Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures
What are some ways you can make your lectures more effective for students?
@gmeers :Using ideas from earlier blocks helps this. As you get to know the students, you begin to understand what makes them tick. That helps frame the lesson flow. It helps mold your questions in a way that hits how they think, while still getting at the learning objectives. Again, communicating and listening goes a long way.
I find that students value the "real world" stories more than interviews etc, If I can bring in a guest with real world experience for a lecture or QandA... even better.
I always try to relate the lecture content to something I have seen or done in the field as well. I also like to ask the students if they have any personal experiences relating to the topic especially after they return from a clinical rotation.
Reading the students is how I try to make lectures more effective. If I notice they are losing interest in a power point I will bring up a video that explains the same type of information. I will also take the students out of the classroom and try a hands on activity with them.
making sure they completely understand all of my instructions to make sure we are on the same page
I find lecture material is more effective when students are given scenarios and are asked to use the newly acquired information. By having small groups discuss and then present on problem solving the same scenario each group gains a sense for how to use their newly acquired knowledge and also alternative solutions to the same problem ~ as demonstrated by other group solutions.
GEORGE,
Good way to make your students active rather than passive learners. There is a saying I like that goes with having students provide demonstrations or presentations and it goes "To teach is to learn twice, once as a student and again as the teacher.". I think this applies in this situation to the benefit of you and your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I always have hands on or multimedia engaging examples ready to help maintain student attention and interest. I involve students in demonstrations and have them choose the next student for an exercise. I helps to bring the class together to understand a goal or lecture topic.
Being completely present during my lectures and engaging the students as often as possible with discussion questions and topics.
Sandra,
Right you are about how important it is to share real life situations with your students. By sharing these situations, examples and experiences you are helping the content come alive and have value for the students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Having different learning styles would make it effective because everyone learn in different ways. Always starting on time and being prepared is always habits that a instructor needs to keep. Getting feedback from the students is another effective way.
I think it is important to use as many "real life" situations as possible when lecturing. It makes the lecture more exciting and the students seem more interested.
In preparing lecture content for my students I read the material to be discussed, prepare examples of situations being discussed, and prepare pre-tests for the students. This provides a baseline of how prepared the students are for the material to be discussed, as well as allows the opportunity to teach while reviewing the pre-tests. It engages the students in discussion, as I do not provide the answers, we have a discussion regarding the content matter.
I agree that flexibility is very important, and so is paying attention to your audience. In addition, a good lecturer makes the lecture interactive and encourages all students to contribute.
Preparation is critical, but so is flexibility. Strictly adhering to a prepared lesson plan is likely t result in students who have failed to grasp the point. Instructors need to be engaged, and aware of responses: feedback, body language, qu3estions. Keeping in touch with student responses and overall feel of the class permits instructors to make adjustments to their style and delivery, or to clarify important content.
I try to gage my presentations based on the level of the overall class and the relevant material they need to cover.
Denisa,
By doing this you increase the value of the course content to students. They start to see that the content has both application and relevance in their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to share my experience from "real world" during my lectures. Students are interested in "whats out there".
I agree. When the lecture is being present it is good to give the students a practical expample from real life experience to help apply the knowledge.
