The following excerpt on using demonstrations and dramatic devices in large classes, is provided by Elisa Carbone, of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Maryland at College Park. In a large class it's easy for students to become passive. They take notes. Any teaching technique that can increase student interest and involvement can increase retention and learning. Demonstrations and dramatic devices can do just that.
Demonstrations help students draw connections between abstract ideas and concrete phenomena.
Demonstrations also serve to interrupt the lecture. In a large lecture hall, of course, passing around a moon rock or inviting students up to view white blood cells under the microscope is not going to work. The actors continue, with brand new accents and new ways of walking and relating. Greeley interrupts again several times with questions. When the reader's theater has finished, Greeley engages the class in a lively discussion, moving among the students, shooting out questions and pointing at answers.