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Lectures made sense before the invention of the printing press, argues Harvard physics professor Eric Mazur, but at this point in history they are far from the best way to transmit large amounts of information or to make use of face-to-face time in the classroom....</p>
<p>The basic idea is that the bulk of information consumption should be done outside the classroom and in-class time should be spent doing guided, measured, optimized peer-to-peer discussion in order to maximize retention of knowledge.
<p>I agree with this. I skipped almost all of my lecture classes last semester and still managed to do very well in all of them. Students are way better off studying the subject themselves. Professors should just administer daily quizzes or something to guide the students when they are studying themselves.</p>
<p>Some people process better with aural input (lectures) vs. visually (reading), but in general I agree. That is why DD will be applying to LACs in order to maximize discussion time. OTOH, leading effective discussions is a different skill set. Few things are more annoying than being stuck in a room with a peer who only likes to hear himself speak, has nothing of merit to contribute, wanders off topic, and in general is obnoxious. (And yes, I’ve had professors like that and put up with it because they had grading power so I just gritted my teeth.)</p>
<p>There is some truth to this. I made A’s in classes I hardly attended. I pursued my own interests within the subject and read the book on my own. I dare say that lectures can sometime inhibit learning.</p>
<p>I agree with CCsiteobsessed, but take it a step further. Some learn by lectures, some learn by reading, and others are even more hands on. I always did better in classes that had hands on/ interactive components. Even now, I do much better if I am able to perform a task or process while I am learning it rather than just learning it. I was also the type that had to outline my text books, because I think in outline form, not in paragraph form. I was a horrible history student, good at science and math.</p>
<p>Lectures are fine, but they should be used for a different purpose. The bulk of learning happens with the books. Lectures are great for bringing excitement and interaction to the material being learned.</p>
<p>I prefer to read the material before the lecture, and be able to ask specific questions while in class. Many students I know consider the lecture their prime source for information, even after they’ve bought that $100 textbook… </p>
<p>I consider myself a mixed learner, so i learn best from a combination of reading, hearing and doing. I read before and listen during lecture, then do in labs (if available).</p>
<p>It takes me 2-3 times as much time to extract material from a textbook myself than to get it from a lecture. I also find textbooks too linear and self-contained. My favorite lecturers are those who show us connections to other fields at every opportunity they get.</p>
<p>I like lectures too, much easier for me to listen than to read a bunch of boring stuff out of a textbook. Also Ive had classes where the textbook was never used or our class didn’t even follow a textbook.</p>
<p>how is this different from the british system’s tutorial? it looks like the same thing in that the students are collaborating with each other instead of being lectured. This method mentioned above is just outside of the classroom and adding the use of technology.</p>
<p>couldn’t you just do this in a smaller lecture (<5) and add a couple of iPads into the mix?</p>
<p>Different people different methods. Personally I learn more while doing both. I need to see someone work out what I just learned to fully use it.</p>
<p>Did sparkles21 just say $100 textbook?! Give me the name of your school and I am immediately putting in a transfer app haha.</p>
<p>Seriously though, I think we hit upon something that has been neglected for years, that is people learn in different forms. For instance, the book form is the dominant form of learning. Imagine how many intelligent kids suffered because they learned better other ways! We might consider the technial school kids as one of the types of this kid.</p>
<p>Did not attend one math or physics lecture my whole freshman year. To me, they are absolutely useless. Got A’s in all of them by simply reading the textbook and taking my own notes from the text.</p>
<p>So to summarize the article…discussions are better than lectures. Probably true from personal exp. because in discussions the TA gives nice practice problems for us to solve through as a group.</p>
<p>I show up to lectures most times, but I’m usually reading the news or a book. The only point in going to lectures is to listen for exam tips or homework changes.</p>