Flipcharts

Flipcharts are a presentation tool consisting of large sheets of paper mounted on a stand or easel, designed so that pages can be flipped to reveal the next sheet. They are used to present information, brainstorm, and record ideas in a visible format for groups.

A typical setup includes a paper pad held by a top clamp on an adjustable easel. Sheets are often large (ranging from A3 to about A1) and written on with markers. The pages can be removed after use or kept in sequence for reference. Some models use reusable whiteboard panels with flip-chart capability, blending traditional pages with a writable surface.

Variants include dry-erase flipcharts that use whiteboard sheets, magnetic flipcharts with metal-backed pages, and digital or electronic flipcharts that connect to projectors or displays, allowing content to be saved or shared after a presentation. Some configurations combine a whiteboard surface with a flip page for flexible use.

Uses and practice: Flipcharts are common in business meetings, classrooms, training workshops, and facilitation sessions. They support stepwise demonstrations, group note-taking, and visual emphasis of key points. Content can be captured by photographing pages or by transferring notes to digital formats for distribution.

Advantages and limitations: The approach is low cost, portable, and does not require electricity. It supports collaborative, on-the-fly note-taking. Limitations include restricted writing space, legibility concerns for large rooms, potential for ink smudges, and environmental impact from disposable paper. Digital alternatives offer easier archiving but may reduce the tactile, spontaneous aspect of flipchart use.

History: The flipchart method gained widespread use in the mid-20th century and remains a common tool for in-person presentations, despite the rise of digital presentation technologies.