FLANNEL GRAPH

INTRODUCTION
The second major class of non-projected display media that we will look at consists of those where display material is stuck to the display surface in some way. The most important members of this class are felt boards, hook- and-loop boards and magnetic board etc.

FLANNEL GRAPH A flannel graph also known as the felt board or flannel board is a display board made of wood, cardboard or straw-board covered with colored flannel or woolen cloth. Display material like the cut-outs, pictures, drawings and light objects backed with rough surfaces like sand paper and strips, flannel strips, etc. will stick to the flannel board temporarily. The sand paper backed display materials can be detached easily and replaced with new relevant materials as the lesson progresses. A flannel board of 1.5 1.5m is most widely used. It can be fixed to next to the chalk board or can be placed on a stand about one meter above the ground. The display material can be singularly adhered on the flannel board and then removed for replacing it with the next material in a sequence for proper development of a lesson.

USES
A flannel board can be used in a variety of ways and a resourceful teacher may find numerous applications of this visual aid. Some of the points to be kept in mind while using flannel board are as follows; 1. 2. 3. 4. Collect pictures, light objects or make outs and back them with sand paper pieces. Display the material on the flannel board in a sequence to develop the lesson. Change the pictures or cut-outs as you talk to the students. Use the flannel board to create proper scenes and designs relevant to the lessons.

Many good teachers and educators have used flannel board in the following situations ;
1. For telling story, the teacher adheres the picture on the flannel board along with a commentary or description. 2. For letter recognition and work formation during language teaching in primary classes. This is done by cutting out big letters from chart papers and backing them with sand paper strips. 3. For recognition and recall testing, appropriate pictures can be used for teaching different subjects. 4. For teaching elementary lessons on numbers, a flannel board can be used effectively. 5. For playing interesting and educative zig-saw puzzles, a flannel board can be quite useful. 6. For showing interrelationship between different parts or steps of a process, a flannel board can be used effectively e.g. nursing process. CHARECTERISTICS
Some characteristics of Flannel Graph: Visual:

It visualizes theoretical ideas. It helps to recreate situations involving motions. It visualizes dimensions and colour. It helps to recreate part. Audio:

It creates events through dramatisation. It recreates environment. Utilization It permits any sequence or arrangement. It permits restudy. It Permits discussion. It can be produced locally

CONSTRUCTING A FLANNEL GRAPH

Its construction being very simple many teachers would like to make their own boards from the materials which they can get locally and easily. For its preparation three items are needed i.e. backing materials, covering material and fixing material. Backing Material: It may be plywood, press-board, massonite, wall-board or heavy card board. It must be firm but

not too heavy to carry. Covering Material: It may be flannel or velour, suede, Corduroy or khadi. Almost any color can be used but darkgreen, black and grey afford excellent contrast for other colors that may be used in presentation. Fixing Material: Rubber cement, tape or staples, nails, thumb tacks, drawing pins etc. can be used to fix the covering material on the board. Size: Before preparing the board, the purpose Of using it must be kept in view. If it is used for classroom demonstration it may be 4' x 5'. If the boards are to be used by individual children, relatively small size would do. Forms and Shapes: Some of the forms are illustrated here. Construction: After selecting the appropriate size, cut the selected cloth to fit the board allowing three inches for overlapping edges. Stretch the cloth and fasten it tightly with the help of staples or thumb tacks. Be sure that there are no wrinkles on the board because they will cause the material to fall. In case staples or drawing pins are not available, cloth may be tied with Sulti and needle by catching the edges of the cloth on the back of the board. In case both sides of the board are to be covered, then two equal pieces of cloth may be cut and the same may be fixed on each side. Three sides may be first sewn and after slipping the board in it the fourth side may be sewn. Small individual boards may be prepared for children. In nursery classes the top of the biscuit boxes may be covered with flannel or any sensitized material and the box may be used for holding the cut-outs.

ADVANTAGES
There are many advantages of flannel boards as they can provide continuity in the development of a lesson. Some of the advantages are given below; 1. A flannel board display holds interest of students and arrests their attention. 2. The provision of sequential change of material on flannel board provides continuity in lesson development. 3. The quickness and ease with which the display materials can be changed on a flannel board without use of drawing pins or tracks or paste make it a most desirable and convenient display board. 4. The changing of pictures on the flannel board is able to kindle enthusiasm and interest of the teachers as well as students.

DISADVANTAGES

Transportation and storing of boards and materials is a problem. Suitable tables to support boards must be available. Time and cost of making material for presentation present a problem. Cost of boards themselves can't be overlooked. Presentation is limited a new idea involves a lapse of time before the new material can be added. Might tend to deter one from using other more effective methods and techniques when it is evident that other methods might be more appropriate. To tell a complete story it often takes either too much board space or smaller designs and materials some of which cannot be seen well. Requires considerable ingenuity and imagination to construct effective varied materials. Materials must be attractively prepared.

BIBLIOGRAPHY B.T BASVANTAPPA, Text on Nursing Education First edition, Jay pee publication B.SANKARANARAYAN, Learning and Teaching Nursing, Second edition, 2008, Brainfill publication.

NURSING EDUCATION

A PRESENTATION ON

FLANNEL GRAPH

SUBMITTED TO MRS. RESHMA LECTURER NUINS

SUBMITTED BY MR.SARATHKUMAR.T.S FIRST YEAR MSC(N) NUINS