Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/3045
Title: What makes lectures ‘unmissable‘? Insights into teaching excellence and active learning
Authors: Revell, A
Wainwright, E
Keywords: Active learning, teaching excellence, geography
Issue Date: 2009
Abstract: This research explores ‘teaching excellence’ by examining the perceptions of geography academics and students at Brunel University as to what makes a lecture ‘unmissable’. The findings from 10 interviews with lecturers and 5 focus groups with undergraduate students suggest that whilst there is probably no such thing as an unmissable lecture, attendance rates are significantly enhanced by 3 key factors: i) a high degree of participation and interactivity (‘active learning’), ii) a clear structure which enables integrative links to be more easily made, and iii) a passionate, enthusiastic lecturer, who can bring a subject to life for students. As research has shown that a high degree of interactivity encourages deeper approaches to learning, the paper argues that a move away from conventional lecturing towards more applied methods and small group teaching may be a way of improving teaching excellence. Yet as large group lectures are unlikely to be replaced anytime soon, making them as participative as possible is one way to ensure that higher cognitive functions are at least partially acquired.
URI: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/3045
Appears in Collections:Human Geography
Dept of Education Research Papers

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
JGHE25_016 Final draft.pdf163.7 kBAdobe PDFView/Open


Items in BURA are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.