Professor Bruce Charlton, author of
Addicted to Distraction: Psychological Consequences of Mass Media Addiction (
reviewed here) recently published a four-part series on giving lectures in the
The Oxford Magazine.
Part 1:
The first mass medium
Part 2:
The special effectiveness of lecturing
Part 3:
Lecture theater size and design
Part 4:
Chalk-and-talk, handouts, visual aids and internet support
Reading the series was a pleasure and a welcome diversion from the typical mass media content that pervades the internet. It made me think about the components of an effective lecture, especially relevant as a I prepare to start teaching an English course for visually impaired students. It also made me realize that most of the tools that are billed as “supplements” to learning (handouts, online classes, slides), are really distractions and diversions from the core of a good university education which requires competent or even extraordinary lecturers and attentive and engaged students.
Professor Bruce Charlton, author of Addicted to Distraction: Psychological Consequences of Mass Media Addiction (reviewed here) recently published a four-part series on giving lectures in the The Oxford Magazine.
Part 1: The first mass medium
Part 2: The special effectiveness of lecturing
Part 3: Lecture theater size and design
Part 4: Chalk-and-talk, handouts, visual aids and internet support
Reading the series was a pleasure and a welcome diversion from the typical mass media content that pervades the internet. It made me think about the components of an effective lecture, especially relevant as a I prepare to start teaching an English course for visually impaired students. It also made me realize that most of the tools that are billed as “supplements” to learning (handouts, online classes, slides), are really distractions and diversions from the core of a good university education which requires competent or even extraordinary lecturers and attentive and engaged students.