Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session 1675

How About a Good Lecture?

Marilyn Barger, Renata Engel, Richard Gilbert FAMU-FSU/Penn State University/University of South Florida

Introduction

Innovative educational methods are of interest to new engineering educators and appear to be an important avenue for information transfer at the university level. Such methods are varied and include a broad range of instructional media from slides, videos, and filmstrips to comprehensive interactive computer-based multimedia. Despite these modern teaching tools, the lecture is not dead. In fact, it will continue to play an important role as a facilitator of information transfer between the experts and their classes.

This paper will review the characteristics of a good information transfer procedure and how the lecture meets these requirements. In addition, appropriate times when a lecture may be the optimal choice for information transfer will be suggested. With accents on potential pitfalls, the framework of a good lecture will be explored and related to three qualities: delivery, enthusiasm and content command.

Characterization of Information Transfer Techniques

One good way to characterize information transfer techniques is to say that it is a Function of its delivery, enthusiasm, and content command and may, therefore, be written as:

lnjhrmation Trans@ =, f(Delivery, Enthusiasm, Content Command).

All viable information transfer techniques will have a significant weighting factor, i.e., high level of dependency on at least one of these characteristics. The task is to recognize the degree of coupling among these variables and the information transfer technique options available, Finally, the optimal technique must be tailored to the target audience.

It is useful to review these variables in the context of specific information transfer techniques. Important qualities of delivery include clarity, pace, and stimulation. Video productions certainly have the potential of a high weighting factor associated with delivery. For example, a well-produced video will be visually stimulating with the subject matter arranged in contiguous scenes that clearly present the message at a pace that most humans will find quite acceptable.

Currently at the apex of the enthusiasm variable is the computer-based multimedia presentation. Such presentations are usually characterized by a spontaneous and often unpredictable sequence of events. The capability to juxtapose time and space coordinates with this media demands high audience involvement. As a

{tix~; 1996 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings ‘.,+,DIYH;

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Gilbert, R., & Barger, M., & Engel, R. (1996, June), How About A Good Lecture? Paper presented at 1996 Annual Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--6087