Lecturing (with

PowerPoint)

Donna Ellis, TRACE

&
Colin Campbell, IST
Workshop Outline
 Lecture basics
 Lecture design for maximum student
 Delivery tips for lectures
 PowerPoint design specifics for lectur
Lecture Basics
 Definitions
 Effectiveness of lecturers
 Goals of lectures and learning
technologies
What is a lecture?
 Traditionally didactic
 More interactive approaches

 “A teaching technique that involves

some talking on the part of the
instructor, may involve student
input, and may be supported by
visuals”
What makes a lecturer
ineffective?
What makes a lecturer
effective?
 Indicates value of course to students
 Motivates students to do their best
 Communicates effectively with students
 Provides a clear structure
 Creates a comfortable environment for
learning
 Shows concern for students
 Is knowledgeable about course material
Goals of a lecture
 Impart information efficiently
 Show conceptual organization
 Clarify tricky issues
 Reiterate critical points
 Motivate students to learn more
 Be engaging
 Help students learn material
Goals of learning
technologies
 Support instruction and student
learning
 Easy to maintain
 Can incorporate many tools into
one
 Show concepts that are difficult to
explain or visualize
Workshop Outline
 Lecture basics
 Lecture design for maximum
student learning
 PowerPoint design specifics for
lectures
 Delivery tips for lectures
Lecture design for
maximum student learning
 Consider course goals and structure
 Consider audience
 Use clear structure for each lecture
 Design lecture in small blocks
 Encourage note-taking
 Prepare own notes
Consider your course
goals and structure
 Identify your goals and how much
students need to know
 Pick central points that tie together
many points – provide big picture
 Put points into logical sequence
 Highlight difficult concepts
Consider your audience
 Match content to their background
and interests
 Anticipate and answer their
questions
 Identify difficult concepts
 Understand expectations of
today’s students
Use a clear structure
 Know your “take-home message”
 Begin with short review then preview
 Give motivation statement
 Cover 2-4 main points
 Make transitions with mini summaries
 Wrap up with complete summary and
preview for next class
Use a clear structure –
cont’d
 Prepare 12-20 slides per 50-minute
lecture
 Budget time for questions and
activities

 PowerPoint works best with linear,

hierarchical format
 A less linear format is possible
Design lecture in small
blocks
 Divide lecture in 10-15 minute
blocks for attention span
 Get students interacting with
material
 What to intersperse?
What to intersperse?
 Whole group discussion
 Small group or individual problem-solving, activity,
or project
 Video clips
 Demonstrations – live or virtual
 Quiz
 Question and answer session
 Examples
 Rhetorical questions
Encourage note-taking
 Have a clear structure
 Pace delivery to fit note-taking
 Only put key points on visuals
 Use progressive disclosure
 Teach note-taking skills
Prepare your own notes
 Not a script, but an outline
 Be flexible
 Include examples, analogies,
definitions, solved equations
 Add delivery notes
 Limit to 1-3 pages
 Avoid using screen as notes
Workshop Outline
 Lecture basics
 Lecture design for maximum
student learning
 Delivery tips for lectures
 PowerPoint design specifics for
lectures
Delivery tips for lectures
 Immediacy
 Eye contact
 Facial expressions
 Gestures and movement
 Voice
 Practice
Workshop Outline
 Lecture basics
 Lecture design for maximum
student learning
 Delivery tips for lectures
 PowerPoint design specifics for
lectures
PowerPoint design
specifics for lectures
 Overall issues to consider
 Slide content
 Text characteristics
 Use of colour
 Special effects
Overall issues
 Match instructional needs with
appropriate technology
 Use visuals to communicate
messages
 May need to re-think course when
use a technology
 Initially may need more preparation
time, but easy and cost-effective to
maintain
PowerPoint design
specifics for lectures
 Overall issues to consider
 Slide content
 Text characteristics
 Use of colour
 Special effects
Workshop Outline
 Lecture basics
 Lecture design for maximum
student learning
 Delivery tips for lectures
 PowerPoint design specifics for
lectures