MAXIMIZING the USE of

the OVERHEAD
PROJECTOR and the
CHALKBOARD
 Except in extremely deprived
classroom, every classroom has
a chalkboard. In fact, a school
may have no computer, radio, tv,
etc, but it will always have a
chalkboard. So why not make
optimum use of what we have,
the chalkboard?
 Sharpen your chalk to get good line
quality.
 Stand with your elbow high. Move along
as you write.
 Use dots as “aiming points.” This keeps
writing level.
 Make all writing or printing between 2
and 4 inches high for legibility.
 When using colored chalk, use soft chalk
so that it can be erased easily.
There are other kinds of projectors like opaque projector
and slide projector. The overhead projector seems more
available in schools. It has a lot of advantages. Brown
(1969) cites the following:

 The projector itself is simple to operate.

 The overhead projector is used in the front of the room by
the instructor, who has complete control of the sequence,
timing, and manipulation of his material.
 Facing his class and observing students reactions, the
instructor can guide his audience, control its attention,
and regulate the flow of information in the presentation.
 Among the outstanding attributes of
overhead projection are the many
techniques that can be used to
present information and control the
sequence of the presentation. As you
plan your own transparencies, keep in
mind these features of overhead
projection:
 You can show pictures and diagrams, using a
pointer on the transparency to direct attention to a
detail. The silhouette of you pointer will show in
motion in the screen.
 You can use a felt pen or wax-based pencil to add
details or to make points in the transparency
during projection. The marks of water-based pens
and pencils can be removed with a soft cloth so
that the transparency can be reused.
 You can control the rate of presenting information
by covering a transparency with a sheet of paper
or cardboard (opaque material) and then exposing
data as you are ready to discuss each point. This is
known as the progressive disclosure technique.
 You can superimpose additional transparency
sheets as a overlays on a base transparency so as
to separate processes and complex ideas into
elements and present them in step-by-step order.
 Stand off to one side of the OHP while you face
the students.
 Don’t talk to the screen. Face the students when
you talk, not the screen.
 Place the OHP to your right, if you are right
handed, and to your left, if you are left handed.
 Place the OHP on a table low enough so that it
does not block you or the screen.
 Have the top of the screen tilted forward towards
the OHP to prevent the “keystone effect” (where
the top of the screen is larger than the bottom).
 In primary grades, simple object like keys, leaves, and
cutout paper shapes can be placed directly on the
projector to stimulate children’s imagination and
encourage discussion.
 In English composition lessons, student themes or writing
exercises can be reproduced in film by means of the heat
or photo copy process. The teacher and students can
analyze the writing for style and grammar as each
example is projected.
 In arithmetic, blank sheets of acetate and grease pencils
can be given to selected students. Have them prepare
solutions to homework problems so the class may
evaluate and discuss their results.
 After making a sketch of the content for the
transparency, decide which parts will be the
base and which will be used for each overlay.
 Prepare a master drawing for each separate
part.
 In two corners on each master, make register
marks that match marks previously put on the
sketch. This will ensure proper registration of
each overlay.
 Prepare the transparency from each master.