As the weight plummets back toward Deming's head, students gasp. Deming, unflustered, uses this teachable moment to its fullest. The ends snake onto the floor around his feet. He is lecturing about protein structure. Racusen says he often brings in a large black trash bag and sets it on the stage before the lecture begins.
Students wait expectantly to find out what's in it.
Some days they find out, and other days the bag simply serves to keep them alert and hoping, until he ends the lecture, picks up the bag, and walks out. That way, they look inspired. The well developed, professional stuff is, apparently, less interesting. By incorporating demonstrations and dramatic devices into the lecture format, we can help increase student attention, interest, understanding and learning. Building a Lecture That Works.