Instructional Tools: Creating Simple Custom Graphics

Instructional tools come in all shapes, sizes, and functionality. To be effective, instructional tools should be kept simple, written clearly and succinctly, while providing simple graphics that reinforce key learning points (Newby, Stepich, Lehman, Russell, and Ottenbreit-Leftwich, 2011). Armstrong (2009), further recommends that instructional tools incorporate a variety of the learning (i.e. multiple) intelligences to enhance both appeal and effectiveness. Visual aids in the classroom satisfy each of these recommendations and more, yet they are often easy and fun to make. For example, using Microsoft PowerPoint to create instructional tools such as customized graphics for handouts, posters or table decorations is a simple four-step process.

Step 1 – Select a relevant graphic and place it on your slide as seen in Figure 1.

 Figure 1

Step 2 – Place a suitable frame around your graphic as seen in Figure 2.  This is an optional step, but the frame does enhance posters, handouts and table decorations. 

 



 

 

Figure 2

 

 

Step 3 – Add a ‘Text Box’ from the ‘Insert Tab’, to incorporate an appropriate quote or learning point.  Keep in mind, color can reinforce key terms or phrases as demonstrated in Figure 3.

 





Figure 3



 

 

 

 

Step 4 – Go to the ‘File’ tab and select ‘Save As…” to name your graphic. Find the “JPEG File” option under the ‘Save as type:” drop down menu, and click “Save”.  PowerPoint will ask if you intend to save the entire slide deck as a JPEG graphic, or the “Current Slide Only”. Select the current slide option – and that is it!  You have created a colorful JPEG image that can be reproduced to enhance a wide variety of instructional tools (refer to Figures 4a and 4b).

 

  Figures 4a and 4b

 

 

 

Over the years, I have created hundreds of these resources and use them in a variety of courses and forms to reinforce statistics and learning objectives, and to inspire creative thinking. I encourage you to try this simple activity and create learning tools to enhance your own classroom materials.

 

David E. Nettles, 4/16/2013

Armstrong, T. (2009). Multiple intelligences in the classroom (3rd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Newby, T. J., Stepich, D. A., Lehman, J. D., Russell, J. D., & Ottenbreit-Leftwich, A. (2011). Educational technology for teaching and learning (4^th ed.). New York: Pearson