Traditional lecture has been part of the educational scene since the invention of the classroom. Yet, study after study has shown that the conventional lecture is simply not effective. Today’s educators are learning to embrace an active lecture technique to enjoy the benefits of the lecture while also enjoying greater student engagement.

The Problem with Passive Lectures

When an instructor stands in front of a group of students and presents a traditional lecture, the students are largely passive players in the conversation. They are not asked to do anything, and thus are not engaged. Also, it does not address the needs of varied learning styles. Traditional lecture limits discussion and focuses on rote learning above other, perhaps more valuable, expressions of learning.

How to Solve the Problem Without Giving Up Lectures

In spite of these problems, lecture itself is necessary, and it can be an effective way to present information. The solution to this problem is active lecture.

An active lecture begins with a well-prepared lecture, then incorporates technology to help encourage interaction with students. Instructors teaching actively will understand that the typical attention span of students is much shorter than the 50-90 minute class, and they will incorporate strategies to reset student attention through changes in the presentation. Finally, the lecture is not read, but rather follows an outline and builds on student questions and responses to keep students engaged.

Lecture Capture Technology Helps Address the Issues with Lectures

In addition to using active lecture techniques, instructors can limit some of the problems with lectures using lecture capture technology. Lecture capture technology allows instructors to provide lectures in a video format, which students can access whenever they need to. This allows students to view lectures in their own time and in a way that works with their learning style.

Echo360 makes it simple for instructors to utilize lecture capture technology and provide anytime viewing to students. With Echo360 lecture capture technology and effective lecture techniques, today’s instructors can overcome the hurdles created by traditional lecture models.