Learn the Pros and Cons of Lectures

Lecturing is an old-fashioned instructional method of delivering information verbally. This model represents an oral tradition  that dates back to the Middle Ages. The term lecture came into use during the  14th century as a verb meaning to read or deliver formal discourses. The person presenting a lecture during this time was often called a reader because they recited information from a book to students that recorded it verbatim. There are many pros and cons of lecturing that cause much debate over whether this strategy should still be used today. Learn whether lecturing fits into the modern classroom and if it does, how. What Is a Lecture? During a typical lecture, an instructor stands before their class and presents information to students. Lecturing can go on for any amount of time on any topic. They are versatile in that sense but quite limited in others. The negative reputation of lectures can be attributed to their non-transactional nature—they do not tend to allow for much discussion or other forms of student involvement. Lectures simply offer a way for teachers to carefully execute their teaching according to a precise plan. They do not assess learning, offer varied perspectives, differentiate instruction, or allow students to self-direct. Lecturing Today Because their disadvantages are now widely discussed, many wonder whether lectures still have a place in the modern teaching landscape. The answer is plain and simple: traditional lectures do not. There are a number of factors that contribute to a lectures success, but lecturing is ultimately an outdated form of instructional delivery that does not benefit students. Read about the advantages and disadvantages of traditional lecturing to understand why this teaching approach is in need of a remodel. Advantages and Disadvantages of Traditional Lecturing Lecturing, in the most traditional sense, holds more cons than pros. Pros Traditional lecturing offers a few distinct advantages that other teaching methods do not. Lectures are beneficial for these reasons. Lectures are straightforward. Lectures allow teachers to deliver information to students as planned. This gives great control over what is taught and lets teachers be the sole source of information to avoid confusion.Lectures are efficient. A well-rehearsed lecture can be presented quickly and planned ahead of time to fit into a certain schedule.Lectures can be pre-recorded and recycled. Many teachers record their lectures ahead of time and even show lectures given by others. Khan academy videos and TED talks are examples of common educational lectures available to the public Cons There are many drawbacks to lecturing that make it nonideal. The following list includes disadvantageous features of traditional lectures. Lectures are very taxing for students. In order for a student to get as much as possible from a lecture, they must take detailed notes. This skill must be taught and takes a lot of time to master. Most students dont know what they should take away from lectures and do not successfully learn material.Lectures are not engaging. Lectures are often long and monotonous, making it difficult for even the most dedicated students to engage. They cause students to quickly grow bored and tune out and they also dont leave room for questions, making confused students even more likely to shut down.Lectures are teacher-centered. They do not bring students into the conversation to ask questions, debate ideas, or share valuable personal experiences. Lectures are built on a teachers agenda only with almost no student inquiry or contribution. In addition, a teacher has no way of telling whether students are learning.Lectures do not accommodate individual needs. Lectures allow for little to no different iation. They follow a specific format of delivery that does not account for learning disabilities or other needs. Lectures leave many students feeling frustrated and confused.Lectures cause students to rely on their teachers. The one-sided format of lectures often leads students to develop a dependency on their teachers. Students accustomed to lectures lack self-directed learning skills and are unable to teach themselves. This fails them because teaching students to learn is the very purpose of education in the first place. How to Plan an Effective Lecture Though standard lecturing has more or less become obsolete, that doesnt mean that lecturing cant be made more effective. With the help of technological advances and the latest, most productive teaching strategies, lectures can be revamped into much more meaningful teaching and learning experiences. As with any other teaching practice in an instructional arsenal, teachers should exercise discretion and selectivity when deciding whether to lecture. After all, lecturing is only one tool out of many. For these reasons, lecturing should be used in moderation only when it is more appropriate than any other teaching method. To create the most effective lecture possible, keep these tips in mind. Be Flexible Lectures need to have a little wiggle room. Organization is critical but a well-planned lecture is only successful as long as it stays completely on track. Because of this, instructors must plan for any scenario and be open-minded when it comes time to lecture. If a student says or does something that changes your plans, go with it. Practice responsive teaching by listening to what your students are saying and adjusting to meet their needs in the moment. Set Goals Before a lecture even begins, decide exactly what it should accomplish. This is the case for any lesson and lectures are no exception. Set learning goals for a lecture outlining skills and knowledge that students should have when you are finished. With clear, action-directed goals in place, you dont have to worry if your lecture veers a little off-track. Let it go where it needs to go and use learning goals youve set to direct instruction no matter where a lecture ends up. Build in Assessments Once youve planned standards-aligned, highly specific learning targets, take the time to decide how you will check a students progression toward them. You should have a way of determining whether each and every student is grasping the material you have delivered and a plan for following up with those that do not. A lecture, like any lesson, should not begin and end in a single day. Review what you have taught often and build lectures seamlessly into your curriculum for best results. Plan Dynamic Lectures A lecture should not bore your students. Incorporate multi-media learning experiences, visuals, activities, and educational games into your lecturing to maintain student interest and make your instruction more accessible. Make your students feel excited about what you are teaching and they will be more likely to learn. Additionally, always supplement your lecturing with guided and independent practice to let students try what you have taught for themselves. If you neglect to do this, your students might not understand a concept no matter how interesting your lecture was. Provide Supports One of the biggest flaws in the format of a traditional lecture is that it expects too much of students without supporting them at all. Note-taking is an especially demanding task. Teach your students to successfully take notes so that they dont spend each lecture stressing about recording every word you say and provide graphic organizers for them to take notes on. Finally, scaffold your instruction so that every student—regardless of background knowledge, learning disabilities, etc.—has a way to access information.

Gender Roles Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee - 748 Words

â€Å"Don’t you contradict me! And you--what are you doing in those overalls? You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady!† said Mrs.Dubose â€Å"Don t pay any attention to her, just hold your head high and be a gentleman† replied Jem. Does being a gentleman mean something special? Why are men to hold a higher honor than women? People expect women and men to be a certain way. This includes but is not limited to the way they dress, act and function in society. The pattern of a masculine or feminine behavior of an individual that is dependent on a particular culture that is largely influenced by the child s upbringing. In other words where a certain sex belongs in society or known as gender roles. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Jem and Scout are expected to follow in the footsteps of their elders, or fall into gender roles of the past. They are constantly being told what they can and can’t do in order to conform with society. Scout is always being told what she should wear and what would be best to show that she is a lady, because apparently what you wear defines you. â€Å"You wont get far until you start wearing dresses more often.† Do women need dresses as a step to make them seem like women? More importantly does a pre-teen girl who is just simply discovering herself need to be a certain way? Women have all these standards which are being shared with Scout before she can become who she wants to be. Scout understands that one day she must become a ‘woman,’ but should a child beShow MoreRelatedDivisions And Inequality In To Kill A Mockingbird1481 Words   |  6 PagesIn the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the major themes that author Harper Lee highlights are the divisions and inequality in society. The story is set in the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama when class, gender, and racial discrimination were highly prevalent. In this time Jim Crow laws were in effect. 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To Kill a Mockingbird teaches its readers that the coexistence of tragedy and the loss of innocence affect personal growthRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Character Analysis Essay807 Words   |  4 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird is the story of the trial of a black man, Tom Robinson for the raping of a white woman, Mayella Ewell, in racist Alaba ma in the 1990’s. Tom Robinson’s trial for miscegenistic rape and his ultimate death paralleling in importance Tracy Deen and Nonnie Andersons interracial affair. The Ewells knows that they are the lowest of the among. The whites in Maycomb they have no money, education, and breeding. Bob and Mayella would like to better their station in life. Bob is unwillingRead MoreEssay about Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird991 Words   |  4 Pagesparticularly† (Lee). Jean Louise Finch is a tomboy growing up in a world where a girl is expected to become a lady. 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After taking a closer look at Lee’s symbolism, characterization and foreshadowing used to describeRead MoreFeminism In To Kill A Mockingbird754 Words   |  2 Pagesï » ¿Feminism In To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is an ideal display of feminism that takes place during the period of depression in the south. It portrayed the two kinds of women found in the south during this time, the women who were pro the feminist movement, and the average Southern women. Sadly some women mistakenly rebelled against the ideals of society, by just being themselves. Men and women were to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen, were men were expectedRead More To Kill A Mockingbird Essay: Gender Roles and Feminism1324 Words   |  6 PagesGender Roles and Feminism in To Kill a Mockingbird When the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, was written by Harper Lee, the Southern United States was still clinging tightly to traditional values. 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Since Mayella is white and female, she has power. Although she lives behind a dumpster this still provides a significant amount of power for her. In the book â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† Harper Lee shows Mayella’s power for class during the trial. Even though Mayella has less power in class than race in gender it is still a significant amount to help her. â€Å"Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her†¦.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"DBQ: Is Mayella powerful?† IL, Evanston, 2013) in this quote it shows that when Tom RobinsonRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1876 Words   |  8 PagesThough Harper Lee only published two novels, her accomplishments are abundant. Throughout her career Lee claimed: the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction, and Quill Award for Audio Book. Lee was also inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. This honor society is a huge accomplishment and is considered the highest recognition for artistic talent and accomplishment in the United States. Along with these accomplishments, her

Figures of Speech in the Waste Land Free Essays

Some figures of speech in the wasteland Figures of speech comprise two main categories. One category twists the meaning of words to wrest a new non-literal meaning from words that, when phrased together, have a very different literal meaning, as in the idiomatic figure of speech, â€Å"He died from laughter. † Literally, this means a man met his demise due to laughter. We will write a custom essay sample on Figures of Speech in the Waste Land or any similar topic only for you Order Now Figuratively (i. e. , non-literally), this means he laughed with vigor for a long time. Figures of speech that twist meaning are classified as  tropes. The other category enhances meaning by arranging and rearranging words and word order to dramatize, emphasize or more elegantly express the point at hand. For example, an analogy may be more dramatically made by using a  chiasmus  that inverts parallelism in a typical abba component arrangement. For example, consider the inverted parallelism of this: The day [a] but shines [b], but glows [b] the night [a]. Figures of speech that enhance through words, sounds, letters, word order and syntax are classified as word schemes, or justschemes. It is clear from this brief explanation of figures of speech that  The Wasteland, with a figure of speech as its very title, will be replete with figures of speech of both kinds,  tropes and schemes. In this format, I can identify a few prominent ones, the first being the title. The Wasteland  is the overarching figure of speech (trope/metaphor) that shapes this entire poetic treatise on the state of the world in Eliot’s day. The title of Part I, â€Å"The Burial of the Dead,† is itself a significant figure of speech, also a metaphor, that establishes the central idea of the work. For Eliot, following World War I (1914-1918), Earth itself was ravaged, torn and dead, â€Å"Lilacs out of the dead land †¦. † This figure of speech signifies that death resulting from WWI encompasses the dead who died in battle and the dead who still breath though dead inside from horror and from the loss of dead Earth: A crowd flowed over London Bridge, so many, 62 I had not thought death had undone so many. â€Å"Son of man† is another important figure of speech, an allusion and metaphor, as this is to whom portions of Part I are addressed: Son of man, 20 You cannot say, or guess, for you know only A heap of broken images, Another important figure of speech (trope/analogy and symbol) found in Part III, â€Å"The Fire Sermon,† is Tiresias, the blind old man who sees â€Å"At the violet hour†: I Tiresias, though blind, throbbing between two lives, †¦ can see At the violet hour, the evening hour that strives 220 Homeward, †¦ This figure of speech is important because it represents Eliot’s point and belief that the living dead cannot see, can no longer perceive, what is around them, what is true. This is also an allusion to the Biblical precept that those who see are blind, that is, cannot see spiritual truth. Figures of speech of the  scheme  kind are also present, though seemingly less prominent and used for elegance and compression rather than for significance. An example is found in Part III: â€Å"the young man carbuncular. † Here the word order is changed so that the adjective modifier â€Å"carbuncular† follows the head noun (â€Å"man†) of the noun phrase. Standard word order would be â€Å"the carbuncular young man. † This sort of rearrangement of word order, with the adjective coming after the noun, is called an  anastrophe How to cite Figures of Speech in the Waste Land, Essay examples