALTH TALK

  GOOD

  Two-way communication: Lots of interaction with the audience

  BAD

  Only the health worker talks
• GOOD & BAD HABITS WHEN GIVING A HEALTH TALK

  GOOD

  Short and entertaining: One or two key messages only

  BAD

  Long and boring: Too many messages for the audience to remember
• GOOD & BAD HABITS WHEN GIVING A HEALTH TALK

  GOOD

  Practical subject matter: Deals with important local health issues

  BAD

  Subject matter is theoretical or decided on without considering local

  priorities
• GOOD & BAD HABITS WHEN GIVING A HEALTH TALK

  GOOD

  Visual aids used

  BAD

  No visual aids used
• GOOD & BAD HABITS WHEN GIVING A HEALTH TALK

  GOOD

  Simple, understandable language

  BAD

  Using lots of technical/English words
• GOOD & BAD HABITS WHEN GIVING A HEALTH TALK

  GOOD

  Friendly, respectful and approachable

  BAD

  Behaving like a school teacher. Ex: The audience has to stand up when they ask a question, etc.
• GOOD & BAD HABITS WHEN GIVING A HEALTH TALK

  GOOD

  Audience is encouraged to participate and ask questions

  BAD

  Audience silent
• GOOD & BAD HABITS WHEN GIVING A HEALTH TALK

  GOOD

  Creates a jolly atmosphere with lots of laughter and interruptions

  BAD

  Doesn’t check for understanding
• GOOD & BAD HABITS WHEN GIVING A HEALTH TALK

  GOOD

  Checks that the audience has understood
• VISUAL AIDS

  ● Are objects that can be seen like pictures, diagrams, or charts.

  ● When added to talks, visual aids help to effectively convey messages to people
• VISUAL AIDS ALSO HELP:

  ● Facilitate easy and clear understanding of information that are being shared in an oral presentation by stimulating active learning

  ● MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS:

  ○ Projected

  ○ Non-Projected
• PROJECTED

  ● Are simply educational materials that are shown to people using a projector

  ● They are used to facilitate lectures or seminars/trainings

  ● The group should not be more than 30
• TYPES OF PROJECTORS

  • Slide Projectors
  • Overhead Projectors
  • Power point Projectors
• NON-PROJECTED

  These materials do not necessarily depend on any projected equipment
• COMMON NON-PROJECTED AIDS

  • Leaflet
  • Posters
  • Photographs
• Leaflet

  Is usually folded printed sheet that is intended for free distribution which may provide the patient with information about the link between behavior & lifestyle, and the possible consequences of their behavior
• Leaflet Advantage

  • Can be visually appealing if messages are presented in simple and clear manner
  • The drawings are easily understood
• Leaflet RULES & GENERAL PRINCIPLE:

  • Health education leaflet should provide the patient with information about the link between behavior & lifestyle, and the possible consequences of their behavior
• Posters

  • Is a large sheet of paper, often 60 cm wide by 90 cm high with words and pictures or symbols that put across a message
  • It can be used for advertisement and also for disease prevention
• Posters ADVANTAGE:

  • Makes/Gives
  • Information & Advise
  • Ex: Beware of HIV/AIDS
  • Announcements
  • Can be used for small or larger groups
• Posters RULES & GENERAL PRINCIPLES

  1. All words should be in local language
  2. Words should be limited and simple
  3. Use symbols that are easy to understand
  4. Make it visually appealing by considering mixtures/combination of colors
  5. Contents may include the following information depending on the purpose of your poster:
  6. Name of the event, Date, Time, Place, Needed information/advise
  7. These details should be clear and large enough to be seen from some distance
  8. Should be placed where many people are likely to pass
  9. Do not leave them up for more than one month (to avoid boredom)
• Photographs


  Can be used to show people new ideas or new skills being practiced
• Photographs SAMPLE USE

  Photos taken of malnourished children at different periods may help participants to compare the conditions before and after receipt of a treatment
• Photographs ADVANTAGES

  • Relatively in-expensive
  • Reproducible for different uses
  • Can be self-created/made
  • Can increase attention, comprehension, recall and adherence to instructions
  • Best used with individuals and small groups
• Photographs RULES & PRINCIPLES

  • Carefully consider picture size, labelling and color as these factors affect how the patients understand the picture
  • If poorly-done, image-based health education may lead to confusion
  • It is also important that pictures or illustration convey only one idea at a time
• “Simple two-dimensional pictures are quite adequate; studies show that if the drawings are too complex or lifelike, they can distract from the transfer of information.”

  • John Medin, “Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work”