Projected materials enable educators to convey information to large numbers of people at the same time. However, such materials have to be prepared carefully and may need to be prepared professionally.
In all cases, they require three things:
- the material
- the projector
- the screen
Inadequacies in any one of these items can render the material, no matter how good the content, useless. In fact, the distractions of poorly projected materials, or the delays of having to set up screens or projectors, can make these expensive preparations less useful than a well-prepared talk or live demonstration.
These problems are compounded when there is no available electricity.
The Screen
Projections require a smooth, unblemished, white and shaded or darkened screen. Within these parameters there are many options.
Screens can be manufactured for the occasion, a premise with built-in screens (such as a training or seminar venue, a cinema, and so on) can be borrowed, or an appropriate wall can be used.
In the case of any temporary arrangement, whether a wall, a piece of material, a polystyrene sheet or the raised side of a truck, there must be a rehearsal at the same time of day and in the same place as the final performance/event so that questions of light and definition can be resolved.
The Projector
There are different kinds of Projectors:
- small, portable, and cheap single slide projectors and strip projectors
- ubiquitous overhead projectors
- somewhat outdated, but still immensely useful epidiascopes and 16mm film projectors
- high tech and expensive video projectors and digital projectors
Each of these has its place. Educators should use what is most easily available, and in the places they are available.
The Materials
Fortunately, there are only two different media that can be used in all these different projectors:
This is somewhat of a simplification, but for the purposes of materials production, it is possible to use a single image (or slide) in a range of different ways:
- on an overhead projector transparency for use by the overhead projector
- as a photographic slide for projecting by slide projectors
- for incorporation into a video production for showing on a television set or through a video projector
- for placing on a CD-ROM or a software package for showing through a digital projector
In all of these, the basic principles are similar and one can consider a slide in much the same way as a small poster (see Posters and Banners for additional information).
Film requires, much more specialised production. Educators should work with production houses in doing this, whether they are preparing a short advertisement, a film on voting procedure, or something larger on democracy.
It is likely, because of the costs involved, that such a production will be done on videotape. But animations increasingly can be done on computers alone and this may be sufficient for the achievement of the educational objective.
Those considering producing videos or films must take account of the costs, which vary from place to place; and they must take account of the special and costly projection needs as the equipment is not cheap. Further discussion of video is contained in National Impact Media, Community Impact Media, and Alternative Methods of Communicating Voter Education.
