Image: edutopia.com
Kieran Stack recently concluded a 22-year tenure as assistant principal of the Brewster Central School District in Brewster, New York. Kieran Stack focused on various education initiatives over the course of his career, including making presentations on the value of moving away from lecture-based teaching.
The lecture format is one of the most commonly used in the field of education, despite debates regarding its effectiveness. While there are several ways for educators to optimize an academic lecture, there are a few inherent drawbacks to the form. Chief among these issues is the fact that studies have shown students struggle to maintain focus following 10 to 15 minutes of uninterrupted monologuing. Considering classes generally last between one and several hours, educators should reconsider delivering lectures for the duration of class time.
With this in mind, educators can enhance their lectures by including active breaks every 10 to 15 minutes. These breaks provide educators with an opportunity to evaluate student learning when students interact with each other in pairs or small groups. Additionally, pausing lectures allows students to review notes and ask questions.
There are several additional ways to optimize lecture-based classes. Educators should begin class by providing an overriding framework for the lecture, which should consist of a limited focus of three to five main points. This allows students to focus on the central thesis of the lecture. This framework can be supported by a variety of handouts that further highlight the most important aspects of the lecture.
Finally, student engagement is paramount to any style of teaching. Lectures should be rooted in ideas and concepts students are already familiar with related to important ideas to the student’s everyday lives. In addition to asking questions, students need enough class time to present their own ideas and examples relevant to the conversation.
Kieran Stack 
You must be logged in to post a comment.