# 1: Flip-Charts activate the collective brain power of a group

One of the key elements in Accelerate Learning Techniques is active involvement of the learners. There are two ways to involve your audience using the flip-charts:

1) Solicit ideas and capture them on the flip-chart yourself being the trainer
2) Pass out markers and let the participants do their own problem solving and writings.

By involving others, you take ourselves out of the role of a presenter or subject matter expert, and move into a new role of being a facilitator. Advantages of this new role, is that you have become less intimidating and more professional since we build on the knowledge of the group and avoid talking down to or controlling others. As we have always said in active learning - you learnt the best when the information given is related to the learners on a personal basis. Most effective way of learning is to have input into what happens to, and with, them.

# 2: Flip-Charts Facilitate Creativity

Using flip-charts in presentation allows you to express your personality and ideas on paper. Unlike computer software programs, flip-charts free you to become as creative as you like. You can draw anything there. You are limited only by your own imagination. To enhance your flip-charts skills, you are encouraged to take opportunities to practice whenever possible. Pick a couple of images or characters you like from any source and doodle whenever you have time. Draw the images on scraps of paper, restaurants napkins, or any writing surface you can find. Very soon, you will be able to replicate the images onto a flip-chart with little effort. Personally, I love drawing on flip-charts, because my audience always find it personal, sincere and fresh.

# 3: Flip-Charts are the Best Visual Aids in Coaching

The main reason for using flip-charts is because they help presenters to communicate their ideas and messages across to the audience much better. There are many reports in several business schools in United States that stated presentations with visual aids increases the effectiveness, as perceived by audience. Typical comments following presentations with flip-charts were "better prepared", "more concise", "clearer", "more interesting", "not boring at all", "I can follow the lectures clearly" and "I love his presentations using the flip-charts".

If you have ever tried to take notes as someone rattles on, seemingly oblivious to the audience, you will understand that value of flip-charts. Students can perhaps testify to this - remember the long and boring power-point presentations by your school teachers, without knowing whether the students are following them or not?

# 4: Flip-Charts Writing by Participants Increases their Interest & Learning

Giving your participants a chance to write on flip-charts increases their interest and learning.

Confucius (551 - 479 B.C.) once said:
I hear; I forget
I see, I remember
I do, I understand

The message here is that even though you may get some of your message across by speaking or demonstrating, the most effective method of coaching and making sure your participants are learning effectively is getting them to participate actively.

And more specifically for Chemistry learning, it is a academic subject that you can't score well if you just memorize directly the chemistry theories. What you need is to understand and have a strong foundation of essential concepts and then apply it according to application-based questions.

# 5: Flip-Charts allows Reviews to Accelerate Learning

Flip-charts review is another big advantage in presentations and coaching. Because the flip-charts can be pasted on the walls of the room, after each session of the lectures, participants can review what they have learned earlier. This is most effective when we conduct "Partner-Sharing" during such flip-charts review.

At other times, participants can also refer to the posted flip-charts without interrupting to ask the facilitator to repeat a point, they are able to review material or catch up at their own speed. In addition, flip-charts provide a vehicle for reinforcing what participants heard, or thought they heard.

Many times after the coaching session, we also compiled and transferred the flip-charts onto softcopy so that we can email it to the participants for reviews on their own, Just because the information there are written in a personalized way and these participants have read it before using their eyes and mind, such re-caps almost never fail to rekindle their knowledge and reinforce what they have learnt earlier. This is the power of associations based on earlier experiences.

# 6: Flip-Charts presentations signifies Professionalism

Whenever I see someone uses a flip-charts extensively for their presentations, I always perceived them to be a professional in coaching that specific subject, no matter how much knowledge they have in that subject. It is kind of "only subject matter expert have the capacity and confidence that uses flip-charts" perception. And this always allow me to listen to them immediately without prejudice and suspicion.

# 7: Flip-Charts are Simple & Inexpensive to Use

Flip-charts have long been the choice for professional coaches during presentations. They are versatile, simple to set-up and use, and convenient for capturing ideas quickly. They also require no cords or electrical connections, and are relatively inexpensive compared with other visual aids. They can also be used virtually anywhere, be it indoor or outdoor.

With flip-charts, you won't have to worry to carry an overhead projector, bulbs, extension cords, white screens, and other accessories. You don't even have to supply a stand to use them. With masking tape, straight pins, and/or clips, you can turn nearly any wall surface into a writing surface. This meaning you can turn virtually any large room or open space into an ideal presenter's forum. All you need is flip-chart papers and markers of different colors.

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