ABSTRACT
The lecture method is one of the most common and long-standing teaching methods. In this chapter, we explain that the lecture is not a unidimensional concept. We present 14 different types of lectures, along with the foundational parts of all good lectures: context, content, and closure. We argue that lectures have many advantages, such as low cost in terms of time and money, allowing the instructor to control the pace of information delivery, and modeling critical thinking. That said, lectures also have several disadvantages, such as a presumption that students all learn at the same pace and an approach that can bore both instructors and students. Research described in this chapter includes findings showing that mini-lectures with purposeful active learning breaks improve student learning, frequent quizzing during lectures can improve learning, and the style and pace of speech can improve learning. We provide tips to create more effective synchronous and asynchronous lectures, along with specific suggestions to create engaging video lecture presentations. The chapter concludes with detailed descriptions of 11 active learning activities that can be used with lecture methods.
