Posted on Feb 21, 2014
Are visual examples good products or a waste of time?
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Visual examples are great and help some understand the point being conveyed. Soldiers today are all about pictures or diagrams that show them the standard. Build a diagram or picture of how an IOTV is supposed to be setup and the Soldiers understand and love the visual help.
Some will say spending the effort to build a visual example is a waste of time. I feel it isn't so much a waste of time as that person doesn't want to build one or doesn't know how.
Being an aviation airframe repairer I found it was easier to convey my point when I drew it out. Others would instantly relate and be able to offer advice, provide suggestions or ask questions.
I have felt taking the time to make a map, diagram or picture reference has helped my Soldiers understand better and given them a leg up over other units.
One thing that aggravates me about visual examples are when they are done poorly and the person doesn't care and pushes out a poor product. One recent frustration is an example that HRC posted on their website about Afghanistan/Iraq campaign stars. The attached picture clearly shows the 2 stars being equally spaced on the ribbon. However 670-1 states
Service stars are worn to denote an additional award or
service in a named campaign and are centered on the ribbon and suspension ribbon with one point upward. Additional service stars are worn side by side, each with one point upward.
service in a named campaign and are centered on the ribbon and suspension ribbon with one point upward. Additional service stars are worn side by side, each with one point upward.
What way is correct, the picture (spaced out) or the regulation (side by side)? If it is the regulation why would the awards section post a picture that shows something different than what the regulation says?
This is a great example of a good visual example but done poorly and leaves a person to possibly set their ribbon up the wrong way. Should it be fixed or just refer all questions to AR 670-1?
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Edited 12 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 7
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I think visual products, WHEN DONE RIGHT, are a great learning tool. My pet peeve is when PowerPoint slides are used as a script. A slideshow should give good visual examples and display key points. We all have horror stories about leaders who do nothing but "read the slides" aloud during a class. The flip side of that also holds true: When creating a slideshow, don't just put a script on the screen. Practice your brief. If you find yourself reading word for word off the slide, cut the slide down.
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SGM (Join to see)
You are right. A slideshow is only meant to support your brief. It should only have the main talking points on there. Each person briefing should have some 3x5 cards in order to read from and make sure the discussion stays on point.
I learned early on to make my slides informational but the brief was off of my cards and not the slides. In Fort Bragg we had to give AER classes and briefs and the ladies that worked there drilled me hard on my briefing skills so I would not lose a crowd.
Some briefers have switched to all Powerpoint and no cue cards. When that happens you will undoubtedly lose your crowd by being a dry briefer that reads directly from the slides. This is a waste of people's time and really does not convey what was intended. I wish some briefers would realize this and change their style.
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SGM (Join to see)
You hit the nail on the head.
Regardless of how a person learns it has been found that having visual aids/examples help every group get to the point quicker.
I too am a visual learner. You can tell me how to do it a million times but chances are you only have to show me once before I got it down.
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SSG (Join to see)
a picture is worth a thousand words, Id rather see it, and do it, I am definitely a hands on person with repetition included. Tell me to study or memorize something, ha, yeah, have fun with that,,,
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There are numerous studies about how people have different styles of learning.
Most common are:
Verbal/oral
Verbal//written
Visual
Physical (learn by doing)
While it's not possible to incorporate each style, including the visuals will help your message get through to the visual learners in your group.
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When I was teaching 9th grade English, my students had very low reading comprehension scores. I figured out that the problem is that they do not make a picture in their heads when they read (I blame visual media because the pictures/videos tell the story more than the words).
In any event, an image can convey meaning instantly. The words provide clarification and let me know what to attend to (using your example: oh, a single point of the star must be at the top...got it). Both are necessary.
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SPC Dan Goforth
CPT Wolfer, I know exactly what you mean. I have always felt the book is better than the movie.
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1SG, the Barney Style and KISS method holds true with any class. Generally it guarantees that people of all intelligence and book smarts will be able to at least get the gist of what you are trying to convey and hopefully have the humility and intestinal fortitude to ask questions.
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SGM (Join to see)
I agree it helps everyone get through the matter at hand. I always appreciate the Soldiers that take the extra time to build a good product instead of cutting and pasting someone else's ideas.
I have always felt the Soldier appreciated it a lot more than talking about it. Of course this can't be applied to everything but it has its time, place and usage.
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Top, you pretty much said it. A well made visual example, in the appropriate situation, tremendously helps in conveying the message. Let's not forget,"A picture is worth a thousand words."
A crap job is a waste of time, and accomplishes nothing. Also, there are times when a visual example really means nothing. It's all about the practice.
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