Effective use of OHP, Effective use of Transparencies
Effective use of OHP, Effective use of Transparencies: An overhead projector (OHP), similar to a film or slide projector, utilises light to display an enlarged image on a screen, enabling a large audience to see a tiny document or picture.
Although you may consider overhead projectors to be obsolete technology, if you know you’ll be giving a presentation at a venue that uses them, you may prepare a set of projection materials that will function just as well as digitally projected output. Instead of bringing your presentation on a USB drive or CD, bring a box of transparencies and a few other items to enhance your presentation.
The image source in an overhead projector is a page-sized sheet of translucent plastic film (sometimes known as ‘foils,’) with the image to be projected printed or hand-written/drawn. These are mounted on the projector’s glass platen, which has a light source underneath it and a projecting mirror and lens assembly above it (thus the term ‘overhead’). Prior to the introduction of video projectors, they were extensively employed in education and business.
Effective use of OHP, Effective use of Transparencies
- Use in the classroom
Before the introduction of computer-based projection, overhead projectors were commonly utilised in education and business.
The overhead projector allows instructors to create a simple, low-cost interactive classroom. Pre-printed teaching materials on plastic sheets may be immediately written on by the educator using a non-permanent, washable colour marking pen. This saves time since the transparency may be pre-printed and reused instead of having materials written by hand before each lesson.
The overhead is usually set at a comfortable writing height for the educator, allowing them to face the class and improve communication between the pupils and the instructor. Instead of writing in an extremely huge script on a blackboard and having to continually lift their arm up in midair to write on the blackboard, the educator may write in a comfortable little script in a natural writing posture thanks to the projector’s expanding characteristics.
When the transparency sheet is full with written or drawn content, it can easily be changed with a new, fresh sheet with additional pre-printed material, saving class time and avoiding the requirement for the educator to erase the blackboard and rewrite the teaching materials. The transparencies may be readily returned to their natural unused form after the class session by cleaning them with detergent and water.
- Page Dimensions
When creating a presentation for an overhead projector, make sure your working document is the same size as the media you’ll be printing it on. The transparency film you purchase comes in one size: 8.5 inches by 11 inches, regardless of whether you’re targeting a networked colour copier, laser printer, or inkjet printer. You don’t want to cram more material onto each sheet of film than you can read, but you also don’t want to work on a document that doesn’t fit your output dimensions.
- Coverage of the page
Leave broad gaps around your information to improve its efficacy when projected, especially if you want to connect your transparencies to cardboard frames for easy handling. Add type sparingly to each page you prepare for overhead projection, just like you would with PowerPoint presentations, using the 7/7 rule of no more than seven lines of type, each with no more than seven words. Avoid summarising your presentation in a series of unedited bullet-point pages that contribute nothing to your content.
- Writing Instruments and Blanks
Because grease pencil remarks on overhead transparencies are accepted, you may prepare ahead for the parts of your discussion when you ask your audience for feedback. You may ask questions and record responses by adding blank sheets of film to your stack of printouts. If you have additional blanks, you can fit large lists of recommendations without having to write everything down in too-small handwriting. Bring extra grease pencils and a paper towel to use as an eraser so you don’t have to stop working if your point goes out.
- Copies on paper
Print the whole set of overheads twice on transparency film and once on normal bond paper to provide yourself a quick reference to what you’re projecting. If you keep your overheads in a box, the paper copies and transparencies might be mixed together. Instead of fumbling through a stack of plastic sheets in a darkened room, you can verify what you’re going to project or refer back to a prior transparency by looking at your paper printouts. The paper copies also assist prevent static cling on your transparencies.
- Advantages
You want a projector solution that matches your budget and suits your demands, whether you produce support materials for in-house or client presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint or gather together the equivalent of PowerPoint slides from a range of programmes. Although overhead projectors lack the high-tech allure of LCD-based digital projectors, they do have benefits that make their tried-and-true design an excellent choice for your company.
- Technology that is simple
An overhead projector uses a powerful bulb to project an image onto a screen using a lens and mirror system. There are no moving components in these devices, save for the fan that cools the bulb. An overhead projector won’t be able to show movies or sound, but it won’t need you to fix wires or software, nor will it compel you to reboot a problematic computer to finish a presentation. Overhead projectors, as opposed to computer-connected LCD projectors, provide simple service based on dependable low-tech components and don’t need you to master new technologies or abilities.
- Costs of Equipment
The cost of overhead projectors may range from 10% to 50% less than that of their LCD-based counterparts. Both devices employ specialised bulbs, but when you compare their components side by side, the price difference persists. In certain circumstances, the cost of an LCD projector light is less than the cost of a new overhead projector. An overhead projector will save you money both when you buy it and over the course of its useful life if you present materials that don’t require computer projection of A/V content.
- Transparencies
Although transparency film is more expensive than standard office paper, it can be found at almost any office supply shop, both locally and online. Look for recycled-content transparencies if you want to buy ecologically beneficial products. You’ll discover a film product created for your equipment, whether you use a laser or inkjet printer or send your output to a networked colour copier. You can make your transparencies ahead of time and reuse them each time you give the same presentation. Replace any obsolete transparencies with new ones if portions of your message change.
- Annotations
Because overhead projectors show everything you print onto sheets of translucent plastic material, their transparencies make it simple to mark your presentation pages with audience feedback or data points of focus. During your presentation, you may write or draw on the transparencies using a cheap wax or grease pencil, then wipe the notes away with a tissue or paper towel. Because overhead projectors can’t see through opaque materials, you may use a piece of cardboard to cover portions of a transparency and disclose your talking points one at a time, focussing audience attention.
- Overhead transparencies provide a number of advantages.
It’s simple to create transparencies. Simply create your visual assistance on paper and then duplicate it. Instead of printing on plain paper, copy onto a transparency. You can create transparencies fast, modify them rapidly, and revise them often this way. You may also manufacture them yourself rather than paying for them to be made by a professional. This ease of use frequently determines whether or not individuals update their presentations or allow them to get stale.
- They’re inexpensive. They’re simply a few cents each.
They’re also transportable. You can easily fit your transparencies in your briefcase with space to spare for most presentations. If you travel often, this is a significant issue. Using cardboard frames to surround your transparencies adds some weight, but they’re still pretty portable.
They allow you to be adaptable. With the audience gazing at you, you may reorganise your presentation on the fly to satisfy new demands. For example, there are times when someone requires an immediate response to a question you had intended to address later. No problem: just choose the proper transparency and go on.
It is possible to write on them. You don’t always want the audience to see a static visual help (such a pre-made equation); instead, you want them to see you develop it step by step. That is simple to achieve with openness. Some pens are made specifically for this purpose. An extra benefit is that you can quickly wipe your writing with a wet paper towel afterwards (if you’re like me, though, you’ll be walking around with red, green, or blue fingers for a day or two).
You can watch what will happen next. Because most presenters manage their own transparencies, they can see what the next subject is by looking at the label on the next one. That’s a huge benefit; otherwise, your mind is continually attempting to recall what’s coming next. With overheads, sneaking glances are no trouble.
They have the ability to seem highly professional. Color printers and copiers may help you get your message through by highlighting important details and creating a visually appealing (but inconspicuous) backdrop. Colorful images may also be reproduced on a transparent with high resolution.
If required, they may be casual. You may easily hand print or hand sketch your transparencies for an unexpected meeting with coworkers.
- Overhead transparencies have a number of drawbacks.
It’s possible that the projector isn’t up to par. The equipment takes a hammering since overhead transparencies are the most common visual aid. You’ll often come across projectors that don’t focus properly, have dim lights, or none at all. That is why, for local presentations, I bring my own projector. When I travel, I make sure to have a nice projector with me. When I get at my presentation location, I immediately go to the projector and test it out. If it’s not up to par, I attempt to find another.
It’s possible that the bulb may burn out. Many modern projectors have a spare bulb built in, however the spare may also be burnt out. When a presenter’s bulb burns out, they swap to the spare and continue. They often overlook informing the visual aids department that the overhead has been reduced to to one working bulb. You’ll be left with none if that one goes out.
Unless there is a compelling reason not to, many presenters regard the overhead transparency to be their first option of visual assistance. However, there are several reasons to employ additional visual aids in addition to or instead of overhead transparencies.