NFS Sourcebook

Table of Contents

Teachers and Students
A sourcebook for UT- Austin faculty
Center for Teaching Effectiveness
University of Texas at Austin

What Else Can I Do Besides Lecture?

Marilla D. Svinicki, Ph.D.
Center for Teaching Effectiveness
The University of Texas at Austin

Many instructors are interested in exploring new instructional methods to break up the monotony of a semester worth of lectures, but they don't have a lot of alternatives from which to choose. The chart below shows some possibilities you might consider, depending on the objective of the instruction.

The five categories (direct, semi-direct, indirect and self-directed individual and group) reflect the allocation of control during learning from instructor to student control. Direct methods are best for information delivery, inspiration or illustration. Some of the self-directed methods are good for the learning of basic information. As the learning tasks become more analytical and complex, the focus shifts to active student participation which is the hallmark of indirect methods. The same is true for those situations where the goal is to explore student attitudes.

As you peruse these lists, you may see something which is unfamiliar or about which you would like to learn more. If so, please feel free to give us a call at the Center.

Some Alternative Methods

Direct	Semi-Direct	Indirect
Primary activity is the delivery of information	Primary activity is to deliver information and provide group practice.	Primary activity is for learners to generate information or ideas and practice.
Examples	Examples	Examples
lectures panels debates films videotapes slide shows demonstrations	listening teams student forums demonstration/performance case studies critical incidents reaction panels simulation/roleplays/in-basket exercises	fishbowls discussion buzz groups trigger films bull sessions games

Self-Directed Individual	Self-Directed Group
Primary activity is student working alone with materials.	Primary activity is student working together with materials.
Examples	Examples
computer-assisted instruction computer simulations self-study, PSI competency-based plans (contracting) auto-tutorial slide/tapes videotapes	inquiry groups problem-solving groups team effectiveness groups team member teaching groups performance judging groups clarifying attitudes groups

Back to Table of Contents