Open College of Ireland

I have to say my mind has been changed on this topic.  I formed the view in university in the seventies that lectures were a very poor way to deliver information and that independent learning was a more effective method.  Having worked quite a bit in facilitating live teaching online using PC based conferencing systems over the last six years, I must say that I’m a little taken aback by how much learners actually like them.    I was taught in college by excellent researchers who did not seem to be very interested in undergraduate teaching and had no training in teaching anyway.  I found the lecturers to be generally poor.   For the last few years I have been working with people who have volunteered to teach online and do so enthusiastically.  The students highly rate these live lecturres in their feedback (and particularly love having access to recordings).  So I have come around to the view that if done properly, lectures are a good way to teach.  Even better if you can get the audience involved.  This is irrespective of whether it is face-to-face or online.  And it’s not rocket science.  You don’t have to be a born presenter, it can be learned.    If you are interested in more, Adam Kotsko does a more comprehensive defence of the lecture here.