Instructors need to determine their purposes and goals for presentation of course material and then decide which of the approaches discussed in this section are most appropriate for the course content, course goals, and classroom environment. Lecturing is probably the oldest teaching method and remains the most common form of instruction to be found in United States colleges and universities, despite the fact that some research has shown that lecturing is ineffective, especially if not combined with some alternative style of teaching. As well as working to improve skills at lecturing, the instructor might also determine if the lecture approach is the best method of teaching for the achievement of the instructional goals of the class. Lecturing is very appropriate for some goals and very inappropriate for others. Strengths of the Lecture Approach 1.
Lectures can communicate the intrinsic interest of the subject matter.
The speaker can convey personal enthusiasm in a way that no book or other media can. Enthusiasm stimulates interest, and interested, stimulated people tend to learn more. Lectures in university settings can provide students with role models of scholars in action. The professor's way of approaching knowledge can be demonstrated for students to emulate. Lectures can convey material otherwise unavailable, including original research or recent developments that have not yet made it to publication.