Why I Launched Beyond the Lecture
I remember the first time I sat in a college classroom and listened to a traditional “lecture”. For over an hour, the professor stood in the same spot in the front of the room, clicking through slides about communication theories. Asked to hold our questions to the end, I tried my best to follow the lecture. I lasted about thirty minutes. Then I started daydreaming about my plans for the weekend…
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to pay attention. A “straight A” student most of my life, I always chose the seat in the front of the classroom. I formed relationships with my professors. I visited during office hours to ask questions. I completed readings before class. I loved learning (and still do). And that particular professor was a nice person. He cared a lot about the subject and he tried to convey that to his students. But something wasn’t clicking.
I also remember the first time I sat in a professional training that used active learning. The energy was palpable. The room felt alive. There were pictures of interestingly animals strategically placed around the walls, piquing my interest of how they might connect to the training topic. There were blank sheets of flip chart paper and markers on the tables, promising the use of color and group discussion. There were toys on the table for participants to play with (which I would later learn are commonly called “fidgets”). There were post-its and music and activities throughout the training. Two hours flew by. I didn't stay in one place for more than 15 minutes in a row. And to this day, I remember most of what we learned in that session. I was hooked.
Sitting in trainings just like that throughout my career has solidified for me the value of active learning. Traditional lectures are often transactional in nature. The professor is seen as the one with the knowledge. They spend classroom time transferring that knowledge to students, who are presumed to have less, or even no knowledge of the subject matter. The only interactions are when students ask questions and the professor answers them.
Active learning is interactional. Active learning provides an opportunity for learners to engage with material in a deeper way, through interactive activities that require them to summarize, synthesize, and apply the material. Students engage with one another and with the instructor. And, in my experience, they learn more effectively.
I believe so strongly in this approach that I want every college professor, every teacher, every trainer, and every facilitator to know about it. That’s why I launched Beyond the Lecture. For those who are new to this approach, the idea of moving away from lecturing can be intimidating. You hardly have time to finish grading assignments. How will you ever find time to learn all of these new approaches? I get it, and I’m here to help. Each week, I’ll share a new video with one active learning tool or strategy that you can use to engage your participants and transform the learning environment. All of the videos are short enough to enjoy over a cup of coffee. My hope is that you’ll walk away understanding the technique and excited to give it a try in your own classroom or training.
Education is changing. I want you to be ahead of the curve. You can deliver the highest quality learning experiences, if you’re willing to go beyond the lecture.
