The document discusses the lecture method as a teaching approach. It outlines several advantages and disadvantages. The key advantages are that lectures allow for teacher control over content, can present large amounts of new information efficiently, and require little effort from students beyond listening and note-taking. However, lectures are also criticized for being a one-way transmission of information that places students in a passive role without feedback or opportunities to engage critically. They may not be suitable for more complex topics and different learning styles. Overall, the document presents both sides of the lecture method debate.
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Lecture Method Report
The document discusses the lecture method as a teaching approach. It outlines several advantages and disadvantages. The key advantages are that lectures allow for teacher control over content, can present large amounts of new information efficiently, and require little effort from students beyond listening and note-taking. However, lectures are also criticized for being a one-way transmission of information that places students in a passive role without feedback or opportunities to engage critically. They may not be suitable for more complex topics and different learning styles. Overall, the document presents both sides of the lecture method debate.
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture Method
Advantages of using Lecture Method
One need not heavily depend upon audio-visual aids and other gadgets for presentation. We may not even use any audiovisual aids and gadgets for a lecture. Most economical one from cost point of view assuming that the trainer is competent in lecturing on the particular content. Knowledge-level content can very conveniently be passed on to the participants. Disadvantages of Lecture Method
Someone poor in these aspects is likely to give a very poor performance in lecturing. Practically some trainers take advantage of the method because of its medium (the spokenwords) and speak anything and get away with it. Thus, they misuse the method. Some trainers make use of the age old, outdated lecture notes, which they might have prepared several years back. They present outdated information through lecture method and waste the time allotted. Effective oral presentation depends heavily upon the strength of vocabulary and knowledge of grammar rules including structures of sentences.
Advantages and disadvantages of lectures Advantages * Effective lecturers can communicate the intrinsic interest of a subject through their enthusiasm. * Lectures can be specifically organized to meet the needs of particular audiences. * Lectures can present large amounts of information. * Lectures can be presented to large audiences. * Lecturers can model how professionals work through disciplinary questions or problems. * Lectures allow the instructor maximum control of the learning experience. * Lectures present little risk for students. * Lectures appeal to those who learn by listening.
Disadvantages * Lectures fail to provide instructors with feedback about the extent of student learning. * In lectures, students are often passive because there is no mechanism to ensure that they are intellectually engaged with the material. * Students' attention wanes quickly after fifteen to twenty-five minutes. * Information tends to be forgotten quickly when students are passive. * Lectures presume that all students learn at the same pace and are at the same level of understanding. * Lectures are not suited for teaching higher orders of thinking such as application, analysis, synthesis, or evaluation; for teaching motor skills, or for influencing attitudes or values. * Lectures are not well suited for teaching complex, abstract material. * Lectures requires effective speakers. * Lectures emphasize learning by listening, which is a disadvantage for students who have other learning styles.
Why lecture? Though no longer used to spread the content of a single book, lectures are generally used to teach new knowledge and skills, promote reflection, and stimulate further work and learning. In the appropriate context, and assuming a certain quality standard, the lecture is an effective means of teaching. The main benefits of lectures are that: they are an effective way of providing information that is not available from other sources they can be cost-effective for transmitting factual information to a large audience they provide background information and ideas, basic concepts and methods that can be developed later by private study, or in small tutor-supervised group activities they can be used to highlight similarities and differences between key concepts They can be a useful way of demonstrating processes. He main disadvantages of lectures are that: Lecturing tends to place the audience in a passive role. People may be busy taking notes but usually have little time to reflect, question or analyse and synthesise ideas lectures are not an effective method for changing attitudes or encouraging higher-order thinking lecturing doesnt encourage the audience to move beyond memorising the information presented and long-term retention may be poor lecturing reproduces a power differential in which the lecturer is guardian and gatekeeper of knowledge and the audience are the recipients of whatever the lecturer chooses to reveal Lectures are not suitable for a wide diversity of ability. While we tend to assume that a lecture is the only way to teach a large body of people, and equally we tend to rule out the possibility of delivering a lecture to a small group, by no means is either always the case. There are a number of effective methods of teaching large groups, and a skilled lecturer can adapt the format to accommodate relatively small groups yet it will still be recognisably a lecture. There are a number of sound reasons for choosing the lecture, among them (starting with the most pragmatic): When there is no workable alternative due to size of group, venue, etc. when the programme stipulates it, such as at a conference or as part of an undergraduate programme when part of the purpose is to set guidelines for assignments, exams, etc. when the aim is to present broad outlines of a subject and factual information when the aim is to illustrate process and/problem-solving strategies when you want to model academic practice you wish to encourage When you are invited. A good lecture at the right time: facilitates learning of the key basic principles of the subject fits coherently into the overall teaching programme is relevant, well presented and holds students attention is organised into a logical structure supports and builds on previous learning is stimulating and provides food for thought.
What is the Lecture Method? The word lecture comes from the Latin word lectus, from the 14th century, which translates roughly into to read. The term lecture, then, in Latin, means that which is read. It wasnt until the 16th century that the word was used to describe oral instruction given by a teacher in front of an audience of learners. Today, lecturing is a teaching method that involves, primarily, an oral presentation given by an instructor to a body of students. Many lectures are accompanied by some sort of visual aid, such as a slideshow, a word document, an image, or a film. Some teachers may even use a whiteboard or a chalkboard to emphasize important points in their lecture, but a lecture doesnt require any of these things in order to qualify as a lecture. As long as there is an authoritative figure (in any given context) at the front of a room, delivering a speech to a crowd of listeners, this is a lecture. Now, you might feel that this method sounds pretty one- sided. If you think so, youd be one of the many people who believe the lecture method is a poor way of teaching. Before we get into the cons, though, lets explore why the lecture method has been used for as long as it has, and what value educators have found in its ways.
Advantages of the Lecture Method The lecture method has a few advantages that has kept it as the standard approach to teaching for so long. Below is a list, followed by some descriptions of each of these. Teacher control: Because the lecture is delivered by one authoritative figure a teacher, professor, or instructor of some other kind that person has full reign of the direction of the lesson and the tone of the classroom. They alone are able to shape the course, and so lectures remain highly consistent when it comes to what kind of information is delivered, and how its delivered. New material: Lectures are literally just long-winded explanations of information, deemed important by the lecturer. As such, students can absorb large quantities of new material. Effortless: The lecture method makes the learning process mostly effortless on the part of the students, who need only pay attention during the lecture and take notes where they see fit. Because so little input is required from students, its the most clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated way to expose students to large quantities of information as explained above and in a way that is controlled and time sensitive. Students just need to know how to take good notes check out this course on note taking skills for some tips.
Disadvantages of the Lecture Method Whats funny about the lecture method is many of the pros listed above could actually be seen as cons, as well. Many dont see the nature of the lecture method as helpful in the least, and youll find the explanations as to why listed below. One-way: People who are against the lecture method see it as a one-way street. Professors dictate information to students, who have little to no opportunity to provide their own personal input, or protest the information being delivered. What if the professor is wrong, or what if the student disagrees with the professor on a fundamental ideology in their lecture? Well, the student just has to sit down and take it; sometimes, the student will even be forced to agree with the lecture if they want a passing grade. If the lecture is on a sensitive topic, over which there is much conflicting discourse, you can imagine the problems this might cause. Passive: Not only do people see the lecture method as a biased, one-way road, but they also see it as a wholly passive experience for students. This isnt just harmful because of the ways we described above. Not being actively engaged in a discussion over certain material can make the material itself seem worthless to a student. After all, the point of an education isnt to be programmed to think a certain way, according to your instructors lectures, but to critically analyze the information being provided and learn how to apply it in different contexts. If a student has no place to opportunity the course material with the person delivering the lecture, they will receive only a shallow understanding of the subject being discussed. Simply put, they might even be bored by the material because they will have no opportunity to learn how the subject applies to them on a personal level. Strong speaker expectations: The lecture method can be disadvantageous to the professor, as well. Not all academics can be expected to have the same level of public speaking skill. What if a teacher is a genius in his or her field, knows the material from every angle, and is enthusiastic about the subject but has trouble speaking in front of large groups? The quality of a professors course should not suffer because they are unable to prepare a decent lecture. Just as being lectured to might not be the learning method of choice for many students, being the one that is expected to do the lecturing might not be the best way for every instructor to present their course material. But because the range of academic teaching methods are so limited, they are usually expected to do exactly that, potentially losing the elements of their lesson plan that makes it so strong. Check out this course on mastering public speaking for some tips on avoiding this pitfall.