Giving a Great Lecture: Going from Fine to Fantastic

The disadvantages of the frontal lecture are many, but a good lecture can still be an effective and useful teaching activity. This chapter will give practical instruction on how to deliver a good lecture and how to transform an essentially passive experience into an active one. The importance of the lecturer’s personal style will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the use of visual aids and the preparation of a good PowerPoint presentation. The use of digital technology in large-group education will be reviewed, and several examples of usable, effective web-based technology will be given. Finally, the assessment of the lecturer’s performance will be discussed.