Aieman, as a teacher; and as "student" when participant to lectures-fora, I believe the "personal" discourses and explanations by a teacher cannot be replaced by the "non-traditional" mode, especially the use of electronic gadgets, which are simply "audio-visual aids" to our lecture delivery. Of course, this is an opinion based on my experience and observations.

Dear Aieman: No. Traditional teaching will never vanish. The many tools that are available are basically helping to expand the reach of teaching to the people who are not able to reach thanks to the additional delivery methods. In our university we have all three forms are practiced: face-to-face, completely online and blended having both forms. Each form has its advantages and disadvantages. We notice that students still prefer a face-to-face class compared to fully online. The teacher will have to find better ways to appeal student for face-to-face classes.

MOVING towards more INTERACTIVE Lecturing is needed

To lecture is human and lectures will always remain valid and effective tools of instruction. However, one-sided monologues are being replaced with interactive lectures. The ongoing feedback from students helps keep interest alive and gives the teacher opportunities to give additional input to students. Input from students during lectures also helps the teacher assess student knowledge and depth of understanding on an ongoing basis.

Al-Omari,

Rate of developing societies is going faster with new technologies and better transportation and communication facilities. To be part of it our society needs high caliber well educated people who are hard working with creative minds. Here comes the role of educators, are we going to teach with the old traditional lecture method or are we going to modify our way of teaching to match developed countries? Thus to answer your question " Are 'lectures' going to vanish as a traditional method of teaching?" with my humble forty years in academia and with the 21st century requirement I can say lectures will be there but different from the one I and you had, since we as educators became more aware of the new technologies and the divergence they have in developing rates. There is huge deviation made by e-libraries and search engines. In seconds you can find a load of information and all you need is better minds that can make the right selection. The educator's role has to move from content deliverer in 4 x 4 classroom to experience facilitator brain programmer who can connect learners with the course material via active lectures, visual and electronic aids and engage them in problem-solving group discussion with each other and with professionals in the field.

Good luck

Hi all,

A face-to-face experience will always bring more motivation to both, the lecturer and the student - given that the former is passionate and a "scientific entertainer" and the latter is curious and willing to study.

As the number of outstanding teachers always was and wil be small, recorded lectures and other material and their availability on the internet will be a great help for students. But they all should have the chance to witness the magic of real lecturing every now and then.

Such live teaching needs personality and charisma, no other gadgets are needed. Lecturing is dateless and the live event is more contagious than canned material. Or do you think concerts will vanish?

The plethora of mediocre lectures will be refused by more and more students, the unmotivated lecturers will die out (hopefully). Less talented teachers will be facilitators.

I don't think so, because lectures still have its place in the classroom!

They should vanish but vanishing traditional teaching is not an easy decision as some lecturers believe in it and can't teaching interactively.

Face to face encounters are necessary to facilitate the learning process. The role of the mentor " teacher" is vital in the traditional delivery of instructions.