What's the Use of Lectures?
First U.S. Edition of the Classic Work on Lecturing
1st Edition
Published on 2. February 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
368 pages
978-0-7879-5162-7 (ISBN)
Description
"A comprehensive guide to the uses and possible abuses of thelecture method. Supported by copious research, Bligh offers awealth of practical suggestions for making lectures more engagingand effective. Written in an accessible and helpful style, What'sthe Use of Lectures? should be required reading for all collegeteachers who use this method."
--Stephen Brookfield, Distinguished Professor, University of St.Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota
"A rewarding read for anyone who lectures--experienced or not. Iwish we had a book this engaging and this informative on everyelement of the teaching art."
--Michele Marincovich, assistant vice provost and director, Centerfor Teaching and Learning, Stanford University
"A source of great insight for people who teach.... Bligh has spentmore time and energy than anyone else in coming to terms with atask that bothers many teachers and trainers.... His research isimpeccable and his conclusions are immensely practical. The newedition will be much welcomed."
--Alex Main, founding coordinator of Academic Staff Development forthe British Universities, Murdoch University, Australia
In this first American edition of a best-selling classic, DonaldBligh draws from decades of research and hands-on experience tohelp college and university teachers develop and use lectureseffectively. What's the Use of Lectures? is an indispensable guidefor anyone who aspires to be a skilled lecturer and teacher. Itexamines the nature of teaching and learning in a classroomlecture--describing how students learn, how much knowledge theyretain, and how to enhance their attention and motivation. Blighbuilds on this information to share strategies for creatingorganized, thoughtful, and effective lectures. Topics includetaking notes, using handouts, practicing different formats andstyles, obtaining feedback, overcoming difficulties, evaluating thelecture, and testing alternative methods when lecturing is notadequate. Also included are tables and diagrams to illustratedifferent approaches to lecturing.
--Stephen Brookfield, Distinguished Professor, University of St.Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota
"A rewarding read for anyone who lectures--experienced or not. Iwish we had a book this engaging and this informative on everyelement of the teaching art."
--Michele Marincovich, assistant vice provost and director, Centerfor Teaching and Learning, Stanford University
"A source of great insight for people who teach.... Bligh has spentmore time and energy than anyone else in coming to terms with atask that bothers many teachers and trainers.... His research isimpeccable and his conclusions are immensely practical. The newedition will be much welcomed."
--Alex Main, founding coordinator of Academic Staff Development forthe British Universities, Murdoch University, Australia
In this first American edition of a best-selling classic, DonaldBligh draws from decades of research and hands-on experience tohelp college and university teachers develop and use lectureseffectively. What's the Use of Lectures? is an indispensable guidefor anyone who aspires to be a skilled lecturer and teacher. Itexamines the nature of teaching and learning in a classroomlecture--describing how students learn, how much knowledge theyretain, and how to enhance their attention and motivation. Blighbuilds on this information to share strategies for creatingorganized, thoughtful, and effective lectures. Topics includetaking notes, using handouts, practicing different formats andstyles, obtaining feedback, overcoming difficulties, evaluating thelecture, and testing alternative methods when lecturing is notadequate. Also included are tables and diagrams to illustratedifferent approaches to lecturing.
Reviews / Votes
"This book has a wealth of information and ideas..." (Exchanges, 7/19/02)"In this long awaited American edition of his classic What's theUse of Lectures?, Donald Bligh provides a comprehensive guide tothe uses and possible abuses of the lecture method. Supported bycopious research, Bligh offers a wealth of practical suggestionsfor making lectures more engaging and effective. Written in anaccessible and helpful style, What's the Use of Lectures? should berequired reading for all college teachers who use this method."--Stephen Brookfield, Distinguished Professor, University ofSt. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota"Bligh combines decades of experience as a faculty developer andin-depth knowledge of the research literature to create arefreshing review of the advantages and disadvantages of lecturesand a practical guide to making lectures more effective forstudents. This is a rewarding read for anyone wholectures--experienced or not. I wish we had a book this engagingand this informative on every element of the teaching art."--Michele Marincovich, assistant vice provost and director,Center for Teaching and Learning, Stanford University
"What's the Use of Lectures? continues to be one of the bestsources for new lecturers (as well as old) who want their lectureclasses to contribute maximally to student learning." --W. J.McKeachie, professor emeritus, Department of Psychology, andresearch scientist emeritus, Center for Research on Learning andTeaching, University of Michigan
"This very readable book will be a source of great insight forpeople who teach. Donald Bligh has spent more time and energy thananyone else in coming to terms with a task that bothers manyteachers and trainers. He offers a well-structured perspective onone of the core activities in higher education. His research isimpeccable and his conclusions are immensely practical. The newedition will be much welcomed." --Alex Main, foundingcoordinator of Academic Staff Development for the BritishUniversities, Murdoch University, Australia
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 191 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
690 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7879-5162-7 (9780787951627)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Donald Bligh
What's the Use of Lectures?
Book
04/2002
6th Edition
Intellect Books
€50.94
Article not available
Previous edition
Donald Bligh
What is the Use of Lectures?
Book
05/1998
Intellect Books
€57.20
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
DONALD A. BLIGH was a pioneer in university staff development when he joined London University's Teaching Methods Unit. It was there, in 1971, that he wrote the best-selling What's the Use of Lectures? He was later elected as Chair of the Society for Research into Higher Education. He was the first professor and director of continuing education at the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom and is now honorary research fellow in computer science at Exeter University.
Content
Preface to the American Edition xi
The Author xix
Part One: what Objectives cab Lectures Achieve?
1 Evidence of what Lectures Achieve 3
Part Two: What Factors Affect the Acquisition of Information?
2 Factors Influencing Memory 23
3 Factors Affecting Students' Attention 44
4 Motivating Students 57
Part Three: What Lecture Techniques Apply These Factors Most Effectively?
5 Lecture Organization 69
6 Making a Point 89
7 Reasons and Explanations 103
8 Aids to Comprehending a Point 114
9 Note Taking in Lectures 129
10 The Purpose, Preparation, and Use the Handouts 148
11 Lecture Styles 163
12 Ways of Obtaining Feedback 173
13 Evaluation of Lectures 184
14 Overcoming Common Difficulties 214
15 Lectures for the Promotion of Thought 232
16 Lectures to Teach Attitudes 239
Part Four: Alternatives When Lecturing is Inadequate
17 The Lecture Method Alone is Rarely Adequate 251
18 Teaching Methods to use with Lectures 260
19 Some Combinations of Teaching Methods 282
Part Five: Preparation for the use of Lectures
20 Thinking the Lecture Through 291
21 Writing the Notes 297
22 Lecturing for the First Time 303
23 Conclusion 306
References and Bibliography 309
Name Index 335
Subject Index 341
The Author xix
Part One: what Objectives cab Lectures Achieve?
1 Evidence of what Lectures Achieve 3
Part Two: What Factors Affect the Acquisition of Information?
2 Factors Influencing Memory 23
3 Factors Affecting Students' Attention 44
4 Motivating Students 57
Part Three: What Lecture Techniques Apply These Factors Most Effectively?
5 Lecture Organization 69
6 Making a Point 89
7 Reasons and Explanations 103
8 Aids to Comprehending a Point 114
9 Note Taking in Lectures 129
10 The Purpose, Preparation, and Use the Handouts 148
11 Lecture Styles 163
12 Ways of Obtaining Feedback 173
13 Evaluation of Lectures 184
14 Overcoming Common Difficulties 214
15 Lectures for the Promotion of Thought 232
16 Lectures to Teach Attitudes 239
Part Four: Alternatives When Lecturing is Inadequate
17 The Lecture Method Alone is Rarely Adequate 251
18 Teaching Methods to use with Lectures 260
19 Some Combinations of Teaching Methods 282
Part Five: Preparation for the use of Lectures
20 Thinking the Lecture Through 291
21 Writing the Notes 297
22 Lecturing for the First Time 303
23 Conclusion 306
References and Bibliography 309
Name Index 335
Subject Index 341