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Make your lectures open students’ eyes...and keep them open


Lectures are not always going to look like they do in the movies, where students are held captivated by their professor’s charismatic genius. Planning large lectures to be engaging and effective in student learning can prove difficult in an age of short attention spans. 

Rather than speaking at a podium for two hours, think of reformatting your lectures into large seminars or workshops. You might be surprised what a big group of students can accomplish if they are provided opportunities to learn communally. Students seem busier, more anxious, and more overwhelmed with mastering material with every passing year. Thus, creating a collaborative and active place for learning will help students engage with course content.

You can integrate technology into lectures by using PowerPoint slideshows, YouTube videos, and TED talks to introduce material to students in a variety of ways. When using multimedia in the classroom, remember to keep the lights in the lecture hall on. Turning off the lights to make the presentation more visible will minimize your own involvement in teaching and your students’ understanding of the material. However, be sure to refrain from over-relying on technology, students also recognize when instructors are teaching with compassion. This will help to improve all your lectures, even ones with rather mundane content.

To truly make an impact on your students, it is imperative to make your lectures memorable. Whether this includes asking your students to stand for an activity or delivering your lecture with confidence and enthusiasm, involving your audience will increase students’ retention. Remember that the way you lecture matters just as much as what you say.

To read more advice, visit the post “Top tips on how to make your lectures interesting” from Times Higher Education.



1/31/2019
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