I totally agree that people learn in different ways and the VAK model (the basis of what you have signposted) is one way of helping we get as much as we can to as many people as we can. (As an asside, some of the evidence behind the VAK model is very far from definitive – but in terms of helping us make better presenations that’s not really important.)

I tend to get my audiences involved whenever appropriate in various ways – even just raising their hands is better than sitting on them!

Hope you don’t mind me getting involved in this conversation…?

On a similar note we, as presenters, need to also take into consideration an audience’s learning styles. Here’s one source on this subject: http://www.chaminade.org/inspire/learnstl.htm

We all learn in different ways, so perhaps we should take this into consideration when we create out speeches and presentations. It could potentially help to actively involve as many of our audience members as possible.

that’s just my 2 pence worth anyway

cheers

Jason

I know what you mean about holding out on examples sometimes. If a member of my audience is somewhat more literal-minded than is helpful (!!! ) giving them examples is sometimes counter-productive: they hook onto the specific example, and sometimes discount the whole bigger picture just because the example doesn’t apply to them, specifically.

“I can’t use your techniques, Simon, because I’m a baker and you used the word butcher in your presentation’s example.”

S

And I quite agree with you!

I held off on putting up specific examples and proof, thinking it might be more appropriate for another post, or for someone else to expand upon in his or her own blog!

The part I love about blogging is the “continuing conversation” part of the program. There’s time for another post. There’s room for commenting, disagreeing, and growing the thought.

No swipe at P. Zen intended! I appreciate the spare design aesthetic! But I also appreciate Tufte’s approach. Often, there’s room for both approaches within one presentation.

Thanks for visiting, and for continuing the conversation.