Teaching Methods: Lectures and Large Classes

Teaching large lecture classes can present problems for even the most experienced faculty members. It can be difficult to keep students' attention and elicit questions, responses, or other forms of interaction with the lecture material and the instructor. The links in this section provide strategies for improving lecturing techniques as well as methods for getting students more actively involved in a large lecture class.

Teaching Large Classes (University of Maryland, Center for Teaching Excellence).
Contains a teaching guide for large classes plus links to other sites that offer additional resources.
Link: http://www.cte.umd.edu/library/teachingLargeClass/index.html

Teaching Large Classes (University of California, Santa Barbara, Office of Instructional Consultation).
Covers topics ranging from preparing to teach a large class to using active learning and discussion in large classes. Numerous links to articles, materials, and useful websites.
Link: http://www.oic.id.ucsb.edu/Resources/Teaching/LargeClass.html

Designing Smart Lectures (University of Minnesota, Center for Teaching and Learning Services).
A tutorial on designing effective lectures. Offers two video workshops, one on large lecture classes and the other on principles of good lecturing. Also includes information on planning, delivering, and evaluating lectures.
Link: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/lectures/index.html

Improving Lecturing Skills: Some Insights from Speech Communication (Indiana University, Office for Learning Resources).
Pluses and pitfalls of lecturing plus ways to improve as a lecturer.
Link: http://www.indiana.edu/~teaching/allabout/pubs/lectskills.shtml

Teaching Large Classes (Penn State, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence).
Answers numerous FAQs about teaching large classes and provides a set of tools and strategies for active learning. All of the techniques have been used by other faculty teaching large classes.
Link: http://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/Tools/Large/

“A Brief Summary of the Best Practices in Teaching, Tom Drummond, North Seattle Community College,”
A compilation of “practices that constitute excellence in college teaching,” with explanations and examples of each item under twelve general categories such as Lecture Practices, Active Learning, Group Discussion Triggers, etc. Footnoted references cite the research base for each teaching method.
Link: http://webshare.northseattle.edu/eceprogram/bestprac.htm

"Learning with Lectures," Robert Kozma. (CRLT Occasional Papers #4, 1994, University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching). PDF/Adobe Acrobat.
This paper focuses on ways to support student earning in a lecture class. Includes what research tells us about student learning and specific methods to help students understand.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/CRLT_no6.pdf

Delivering Effective Lectures (JHPIEGO, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University).
Techniques for planning, delivering, and evaluating effective lectures, including interactive lectures.
Link: http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/english/6read/6training/lecture/delivering_lecture.htm

"The 'Change-Up' in Lectures," Joan Middendorf and Alan Kalish. (TRC Newsletter 8:1, Fall 1996, Indiana University, Campus Instructional Consulting).
Explains why students have so much difficulty attending to lectures and suggests activities to "break up" lectures to keep students' attention and get them actively involved with the material being presented.
Link: http://www.indiana.edu/~teaching/allabout/pubs/changeups.shtml

Active Learning in Large Classes (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Center for Instructional and Professional Development).
This site provides an interactive tutorial on active learning. Seven video clips, each accompanied by a Word document tutorial, demonstrate active learning strategies in action in large classes: clickers, learning teams, discussions, and other in-class activities. Requires QuickTime for videos.
Link: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CIPD/videotutorial.htm

Larger Classes (University of Northern Iowa, Center for the Enhancement of Teaching)
This site contains resources for lecturing, leading discussions, and using writing, technology, and active learning in large classes.
Link: http://www.uni.edu/teachctr/cet_web/large.htm

"Beating the Numbers Game: Effective Teaching in Large Classes," Richard M. Felder (North Carolina State University)
Offers in-class exercises and out-of-class group assignments to involve students more actively in large classes. Also includes a list of general ideas for more effective teaching in large classes.
Link: http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/Largeclasses.htm

"Tips for Using Questions in Large Classes," Daniel J. Klionsky (University of California-Davis).
Methods for encouraging students in large classes to ask questions and interact with the instructor from the first day of class.
Link: http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/klionsky/TP.pdf

"Research on Student Notetaking: Implications for Faculty and Graduate Student Instructors," Deborah DeZure, Matthew Kaplan, Martha Deerman. (CRLT Occasional Paper #16, 2001, University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching).
This article reviews research on notetaking and students' review of their notes; includes lecture strategies that support effective notetaking and ways to support students with disabilities. Provides a handout for students: Student Guide to Effective Notetaking and Review.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/CRLT_no16.pdf