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Lecture

A lecture is an oral presentation delivered by an instructor to an audience, typically students in an educational setting, where information, concepts, or ideas are conveyed through spoken discourse for instructional purposes.^[1]^[2] While the practice of lecturing dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times,^[3] the formal lecture format in universities originated in the medieval period, where scholars read directly from texts to students due to the scarcity of printed materials, and evolved over time into more interpretive and explanatory formats as access to books increased.^[1] In higher education, lectures remain a foundational teaching method, valued for their efficiency in delivering content to large groups, summarizing complex material, and modeling expert thinking through structured exposition.^[4]^[5]^[6] Common types include the formal lecture, characterized by continuous instructor-led delivery without interruption; the Socratic lecture, which incorporates questioning to stimulate critical thinking and student participation; and active lectures, which integrate interactive elements like discussions or polls to enhance engagement and retention.^[7]^[8] While traditional lectures excel at transmitting factual knowledge and adapting content to audience needs, their effectiveness is amplified when combined with active learning strategies to address limitations in passive reception.^[9]^[10]

Definition and Origins

Definition

A lecture is a formal, structured oral presentation delivered by an expert or instructor on a specific topic to an audience, primarily in educational or informational contexts such as universities, conferences, or professional workshops.^[1] These sessions typically last around 50 minutes, allowing sufficient time for exposition while accommodating attention spans in large groups.^[11] The format emphasizes the dissemination of specialized knowledge, drawing on the presenter's expertise to explain concepts, theories, or practical applications in a coherent narrative.^[12] Key characteristics of a lecture include its predominantly one-way communication flow, where the speaker conveys information through verbal exposition, supplemented by visual aids such as slides, blackboards, or diagrams to illustrate points and enhance comprehension.^[13] Unlike more participatory methods, lectures prioritize the instructor's role in organizing and interpreting content, often encouraging passive reception through note-taking, with the primary aim of imparting foundational knowledge or skills to build audience understanding.^[14] This structure relies on the speaker's ability to engage listeners rhetorically, using clear articulation and logical progression to maintain focus.^[1] Lectures differ from seminars, which involve interactive discussions among participants on advanced topics, or tutorials, which provide small-group guidance and problem-solving support.^[15] Their monologic nature sets them apart, focusing on expert-led delivery rather than collaborative exchange or hands-on facilitation.^[16] Originating as a primary method for disseminating knowledge in pre-printing eras, when access to texts was limited, lectures enabled scholars to share rare manuscripts orally with students in medieval universities.^[3] Over time, this approach has evolved to incorporate modern technologies while retaining its core expository function.^[1]

Etymology

The word "lecture" originates from the Medieval Latin lectura, meaning "a reading," derived from the Latin verb legere, which signifies "to read" or "to gather."^[17] This root reflects the early association of the term with the act of reciting or interpreting written texts, emphasizing collection and dissemination of knowledge through verbal means.^[18] In the 12th and 13th centuries, as universities emerged in Europe—such as in Bologna, Paris, and Oxford—the term lectura (or lectio in scholastic contexts) described the primary pedagogical method wherein professors read authoritative texts aloud to students, line by line, often interspersing commentary to elucidate difficult passages. This practice arose due to the rarity and expense of manuscripts, making direct access to books limited for most learners, and positioned the lecture as a communal act of textual transmission within the scholastic tradition. By the 16th century, the meaning of "lecture" had broadened in English usage to include a formal oral exposition or explanatory discourse, extending beyond mere recitation to structured teaching and analysis.^[17] This semantic shift aligned with evolving educational needs, where spoken delivery incorporated interpretation and argumentation. Related terms in Romance languages, such as Italian lezione and Spanish lección, preserve the core sense of "reading" or "lesson" from the same Latin origins. The term entered English around 1400, with the Oxford English Dictionary recording its earliest attestation in 1398 in a translation by John Trevisa.^[18]

Historical Development

Ancient and Medieval Lectures

The practice of lecturing emerged in ancient civilizations as a primary means of transmitting knowledge through oral discourse. In ancient Greece during the 5th century BCE, Socrates employed a dialogic method of questioning to engage students and provoke critical inquiry, which Plato later immortalized in his philosophical dialogues as a form of proto-lecture that emphasized dialectical reasoning over rote instruction.^[19]^[20] In Rome, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BCE) delivered public orations that served educational purposes, blending rhetoric, philosophy, and law to instruct audiences on ethical and civic matters, thereby influencing subsequent oratorical traditions.^[21]^[22] Parallel traditions developed in Asia. In India, Vedic oral teachings dating to approximately 1500 BCE involved gurus reciting sacred hymns and texts from the Rigveda and other scriptures, with students committing them to memory through repetition and recitation to preserve cosmological and ritual knowledge.^[23]^[24] In China around 500 BCE, Confucius (551–479 BCE) adopted a teaching approach centered on lectures and discussions drawn from classical texts, stressing memorization, ethical recitation, and moral exemplars to cultivate virtuous governance and personal conduct among disciples.^[25]^[26] The formalization of lectures occurred in medieval Europe with the rise of universities. The University of Bologna, established in 1088, became a hub for legal studies where professors lectured on canon law by reading authoritative texts aloud to assembled students, fostering interpretation and debate within a guild-like structure of scholars.^[27]^[28] Similarly, the University of Paris, emerging around 1150, featured theology lectures in which instructors expounded on scripture—often the Glossa ordinaria—by vocalizing passages to large audiences in cathedral schools, integrating exegesis with communal learning.^[29]^[30] Parallel to European developments, in the medieval Islamic world, madrasas emerged as key institutions for higher learning, where lectures (known as i'tibad or public readings) were central to education. Established as early as the 9th century, such as the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Fez (859 CE), these schools featured scholars delivering oral expositions on Islamic law (fiqh), theology, hadith, and sciences like mathematics and medicine to students gathered in mosques or dedicated halls, promoting debate and memorization in a structured curriculum that preserved and advanced knowledge across the Muslim world.^[31] A pivotal figure in this era was Peter Abelard (1079–1142), whose innovative lecturing at the Paris schools challenged traditional scholastic methods through dialectical questioning and the compilation of contradictory authorities in works like Sic et Non, promoting rational inquiry over unquestioned authority.^[32]^[33] In the social context of the Middle Ages, lectures served as the chief mechanism for disseminating knowledge prior to the invention of the printing press in the mid-15th century, typically conducted in Latin to reach clerical and scholarly elites, ensuring the preservation and interpretation of classical and religious texts amid widespread illiteracy.^[34]^[35] This oral-centric approach laid the groundwork for educational transitions during the Renaissance.

Modern Evolution

During the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, lectures began transitioning from Latin to vernacular languages, broadening accessibility beyond clerical and scholarly elites. This shift was particularly evident in scientific discourse, where institutions like the Royal Society of London, founded in 1660, promoted experimental demonstrations in English to engage a wider audience. Robert Boyle, a key figure in this society, exemplified this evolution through his public lectures featuring live experiments, such as air pump demonstrations that illustrated vacuum principles and challenged Aristotelian views, thereby integrating empirical evidence into oral instruction.^[36]^[37] The 19th century's industrialization spurred mass expansion of higher education in Europe and the United States, necessitating lectures in larger venues to accommodate growing enrollments. In Europe, models like Wilhelm von Humboldt's reforms at the University of Berlin emphasized research-oriented lectures for broader student bodies, influencing institutions across the continent. In the US, Harvard University underwent significant growth post-1869 under President Charles W. Eliot, increasing from approximately 1,000 students to over 4,000 by 1909, with the construction of expanded facilities including larger halls for lecture delivery that replaced smaller recitation rooms.^[38] This era marked lectures as a scalable method for disseminating knowledge amid rising demand for professional training. By the early 20th century, the "chalk and talk" model standardized lectures in universities, relying on blackboards for illustrating concepts while the instructor spoke, a format that persisted from 19th-century practices but faced growing critique for promoting student passivity. Philosopher John Dewey, in works like his 1916 Democracy and Education, argued that such one-way delivery stifled active learning and democratic engagement, advocating instead for experiential methods to foster critical thinking over rote absorption. Despite these criticisms, the model dominated higher education, shaping pedagogical norms through the mid-century.^[39] Post-World War II advancements introduced audio-visual aids to enhance lecture dynamism, with overhead projectors becoming widespread in the 1960s as tools for projecting transparencies, allowing instructors to face audiences while revealing content progressively. Developed initially for military training during the war and commercialized by 3M in the early 1960s, these devices supported the era's emphasis on visual reinforcement in education. Concurrently, professional development lectures proliferated, extending the format to workforce training and lifelong learning programs amid economic expansion.^[40] Non-Western contexts, such as the Soviet education system from the 1920s to 1980s, adapted lectures to emphasize ideological indoctrination alongside technical instruction. Higher education curricula mandated courses on Marxist-Leninist theory, delivered through lectures that integrated political content into subjects like history and science, aiming to cultivate socialist values among students. This approach contrasted with Western models by prioritizing state ideology in lecture design, with reforms in the 1930s under Stalin reinforcing its role until perestroika in the late 1980s.^[41]^[42]

Types and Formats

Traditional Lectures

The traditional lecture format follows a structured progression consisting of an introduction to set the context, a main body focused on detailed exposition of the topic, and a conclusion that summarizes key points.^[43] This monologue-style delivery typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes, allowing the speaker to cover substantial material in a single session with minimal interruptions for audience questions or discussion.^[44] The approach emphasizes a unidirectional flow of information from the instructor to the listeners, positioning the speaker as the primary authority responsible for conveying prepared content accurately and comprehensively.^[45] Key elements of the traditional lecture include the use of prepared notes by the speaker to maintain organization, alongside visual aids such as slides, chalkboards, or physical props to illustrate concepts without requiring active participation from the audience.^[46] These tools support the speaker's role in delivering foundational knowledge efficiently, often in a teacher-centered environment where the audience assumes a passive receptive role.^[47] For instance, an introductory physics lecture might outline Newton's laws of motion through verbal explanation and diagrams on slides, avoiding in-depth mathematical derivations to prioritize conceptual overview.^[43] This format is commonly employed in university classrooms for academic instruction, corporate training sessions such as compliance workshops, and public talks at institutions like museums or professional societies.^[48]^[49]^[50] Despite the rise of interactive alternatives, traditional lectures persist as the dominant method in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, where they effectively disseminate core principles to large groups of learners.^[51]

Interactive and Alternative Formats

Interactive lectures incorporate elements of audience engagement to transform the traditional one-way delivery into a dynamic exchange, fostering deeper understanding and retention. These formats often include question-and-answer (Q&A) sessions, real-time polls, and collaborative activities such as think-pair-share, where students individually reflect on a prompt, discuss it with a partner, and then share insights with the larger group.^[52]^[53] A notable revival of the Socratic method in 21st-century classrooms uses probing questions to stimulate critical thinking and dialogue, adapting ancient inquiry techniques to modern educational settings through structured seminars and virtual discussions.^[54] The flipped classroom model inverts conventional lecture structures by assigning pre-lecture video content for students to review independently, reserving in-class time for interactive discussions, problem-solving, and application of concepts. This approach, popularized by high school chemistry teachers Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams in their 2012 book Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day, emphasizes active learning and personalized support during sessions.^[55] Alternative formats extend beyond solo presentations to include guest lectures, where external experts share specialized knowledge, enhancing student exposure to real-world applications and diverse perspectives in higher education. Panel discussions bring multiple speakers together for moderated exchanges on a topic, promoting debate and multifaceted viewpoints that develop students' analytical and communication skills. Micro-lectures, typically lasting 5-10 minutes, focus on a single concept to maintain attention and facilitate immediate follow-up activities, often integrated into blended learning environments.^[56]^[57]^[58] TED-style talks, originating from the TED conference founded in 1984, emphasize concise, narrative-driven presentations limited to 18 minutes, incorporating storytelling to make complex ideas accessible and memorable. These formats have influenced educational lectures by prioritizing engaging narratives over dense information delivery, as analyzed in studies of TED Talks' structural patterns like embedded stories and resolution arcs.^[59]^[60] Gamified lectures, emerging prominently in the post-2010s era, leverage digital tools like Kahoot! to integrate quizzes, leaderboards, and rewards into sessions, boosting student motivation, participation, and knowledge retention through competitive and playful elements. Research reviews confirm Kahoot!'s positive effects on classroom dynamics, attitudes toward learning, and performance outcomes in various subjects.^[61] Cultural adaptations include the PechaKucha format, developed in Japan in 2003 by architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, which structures presentations around 20 slides shown for 20 seconds each, totaling 6 minutes and 40 seconds to encourage brevity, visual focus, and rapid idea conveyance. This "chit-chat" style has been adopted globally in educational settings to combat verbose delivery and enhance audience engagement.^[62]

Delivery Methods

In-Person Delivery

In-person lectures typically occur in physical venues designed to optimize visibility, acoustics, and audience engagement. Classrooms and auditoriums are engineered with tiered seating, sloped floors, and elevated podiums to ensure all attendees have clear sightlines to the speaker and visual aids, accommodating audience sizes from intimate groups of 20 in seminar-style rooms to over 500 in large lecture halls.^[63] Acoustic considerations are paramount, including the use of sound-reflective ceilings, absorbent wall panels, and non-reverberant materials to minimize echoes and distribute the speaker's voice evenly, as detailed in university design standards.^[64] For instance, ceilings in larger halls are often sloped or stepped to direct sound toward students, preventing loss of clarity at the back rows.^[65] Effective delivery relies on the lecturer's techniques to maintain attention and clarity. Voice modulation—varying pitch, volume, and tone—helps emphasize key points and convey enthusiasm, while controlled pacing, typically at 120-150 words per minute, allows time for comprehension without rushing.^[43] Body language, such as open gestures, steady eye contact, and purposeful movement across the stage, reinforces the message and builds rapport, avoiding habits like pacing aimlessly that can distract.^[66] Preparation is crucial; lecturers often rehearse with timers to allocate time for each section, incorporating pauses for emphasis and ensuring the delivery fits within allotted slots, such as 50-minute classes. This practice, drawn from acting principles, integrates intonation and gestures to enhance overall communication.^[67] Managing the audience involves strategies to foster focus while minimizing interruptions. Lecturers handle disruptions—such as side conversations or tardiness—by remaining calm, addressing the issue directly without naming individuals (e.g., "Please hold questions until the end"), and redirecting attention to the content, which de-escalates tension and maintains flow.^[68] To encourage note-taking without shifting to interactive modes, instructors can signal key concepts with phrases like "write this down" or provide structured outlines that guide students to fill in details during pauses, promoting organized records and retention.^[69] Co-developing basic norms at the lecture's start, such as silencing devices, further supports a conducive environment.^[70] Common tools enhance in-person delivery without relying on digital interfaces. Whiteboards allow real-time diagramming and annotations, enabling lecturers to illustrate complex ideas dynamically, as seen in physics or math classes where equations are built step-by-step.^[71] Handouts, such as outline sheets or key term lists, complement this by providing students with pre-filled frameworks to annotate, reducing transcription errors and freeing cognitive load for listening.^[72] In conference keynotes, these tools appear prominently; for example, speakers at TED events have used whiteboards to sketch concepts visually, while handouts summarizing takeaways are distributed to reinforce messages post-presentation.^[73] Challenges in large venues often stem from acoustics, where poor design leads to uneven sound distribution and audience fatigue. Issues like reverberation in high-ceilinged halls can garble speech, particularly for unamplified voices reaching distant seats. Microphones addressed these from the 1920s onward, with early public address systems enabling clear delivery in expansive settings, as demonstrated in large gatherings where amplification first scaled to thousands.^[74] In academic contexts, adoption followed suit, integrating wired microphones into lecture halls to support vocal projection without strain.^[75]

Digital and Hybrid Delivery

Digital delivery of lectures encompasses both synchronous and asynchronous formats, enabling remote access through specialized platforms. Synchronous lectures occur in real-time via video conferencing tools like Zoom, where instructors and participants interact live, often incorporating features such as screen sharing to display slides or demonstrations.^[76] Asynchronous lectures, by contrast, allow learners to access pre-recorded content at their convenience, as exemplified by platforms like Coursera, which hosts on-demand video modules for self-paced study.^[77] Recordings of both formats facilitate on-demand replay, enhancing flexibility for diverse learner schedules.^[78] Hybrid delivery models integrate in-person attendance with virtual participation, allowing broader reach while maintaining a core physical presence. The COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022 significantly accelerated the adoption of these models in higher education, as institutions rapidly scaled online components to ensure continuity amid restrictions.^[79] In hybrid setups, tools like Zoom enable simultaneous streaming to remote audiences, with chat functions supporting real-time questions from virtual attendees alongside in-room interactions.^[76] Key technological features in digital and hybrid lectures include interactive elements such as screen sharing for visual aids and integrated chat for audience engagement, both standard in platforms like Zoom.^[80] Advancements in AI integration, particularly by 2025, have introduced automated transcription and summarization tools; for instance, Otter.ai provides real-time captioning, slide capture, and AI-generated summaries for lectures, reducing note-taking burdens and enabling searchable archives.^[81] As of 2025, further developments include AI-driven personalized learning systems that adapt lecture content to individual student needs in real-time, and immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) for interactive simulations in hybrid environments, enhancing engagement in subjects such as science and engineering.^[82] A seminal example of early digital lecture dissemination is MIT OpenCourseWare, launched in 2001, which freely shares video recordings and materials from MIT courses, influencing global open educational resources.^[83] Accessibility in digital and hybrid lectures has improved through features like auto-generated subtitles, which support deaf or hard-of-hearing learners by providing synchronized text overlays during video playback.^[84] Multi-language support, including AI-driven translation of subtitles, further extends reach to non-native speakers, as seen in tools that convert lecture content into various languages for inclusive global participation.^[85] However, challenges persist due to the digital divide, where unequal access to high-speed internet and devices in underserved regions or low-income households limits equitable participation in online lectures.^[86]

Research on Effectiveness

Advantages

Lectures offer significant scalability, enabling educators to deliver content to large audiences cost-effectively, as seen in university settings where sessions often accommodate over 1,000 students simultaneously without proportional increases in instructional resources.^[87] This efficiency makes lectures particularly suitable for introductory courses in higher education, where broad coverage of foundational material is essential.^[88] A key advantage lies in expert dissemination, as lectures allow authorities in a field to directly convey specialized knowledge to learners, providing authoritative introductory overviews of complex topics that might otherwise require extensive reading or fragmented resources.^[89] This method ensures consistent and structured presentation of information, fostering a clear organizational framework that aids novice learners in building conceptual understanding and improving short-term retention.^[13] Empirical evidence underscores these benefits, with studies demonstrating that traditional lectures are associated with significant student achievement gains, particularly in transmitting factual knowledge and structured content.^[90] For instance, well-organized lectures have been shown to systematically present information in a way that enhances learning outcomes for large groups.^[91] Beyond academia, lectures prove efficient for professional training programs and public enlightenment initiatives, where they enable rapid, uniform dissemination of practical skills and awareness to diverse audiences, such as in corporate seminars or community outreach events.^[92]

Disadvantages

Lectures often promote passive learning, where students primarily receive information without active participation, leading to low engagement and cognitive involvement. Research indicates that a decline in student attention after approximately 10 to 15 minutes is a common assertion, but reviews of behavioral observation studies show mixed evidence, with high variability and limited support for a consistent "attention curve" showing reduced note-taking and responsiveness.^[93] This contributes to diminished retention and understanding, particularly in longer sessions where sustained focus becomes challenging. The one-size-fits-all nature of lectures presents significant limitations in addressing diverse learner needs. This format delivers content uniformly, often failing to accommodate varying prior knowledge levels or individual learning preferences, which can leave some students underserved and exacerbate achievement gaps.^[94] Scholarly analyses highlight that such rigidity discourages critical thinking and active processing, as the method prioritizes information transmission over personalized adaptation.^[14] Practical challenges in lectures stem from their heavy reliance on the speaker's preparation and delivery skills, introducing risks of inconsistency and error. If the instructor lacks thorough expertise or rehearsal, the session may convey incomplete or inaccurate information, undermining educational reliability.^[95] This speaker dependency can result in variable quality across sessions, with ineffective delivery amplifying issues like monotony or unclear explanations.^[96] Equity issues further compound these drawbacks, as lectures without adaptations can exclude students with disabilities or non-native language speakers. For individuals with hearing impairments or mobility limitations, standard lecture setups—such as rapid speech or un-captioned visuals—create barriers to access, reinforcing educational inequities unless inclusive measures like real-time captioning are implemented.^[97] Non-native speakers often struggle with the assumed proficiency in the lecture language, leading to comprehension gaps and reduced participation in diverse classrooms.^[98] In virtual formats, post-pandemic studies have identified heightened fatigue as a notable disadvantage, often termed "Zoom fatigue." Prolonged video-based lectures contribute to cognitive overload from constant self-viewing and non-verbal cue processing, resulting in exhaustion that impairs focus and learning after extended exposure.^[99] Empirical investigations in higher education settings confirm that such sessions increase mental strain compared to in-person equivalents, particularly during the sustained online shifts following 2020.^[100]

Key Studies and Findings

One of the foundational works on lecture effectiveness is Donald Bligh's What's the Use of Lectures? (1972, updated 1998), which synthesizes early research on how students retain information during lectures. Bligh analyzes retention rates, noting that students forget much of the presented material shortly after, with attention spans typically waning after 10-20 minutes without interventions like breaks or active recall. He emphasizes that retention improves significantly when lectures incorporate immediate application, such as quizzes or discussions, drawing on studies showing up to 50% better long-term recall through such methods.^[101] In cognitive science, Richard Mayer's principles of multimedia learning (2001) provide evidence that integrating visuals with verbal explanations enhances retention over text-only lectures. Mayer's experiments demonstrate that students recall substantially more information (e.g., up to 89% relative improvement in some transfer tasks) when graphics, animations, or diagrams accompany spoken narration, as this reduces cognitive load and supports dual-channel processing in working memory. These findings, based on controlled studies with retention tests, underscore the value of multimedia in lectures for improving conceptual understanding without overwhelming learners.^[102] John Hattie's meta-analysis in Visible Learning (2009, updated 2012) ranks traditional lectures among lower-impact teaching methods relative to interactive strategies, with direct instruction (including structured lecturing) at an effect size of 0.59 and feedback at 0.73; passive formats isolated from participation yield minimal gains in achievement, while hybrid approaches show substantially higher effects. This synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses involving millions of students highlights the benefits of integrating student participation. A influential meta-analysis by Freeman et al. (2014) compared active learning to traditional lectures in STEM courses, finding that active methods improved examination scores by an average of 6 percentage points and reduced failure rates by 55%, based on 225 studies; this underscores the superiority of interactive elements in lecture-based settings for student outcomes.^[103] Post-COVID research has addressed gaps in hybrid lecture efficacy, with 2023 surveys and studies indicating that access to lecture recordings reduces dropout risks by providing flexibility for review and attendance barriers. For instance, a large-scale analysis of 13,585 student responses across 381 courses found that recordings in hybrid formats lowered non-completion rates by approximately 15% compared to in-person-only setups, especially for working or commuting students, while maintaining or slightly improving engagement levels.^[104] Emerging trends point to AI analytics for real-time engagement tracking in lectures, with research as of 2025 showing potential to boost participation through tools that monitor attention via facial recognition or interaction data. Studies explore AI-driven feedback systems for alerting instructors to disengagement patterns, paving the way for adaptive lecture adjustments.^[105]

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Traditional lectures versus active learning – A false dichotomy?
Traditional lectures are commonly understood to be a teacher-centered mode of instruction where the main aim is a provision of explanations by an educator ...
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Death of a Traditional Lecture | Faculty Focus
Apr 10, 2023 · The conventional format of a faculty member positioned in front of a classroom using visual enhancement (e.g., chalkboard, transparency, ...
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Lecture Method of Teaching: Benefits, Types & Characteristics
Jul 22, 2024 · The traditional lecture involves the instructor straightforwardly delivering information to the students without much interaction.
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Study finds the lecture remains dominant form of teaching in STEM
Apr 1, 2018 · New study of undergraduate STEM courses finds that lectures remain dominant -- despite finding after finding questioning their effectiveness.
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E-Learning vs Traditional Training: Which is better for your business?
For a large roll out of mandatory training, such as compliance training, a business may opt for traditional training methods such as a lecture style training ...
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How to lecture | Public Speaking - acsedu
A lecture is traditionally an exposition on a particular topic, the purpose of which is to instruct. A talk may be formal and instructive as well.
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Massive Study Finds Lectures Still Dominate STEM Education
Mar 29, 2018 · 55 percent of STEM classroom interactions consisted mostly of conventional lecturing, a style that prior research has identified as among the least effective.
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Interactive lectures - Teaching and Learning Knowledge Base
Socratic questioning. Instructions. Pepper students with questions, always asking the next question in a way that guides the conversation toward a learning ...Missing: 21st | Show results with:21st
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Think-Pair-Share - SERC (Carleton)
Jan 11, 2007 · Think-Pair-Share activities pose a question to students that they must consider alone and then discuss with a neighbor before settling on a final answer.Missing: polls century
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Rethinking the Socratic Method for the 21st Century - Faculty Focus
Jun 6, 2022 · Today, the Socratic method and other inquiry-based pedagogies are increasingly implemented in classrooms—both in-person and virtual—through ...Missing: revival | Show results with:revival
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[PDF] History of the Flipped Classroom Model and Uses of the ... - ERIC
Nov 3, 2022 · Bergmann, J., & Sams, A. (2012). Flip your classroom: Reach every student in every class every day. Oregon, Washington: ISTE. Bergmann, J ...
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Full article: Using guest lectures to enhance student employability
It finds that alumni speakers significantly enhance students' perceived learning outcomes and communication skills due to their relatability and personal ...
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Panel Discussions - Online Engagement and Teaching Hub
One of the benefits of the activity is that it provides an opportunity for students to experience authentic real life, panel-based activities. Why use it?
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How Micro-Lectures Improve Learning Satisfaction and Achievement
Micro-lectures is a 5–10-min video-based learning medium explaining an order or discussing an important topic [26]. This medium is growing in popularity and is ...2. Literature Review · 2.3. Study Model And... · 6. Discussion
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History of TED
TED started in 1984, became annual in 1990, became a non-profit in 2001, and launched TED Talks in 2006. It celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024.Ted's Nonprofit Transition · The First Ted Talks Ever · 30 Years Of TedMissing: storytelling | Show results with:storytelling
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[PDF] Storytelling In Ted Talks - CORE
This study explores storytelling in TED Talks, identifying narrative patterns using Labov's model and Propp's narratemes, finding 'backbone' and embedded ...
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The effect of using Kahoot! for learning – A literature review
The main conclusion is that Kahoot! can have a positive effect on learning performance, classroom dynamics, students' and teachers' attitudes, and students' ...
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About PechaKucha
PechaKucha was created in Japan in 2003 by renowned architects, Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham. The word “PechaKucha” is Japanese for “chit chat.” Find your ...
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Large Classroom Design - CRLT - University of Michigan
Acoustics Use of acoustical tile on the ceiling and acoustically-absorbent material on the rear wall should be considered (Burnett et al., 2003). · Furniture.
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[PDF] DIVISION N CLASSROOM AND LECTURE HALL DESIGN INDEX N ...
Mar 3, 2003 · ACOUSTICS FOR THE LECTURE HALL. A. Acoustical characteristics of a lecture hall are among the most critical elements in the design of the ...
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Model Classroom 101-200
Ceilings should typically be sloped or stepped and be designed so as to reflect sound from the instructor to the students. In lecture halls having a seating ...
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11.4 Physical Delivery – Communication in the Real World
Floating refers to speakers who wander aimlessly around, and pacing refers to speakers who walk back and forth in the same path. To prevent floating or pacing, ...Missing: modulation lecturing
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[PDF] Delivering a Lecture: Learning from Actors - Online Teacher Education
Communication involves pacing, intonation, body movements, and gestures. Using visuals to support and illustrate key teaching points is also an important.
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Best practices for managing disruptive behavior
Stay calm and listen to student concerns – identifying the catalyst for disruption can help you address the situation in the moment or in a later meeting.
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Note-taking | Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence
This teaching guide explores proactive strategies for instructors, to enhance students' note-taking skills, structure lectures for effective note-taking, reduce ...Missing: disruptions | Show results with:disruptions
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Managing Classroom Disruptions | Center for Teaching and Learning
Co-developing classroom norms with your students can help prevent disruptive behavior and allow you to react effectively in the moment.
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[PDF] Whiteboard Lectures Online - Office for Teaching & Learning
This guide begins with best practices to consider while you plan your whiteboard lectures for your online course. Then, a variety recording tool options are ...
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Employing handouts as a study guide to highlight important concepts
This helps students extend their learning and controls for errors that students might otherwise make when copying detailed information from the board. Explain ...
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How to Create Engaging Handouts for Your Conference Speech
Jan 24, 2024 · Learn how to use visuals, simplicity, value, interactivity, and design to create engaging handouts that will enhance your conference speech ...
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The History of Live Sound - Part 1 - HARMAN Professional Solutions
Jan 6, 2021 · Acoustic Roots in Live Performance · Components of Live Sound Systems · Invention of the Microphone · Invention of the Loudspeaker · Invention of ...
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Using microphones in lectures | Institute for Academic Development
Feb 26, 2024 · It puts less strain on teaching staff to keep voice levels raised. It contributes to increased concentration in class among students and possibly greater ...
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Easy Screen Sharing in Virtual Meetings - Zoom
Screen sharing on Zoom is easy; simply click the green 'Share Screen' icon on the toolbar in your Zoom Meetings and select which screen you would like to share.Free Screen Sharing With The... · Screen Sharing Enhances... · Tailor Your Screen Sharing...
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What Is Asynchronous Learning? - Coursera
Mar 24, 2025 · An online synchronous course means that you will likely meet for class using video conferencing software. You and your peers will learn from ...Online Learning... · Online Asynchronous Classes · Benefits Of Learning...Missing: Zoom delivery
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What Is Online Learning? Examples, Types, Tips & Strategies
Oct 7, 2025 · Type #1: Self-Paced / Asynchronous Courses – Pre-recorded lessons you follow on your own schedule. Type #2: Live Online / Synchronous Classes – ...
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The Rapid Growth of Hybrid Learning Fueled by the Pandemic
Jan 29, 2024 · Hybrid learning is no longer just a response to the COVID-19 disruption but is now a strategic option for business schools.
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Sharing your screen or desktop on Zoom
This feature gives only the users, who choose to share their screen, full control over their own screen and what other meeting participants can or cannot see.
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Lecture Notes - Real-time for Students & Teachers - Otter.ai
Otter.ai provides real-time captions, automated notes, slide capture, and summaries. Students can highlight, comment, and access stored transcripts.Missing: advancements | Show results with:advancements
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About Us | MIT OpenCourseWare | Free Online Course Materials
Since 2001, MIT OpenCourseWare has been creating new opportunities for millions of learners and educators, sharing Open Educational Resources (OER) from MIT ...
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World Teachers' Day: How Captions and Subtitle Translation ...
Oct 7, 2025 · Expanding accessibility: Captions make educational videos available to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Breaking language barriers: ...Missing: divide | Show results with:divide
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Expanding Accessibility: Using Captions to Reach Diverse Regions
Mar 6, 2025 · Captions are a vital tool for making content more inclusive, allowing audiences across different regions to engage with video material in their preferred ...
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The digital divide in online education: Inequality in digital readiness ...
We study inequalities in multi-level digital readiness of students and schools before the pandemic took place.
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[PDF] Rethinking the Large Lecture:
It has been a cost-effective way to offer surveys of disciplines for a lot of students, preparing them for more work in the same field or pointing them toward.
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Is Lecturing Obsolete? Advocating for High Value Transformative ...
Lecturing allows faculty to assist students with interpretation of information, especially with use of non-verbal expressions. The live lecture allows the ...
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[PDF] What's the Use of Lectures?
Bligh offers eight principles to follow for using lectures to teach information. • Make the lecture meaningful to the students. Lectures are easier to ...
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Is traditional teaching really all that bad? A within-student between ...
Results indicate that traditional lecture style teaching is associated with significantly higher student achievement. No support for detrimental effects of ...
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[PDF] Evaluating Active Lecture and Traditional Lecture in Higher Education
Dec 6, 2023 · For this study, a traditional lecture is course content delivered via instructor's spoken word and didactic feedback restricted to answering ...
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Learn the Pros and Cons of Lectures - ThoughtCo
May 11, 2025 · Lectures are straightforward. Lectures allow teachers to deliver information to students as planned. This gives great control over what is taught.
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Attention during Lectures: Beyond Ten Minutes - Sage Journals
Many authors claim that students' attention declines approximately 10 to 15 min into lectures. To evaluate this claim, we reviewed several types of studies ...Missing: curve | Show results with:curve
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Issues in Education: Avoiding the One-Size-Fits-All Curriculum
Aug 7, 2025 · One-size-fits-all approaches tend to teach to the "average" student, however, in doing so, they do not adequately support all students.
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Comparison of the effect of lecture and blended teaching methods ...
The aim of this study was to compare the students' learning and satisfaction in combination of lecture and e-learning with conventional lecture methods.
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Effects of Lecture Fluency and Instructor Experience on Students ...
Oct 9, 2025 · Significant effects of lecture fluency, but not instructor experience, occurred whereby lecture fluency inflated JOLs but not test scores. As ...Missing: dependency | Show results with:dependency
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Is Active Learning Accessible? Exploring the Process of Providing ...
Oct 1, 2020 · This essay documents the challenges that active-learning practices pose for students with disabilities and how these challenges are ...
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[PDF] 52 Disability Sensitivity and Sensibility: A Nondisabled Lecturer ...
Jul 27, 2021 · Using inclusive lecturing strategies can address accessibility challenges. When lecturing is not inclusive, it reinforces barriers to education ...
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On the stress potential of videoconferencing: definition and root ...
This paper develops a definition for Zoom fatigue and presents a conceptual framework that explores the major root causes of videoconferencing fatigue and ...
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Fighting Zoom fatigue: Evidence-based approaches in university ...
Feb 27, 2025 · The present study investigates the effects of different virtual class settings on cognitive load and fatigue.Missing: post- | Show results with:post-
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What's the Use of Lectures? - Donald A. Bligh - Google Books
Bligh begins by arguing that lectures are most suitable for teaching information, not promoting thought or inspiring changes in attitudes.Missing: retention rates analysis
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Multimedia Learning - Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Although verbal learning offers a powerful tool, Mayer explores ways of going beyond the purely verbal. Recent advances in graphics technology and ...
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Attending lectures in person, hybrid or online—how do students ...
Mar 28, 2023 · A total of 17,641 surveys covering 381 courses indicated agreement for participation in the study. Of those, 13,585 filled out the survey ...Missing: efficacy | Show results with:efficacy
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Can AI support student engagement in classroom activities in ... - arXiv
Jun 22, 2025 · We, therefore, explore supporting engagement through the use of AI in an in-class activity to generate higher engagement with learning content.