What's With all the Lecture???

As a student, I never liked being lectured, so why would I like it any better as a teacher? I think most teachers are used to the idea of a lecture-based classroom, but that may not be the best way for students to learn. In fact, it’s not. The best way students learn is by doing and experiencing learning first-hand.

For me, I want to be a teacher who can get students to enjoy math and actually participate in it. Lecture is probably the first thing teachers go to when educating their students, but it is not the only way. I’m not saying that you can never use lecture. It is good to use every once in a while, for short amounts of time, like 15 minutes, but then move on and don’t use it every day. Students lose focus easily when all the teacher is doing is talking. By keeping activities in short time frames, students are more likely to stay focused on the task at hand.

There are a few things that lectures are good for. They communicate pertinent information to the students and can summarize important topics that have been covered in class. They can be used to demonstrate certain skills, such as problem solving or reading skills, which students can develop from teacher-led example. Lectures can be useful if they have a reasonable purpose and outcome.

If you are going to lecture in your classroom, make sure it is:

·         Organized

·         Well-delivered

·         Short

·         Truthful (don’t lie to your students)

and make sure that you have practiced and prepared it multiple times and that you know the material inside and out. The better prepared you are, the more your students will learn. 

For more information, check out  http://teachingcommons.depaul.edu/Classroom_Activities/lecture.html and click on the links to discover how to make your lecture effective and memorable.