ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE LECTURE METHOD

ADVANTAGES

The "good" lecture

• permits dissemination of unpublished or not readily available material.
• allows the instructor to precisely determine the aims, content, organization, pace and direction of a presentation. In contrast, more student-centered methods, e.g, discussions or laboratories, require the instructor to deal with unanticipated student ideas, questions and comments.
• can be used to arouse interest in a subject.
• can complement and clarify text material.
• complements certain individual learning preferences. Some students depend upon the structure provided by highly teacher-centered methods.
• allows for the gradual development of complex or difficult concepts and theories.
• permits the greatest amount of material to be presented to a group in the least amount of time.

DISADVANTAGES

However, the lecture also

• places students in a passive rather than an active role. Passivity can hinder learning and students' attention may be lost.
• encourages one-way communication; therefore, the lecturer must make a conscious effort to become aware of student problems and student understanding of content.
• requires a considerable amount of unguided student time outside of the classroom to achieve understanding and long-term retention of content. In contrast, interactive methods (discussion, problem-solving sessions) allow the instructor to influence students when they are actively working with the material.
• requires the instructor to have or to learn effective writing, speaking and modeling skills.
• places the responsibility of organizing and synthesizing content upon the lecturer.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Lecture Method

Suggestions for Effective Lecture Preparation and Delivery

The Beginning of the Lecture

The Body of the Lecture

The Closing of the Lecture

Questions to Consider

• Delivery-Vocal
• Delivery-Physical
• Other

Practical Suggestions for Using Visual Instructional Aids

Three Methods for Assessing Lecturing Skills

Videotape Self-Review

Colleague Review

Student Evaluation of Lecturing

Suggestions for Interpreting Collected Assessments

References for Further Reading