John Amos Comeniums (1592-1670) wrote Orbis Pictus Sensualium
or the World of Sensible Things Pictured, a book which is considered as the
first book on the use of visual aids in classroom teaching.
Audiovisual aids are defined as any device used to aid in the
communication of an idea. As such, virtually anything can be used as an audio
visual aid provided it successfully communicates the idea or information for
which it is designed.
An audiovisual aid includes
still photography, motion picture, audio or video tape, slide or filmstrip that
is prepared individually or in combination to communicate information or to
elicit a desired audience response.
Even though early aids, such as maps and drawing are still in
use, advances in the audiovisual field have opened up new methods of presenting
these aids, such as videotapes and multimedia equipment which allow more
professional and entertaining presentation not only in the classrooms but also
anywhere in which ideas are to be conveyed to the audience.