What makes a lecture interesting

Introduce low-stakes polls, quizzes and surveys. A simple way to check understanding of a topic is to intersperse your lecture with interactive questions. These can act to check on knowledge retention and understanding during a lecture, encourage greater participation and debate by students, and generally energise the whole room. A show of hands is always an option, but may not elicit an honest response from all.

Tools include:. Using these tools, students can respond anonymously and immediately compare themselves with the rest of the group. The results may be unexpected for the teacher or students, thereby offering scope for discussion between the group.

Research from Perry Samson at the University of Michigan suggests that responses may also be a useful indicator of likely success in exams, highlighting the value of early, low stakes, testing on whole student cohorts.

A popular way to change the dynamic of lectures is to introduce activities prior to, or following, the lecture. None of this is entirely new to most teachers, but using integrated solutions, such as active learning in Echo , videos, presentations and quizzes released before or after a lecture are available in the same location for students to use.

Similarly, all engagement data from students and quiz responses are immediately available to teachers, offering rich information to structure the lecture around. This continuum of teaching and learning, illustrated below, connects the teacher with students at every stage, and is entirely customisable for each teacher and each lecture. Include off-campus learners in the lecture. Engaging with GenerationZ learners and changing workplace demands requires a change in the teaching delivery model from Universities.

It may not be possible for all students to attend every lecture, as often they may have family or work commitments, be on placement, or are absent due to illness and should not be disadvantaged from missing a teaching session. Try splitting your class in half and asking them to present each side of an issue in a debate. Even if students don't agree with the side that they've been asked to represent, this is a great way for them to practice argumentation and critical thinking skills, as well as learning the material at hand.

It's a rare student who is capable of concentrating for the full length of a three hour lecture. Be realistic about the needs of your students and of yourself as a teacher! Some lecturers are pleased to see students constantly scribbling notes during class, as they believe it demonstrates that they are concentrating.

However, others argue that when students are merely copying down everything they are hearing, they're not really engaging critically with the material. Continue to make use of the terrific technological tools that help make your teaching more engaging. For instance, your institution may have an electronic content management system like Moodle or Blackboard where you can share materials and set up discussions for your class.

Or you could experiment using an app like Socrative to create instant polls for use during class. Either way, always try and stay abreast of ways technology could be brought into the classroom to liven things up. Your students will respond with their engagement. Include clear instructions on how to apply and provide a contact option for applicants to get in touch.

Include information about research areas, cooperation with other institutions, research facilities available, etc. Programs available at HU This combination of conveying both knowledge and skills is key to the university experience at HU.

Although there is theory included in the courses, most of the projects consist in applying the theory to brands and experiences. It is an approach that not only helps students to be creative but also to be prepared for a future job.

Jobs Professor. PhD Candidate. Mid-Level Industry Position. Junior Industry Position. Other Jobs. All Jobs. Summer Schools. Online Courses. Professional Training. Supplementary Courses. All Courses. PhD Programs. Master's Programs. Creativity can relate to activities, discussions or even just dressing up in an unexpected costume that relates to the topic.

By using spontaneous actions and engaging in creative activities, professors are more likely to keep the attention of students beyond the first minutes. Challenging material in the lecture is vital to grabbing the attention of students and maintaining it throughout the lecture.

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , students want to feel engaged and challenged in lectures and class. Professors need to engage students by providing challenging material that encourages them to attend classes, study for tests and work on projects.

While subject matter will vary, setting high standards for the class is crucial to maintaining student attention. When a classroom is not challenging, students are likely to feel bored. Instead of allowing students to succumb to boredom, teachers need to provide hard material that keeps the class engaged. Discussion in the classroom is an important part of learning. When students are able to state their opinions, ask questions and get involved in the class, they are more likely to stay engaged throughout the lecture.

A lecture does not necessarily mean that the teacher is not able to ask questions of students or encourage them to talk.

Encouraging discussion, opinions and ideas will make the classroom engaging and allow students to form their own opinions about subject matter.