Transcript Lecturing
A Bluffer’s Survival Guide… Thinking… What is the purpose of the lecture? An introduction? Basic information: dates, narrative. Historiographical issues, theoretical perspectives. A case study? Addresses themes/problems already considered? A discussion of sources and methods? Structured around a body of sources or a methodology? Remember your audience Researching… Read broad, general textbooks: What are the core, historiographical issues and problems? What is the wider significance of the topic? Read some of the research-based monographs and articles: What is the cutting-edge research on the subject? Read some ‘popular’ histories or cultural sources: Good sources of anecdotes/colour. Writing … Full text? Advantages: All the information is there Can be used elsewhere Disadvantages: Time-consuming Difficult to follow in the heat of the lecture Temptation to read rather than engage Writing (2)... Alternatives to full text: Note cards PowerPoint as aide memoire... Back of an envelope ‘Chalk and Talk’ Disadvantages: Can be scary, especially first time around Structure/thread can be lost Writing (3) Do: Provide students with questions to ponder Give a list of further reading Relate to the broader aims of the course Consider: Advice about the related essay topic Fast-forwards or flashbacks to other courses/references to other disciplines Remember: Less is usually more: Audience must follow the lecture and take notes. You can speak more slowly You can spend time on anecdotes, explaining visuals, indulging in ad-libs. You can raise questions for students to ponder No lecture can (or should!) give the students all they need to know Alternatives to the ‘traditional’ lecture Short ‘pop quizzes’ Handouts with lists of essential factors Set tasks with short handouts: Historiographical extracts Gobbets Visuals Interrogate the audience Podcasts Presenting... Do Speak slowly Vary the pace Make frequent eye contact Move about a bit Pause Leave a couple of minutes for questions Enjoy it! Presenting... Don’t Worry about stumbling, trembling Worry about what the audience looks like Just read from your notes Apologise Visuals/audio... PowerPoint: Don’t just read off the slides Don’t crowd in too much text Images: especially those you can speak to Have a back-up? E.g. OHP slides Handouts/WebCT Film clips Music Gimmicks can work You as a speaker Nerves Water Humour Be yourself Practice and Feedback Present a distilled version to a friend/colleague notetaking Have a colleague/mentor sit in on your lectures Have yourself filmed/recorded? Ask the students!