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| Is this the future for the Lecture Room? |
I was preparing a session on blogs and thought I would ask the question "can technology make us better teachers?". This simple question set off a cascade of thoughts in my head about good teaching, teaching strategies and the place of the "good old lecture" that remains ever popular at some institutions regardless of the outcomes of the course, the context or the content. Coincidentally, as I began searching for materials for my workshop on blogs I came across the following article which addressed the issue of the role of the lecture. I truly believe that the lecture has a place but must be carefully, strategically placed to be of value. Should we kill the lecture? I would say a resounding no but it shouldn't be our one and only tool in our tool kit of teaching strategies. What do you think?
http://www.dyknow.com/company-news/is-technology-really-killing-the-lecture/
I wanted you to reflect on the role of the lecture.
ReplyDeleteNot only will I say a resounding no to the ridiculous question but I will also add that the teacher is just as critical as the student; kill her or him and who will decide how the technology is to be used?
ReplyDeleteThe lecture should not be killed as long as it is relevant and provides original and updated information.
ReplyDeleteWe should modify the lecture techniques rather than killing it completely.
ReplyDeleteA resounding no. But (and there is always a but isn't there?), I would say that all too many of us don't consider the lecture as a strategy. If more of us thought of the lecture as simply one tool in the tool kit, then it would serve a better purpose. At the same time, technology is also one other tool in the kit, so it can't or sholdn't kill the lecture, it should serve to complement it.
ReplyDeleteI would not suggest that we 'kill the lecture' i think now that it is more of a re-positioning in terms how we incorporate the technology to support the lecture and possibly using the lecture to support the technology as the need arises.
ReplyDeleteThe lecture will always be useful! To completely "kill the lecture" would be to take away a unique social learning environment which cannot be replaced by any other learning experience.
ReplyDeleteThere are some vital learning situations gained through personal interaction. We cannot throw away the baby with the bathtub. Blogging and communication via the Internet are useful and important but there is no way we should kill the lecture
ReplyDelete"Is technology really killing the lecture?" I find this title a rather fatalistic one. It all depends on how we look at technology. I understand that many teachers may feel threatened by technology, but it depends on how we look at it. Technology is a means, not an end. Therefore, it is up to teachers to decide how to best use technology to enhance their teaching. Technology can be a great tool to go beyond the boundaries of the lecture and take the conversation and reflection further.
ReplyDeleteTechnology improves teaching and learning but cannot replace teachers since they have to create the learning material for the technology platform.
ReplyDeleteNo need to kill the lecture. Different students have different learning styles and the lecture remains a useful tool for reaching many students. The lecture just one tool in what should be broad teaching tool kit.
ReplyDeleteLectures could be combined with ICTs to have increased learning and feedback
ReplyDeleteEverything in the world is being re-evaluated. As educators, we know that we should not continue the do/believe things "just because". What do the data suggest? What is the best way for us to meet our teaching and learning objectives? How do we best meet the need of our "clients"? We neither want to throw out the baby with the bath water, nor do we want to change for change sake.
ReplyDeleteWe cannot kill the lecture, killing the lecture is killing the teacher. Therefore technology cannot replace the teacher. Technology is to assist the teacher for teaching, enhances the teachings, brings impressive teachings. Technology avoids omitting of teaching material and imparts teaching material fast and more. It is means to teach but not the teacher.
ReplyDeleteHmm....Killing the lecture? Definitely no, I agree with Dianne and the others. There is a role for lectures to play in teaching and learning and that role involves providing the larger context within which learning can take place. Of course, here appropriate educational technologies can be used to enhance lectures, to be more interactive, to be more engaging, to bring out student-on-student and teacher-student interactions. As such, I think the more appropriate question would be, how can we enhance lectures using educational technology in an appropriate manner to reach our learners and to achieve our learning outcomes.
ReplyDeleteRiann
I think the lecture may be one of the ways to introduce social skills to the stereotype millennial, Many of the young people communicate through text social media rather than talking. The lecture hall may be a good training environment for engagement and dialog. The face to face interaction, in my opinion is superior to "sterile" text or even video as no verbal communication can add emphasis to important concepts.
ReplyDeleteThe role of the lecture has definitely changed. However, I am not sure that we as lecturers are prepared for this change. Our students are now a different bunch, they are more active, restless, savvy and most importantly they are very low on the power distance scale, so authority is not a term they identify with. This is why I think that the traditional role of the lecturer may be no more. The term lecturer mean one who lectures...speaks...our students do not want to hear us speak, they want us to listen to them speak. They need their voices heard. I think it is about time we started listening. They don’t need talkers, they need facilitators and encouragers. So the time for the flipped classroom is here.
ReplyDeleteMeena Rambocas
I think it's not so much about "killing the lecture" but rather the lecture should now evolve to cater for the new generation of students and their varying learning styles. In the face of new and emerging technologies and the wealth of evidence that support the idea that active learning produces deeper and better learning, I think that there may be little room of traditional "talking head lectures". I like the concept of "Turning the classroom up sided- down" which suggest that the "lecture can take place outside of normal classroom hours leaving the face to face sessions for student centered activities. Certainly technologies like screencasting/ podcasting that are available to day can allow for this switch. So I agree that the time for change has come. The lecture still has role to play in education... I believe though that its role is now different .
ReplyDeleteVisha
I don't think one should kill the lecture it sounds good theoretically and may have worked in some situations according to the article but having lectures allows a human touch to the process. I agree one can give a lecture before hand and then use the time to do a lot more practical work in class. But the probability will remain whether or not the student actually looked at the lecture before hand.And if they did not they would not be able to do the in class activities.
ReplyDeleteToo much talk can be cut down but not removed entirely. I agree one can engage in the use of new technology but not all the time will it be necessary. Sometimes "chalk, talk, activities in class" are all that is really required.
I think sometimes 'new' technologies can be misused just to show that lecturers are using it. Similar to how lecturers misuse PowerPoint.
Sophia
I believe the reason that the lecture has gotten a bad 'rap', is because it is regarded as synonymous to a presenter standing behind a lectern disseminating information ("sage on stage") and/or improper use of PowerPoint. Many years ago, the lecturer will have been considered the sole source/authority of information and students will have depended on receiving all their information from the lecturer reading his notes or providing handouts. However, our present students are able to access large amounts of information at their fingertips so they a less dependent on this traditional source of information. There is also the other issue of the improper use of PowerPoint in conducting a lecture. We have all heard of "death by PowerPoint" so if any "killing" is to be carried out, I think it should be on our reliance of PowerPoint and the lecture should be "reformed" to facilitate student-centred learning.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add my name to my response above (Anonymous March 16, 2015 at 5:12 AM). R. Ramnarine
DeleteLectures has been the primary teaching tool in higher education for ages, but this must not allow us to see it as outdated and bury it .I agree with you Dianne a resounding no to killing the lecture. Mc Keachie et al. (1994) and Bligh (2000) cite numerous studies indicating that the lecture can be very effective in conveying factual and theoretical knowledge. Actually lectures can be highly motivational, but its sucess depends on the lecturer. If a lecturer is expressive and brings an element of enthusiasm to the session it can ignite students interest in the material, while a more reserve, reticient lecturer may bore her students. Lectures can also be quite effective and efficient option if they are carefully planned and skillfully presented. However in the 21st century infomation age , even the most charismatic instructor should not solely depend on lecturing as a sole teaching tool knowing that there now exist a wide variety of student -centered strategies and methods to support teaching and learning.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Jarvis-Patrick