I ask this question fearing that someone may think it is not worth looking at.
If you think so, hold on....
Lecturers have been accused of over relying on the lecturer method. This is understandable considering that their title is even derived from the method. However, some researchers argue that the lecture method makes learning more teacher-centred than learner-centred. But what alternatives do lecturers have? Can the other methods really substitute the lecture method? Are they possible in situations where a lecturer handles more than 200 students in one class? If feasible, what is the standard operating procedures?
Hi Anthony,
I think, there are plenty of options to replace lecture method from the menu of teaching methods. Also, there are possible ways by which the lecture itself can be modified so that lecture may be blended with other teaching methods for more flexibility and reducing the drawbacks of lecture method. During my PhD research, I was able to embed different cooperative learning pedagogies to break a full lecture session into smaller pieces.
Tadesse, T., & Gillies, R. M. (2015). Nurturing cooperative learning pedagogies in higher education classrooms: evidence of instructional reform and potential challenges. Current Issues in Education, 18(2).
Basically there are two sides of this coin:
- prospective lecturers' ambitions, motivation, self- and job-perception
- pre-service & in-service education and training of lecturers
Both are crucial for how education on all levels is organized and working:
- If tutors, teachers and trainers have few ambitions, low motivation and/or bad self- and job-perceptions, lectures will appear as the usual standard way of doing their job.
- If their tutors, teachers and trainers on the pedagogical academies are not really motivated, engaged and/or have conservative attitudes regarding "lecturing", this will of course be bad examples that will be copied by the prospective lecturers.
It is a self-replicating and self-perpetuating process. Difficult to change or break-out.
In the contemporary methods, any lecture system may not be made totally free from the effect of the Lecturer. The preparation of study materials, way of talking, dealing with the students during delivering lectures etc. related with the knowledge level, personality, individual choice etc. factors of the lecturer.
Surely we can't all be like Eric Mazur or Walter Lewin (see links below), but with a bit of training most of us (me including!) could become better teachers and educators - to the benefit of our students.
But there are severe practical limits to what each of us can achieve in the classroom or lecture hall, dictated by:
Links:
- http://ericmazur.com/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a0FbQdH3dY
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Teaching