I have learned that you can make your lectures more effective to a variety of students is to use powerpoint handouts and guided notes. The guided notes help students not only follow the lecture but also have a hands-on learning guide that they can take home with them.
By relating to your students lives and whats going on in their lives they will retain more. Also by mixing up lectures with Labs and demonstration will help students retain more information.
Hi Mildred,
You make a good point about how your students like mini-lectures. Learners like variety and changes in the pace of the class. With mini-lectures you can give them both while moving the class forward with both content and skill development.
Gary
I think the idea of mini lectures is great. I have noticed that more students are focused and responsive when I deliver lecture in this manner.
Keeping in mind the attention span of most adults, breaking up the lectures with questions and discussions. Looking at the class for clues boredom, chatting, loss of interest and break. Offer visual guidelines, power point etc., Plan the lecture, move around not standing in one place and reading a script.
Hi Joelle,
I agree with you about the effectiveness of using case studies. I use them a lot in my classes and my students really get into trying to come up with solutions that will help solve the case study situation. They help to make the content real for the students.
Gary
Hi Joanna,
I agree about the interactive lectures. They keep the students engaged as well as helping you to measure what they are taking in from the lecture. They are the core of my lecture delivery format.
Gary
I believe the best way to make lectures more effective for students is to give them real life case studies. I feel that is the best way for them to learn, and they seem to enjoy taking part in group activities and discussions.
I personally believe that interactive lectures work best. I know I wouldn't want to listen to one teach for the entire time.
To me interactive lecture formates the students being involved. I ask them questions, they have do part of the lessons, they do work on the board, and general discussions of the topics. Students are responsbile for what is in the text, but the lecture can have a life of its own (with me still being in control).
Hi Anne Marie,
I agree with you about the value of feedback during the course rather than the end of course survey feedback. By having feedback while the course is going on you can make adjustments in your delivery, assignments, etc. and keep the course moving forward. You can also find that you are right on with your instructional delivery as it is. Either way you have a win win situation for your students and the course.
Gary
I believe that by varying the methods of instruction, it keeps the students attention, ie lecture,activity and discussion.
It also helps to do a mid term/semester survey with the students to get some feedback on how instruction is being perceived. To me this is much more valuable than the end of the term survey, when it is too late to make adjustments for this particular group of students.
I encourage students to offer personal stories relevant to the topic. I think the dialogue keeps them interested as they try to relate the topic to their own lives.
Hi Steven,
Look for logical breaks in what you are lecturing on. If your students are following you on their computers you are in a great position to give them a technique and have them practice that. Then go back and give them more content and then have them practice that. This way the pacing of the class changes and the students get to immediately use their newly acquired knowledge.
Gary
I notice that some people have suggested that smaller lectures are a good way for the student to stay interested in the lecture. I teach computer oriented classes. I usually lecture about the techniques while the student follows the techniques on their computer. How can I break down my lectures into smaller segments?
thank you
estevan arredondo
Ways that I can make my lectures more effective for my students is through mini-lectures. I do believe in the short attention spand that the adult learner has and want them to be able to stay focused on the information being presented. Also approaching the various learning styles for the students is important for effective learning. Use of visual aids, tactile demonstartions within the skills lab, and written hand outs as I verbally present the material will assure that all four learning styles are accommodated.
One of the ways to make lectures more effective is to get the students involved in the process. When it comes time to solve a problem, I turn the problem over to a student or two and have them demonstrate for the class. This helps to break up the lecture and keeps the students' attention. As a side bonus, common mistakes are made by the students and can be pointed out immediately.
I always provide an outline for the students. Helped the visual and hands-on learning to see and jot notes to help them to retain.
i find that stories and relatable situations to the content being taught seems to grab most peoples attention and create an effective lecture and retention of the material.
I always try to relate the lecture material to real life situations and how it will apply in the students future. Allowing them to relate to the material on a personal level always helps to keep them interested and increases retention.
When delivering lectures I am always on the move. I never stay behind my station, but walk amongst the students, making personal contact with everyone during the lecture.
Even though I am supplied with and utilize power point presentations, I never read the slides - BORING! They are a guide for the discussion and a note taking aid for the students, not the lecture itself.
I try to include something interactive every 15 slides or so. Sometimes it is a written assignment, mini quiz, group activity etc. I did find last week I did not have enough breaks (4 hour class) and I fear I lost some of them.
