Ask a Tech Teacher

APRIL 28, 2025

Today’s students demand more than just traditional lectures and textbooks; they’re looking for an engaging, flexible, and personalized learning experience. However, many educators still rely heavily on lecture-based formats, which can lead to disengagement. Passive learning is no longer acceptable.

Hybrid Learning 139

Hybrid Learning Learning Styles Study Critical Thinking 139

Teachers Pay Teachers

JULY 16, 2025

And if you can incorporate their phones and/or electronics into the lesson, you’ll get a lot more students paying attention! Lecturing at the front of the room allows reluctant students to disengage easily, especially if they don’t understand what you’re teaching (and they’re not likely to ask questions about it).

High School 52

High School High School Beliefs Schools 52

Edsurge

JANUARY 31, 2023

Teaching is about attention — getting students to pay attention to the material, and to engage with new ideas so they can develop new skills and abilities. But getting and holding the attention of students has become more difficult since the pandemic, according to many college instructors around the country.

Attention 197

Attention Lecturing Instructors Students 197

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

Despite debate and disagreement about how to define and measure attention spans, numerous studies have put student attention spans in approximately the 10-minute range (Bradbury, 2016). Attention is a so-called gateway between information and learning and is compared to a spotlight on a large stage (Keller et al.,

Lecturing 104

Lecturing Attention Students Discussions 104

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

Despite debate and disagreement about how to define and measure attention spans, numerous studies have put student attention spans in approximately the 10-minute range (Bradbury, 2016). Attention is a so-called gateway between information and learning and is compared to a spotlight on a large stage (Keller et al.,

Lecturing 97

Lecturing Attention Students Discussions 97

Edsurge

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

York found that TeachFX listened to her very carefully, and generated a detailed feedback report on her specific teaching style. I rarely ever get feedback on my teaching style. With that feedback, Phipps brought down the ratio of teacher-to-student talk to 50:50. These observations generated by AI can take quick effect.

Feedback 218

Feedback Teachers Language Languages 218

Catlin Tucker

JUNE 18, 2023

” Challenges with Traditional Live Instruction Traditionally, educators disseminate information in real-time, relying on lectures or mini-lessons. Adopting an in-class flip format allows teachers to step away from the front of the room, giving students the reins to their learning journey.

Lecturing 433

Lecturing Knowledge Assignments Writing 433

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

It turns out that with each passing year, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to capture and hold a student’s attention and focus during my lessons. Our cognitive resources do, however, have a limit; therefore, we must always choose from the available resources that we can pay attention to.

Attention 122

Attention Students Quizzes Interdisciplinary 122

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

It turns out that with each passing year, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to capture and hold a student’s attention and focus during my lessons. Our cognitive resources do, however, have a limit; therefore, we must always choose from the available resources that we can pay attention to.

Attention 111

Attention Students Quizzes Interdisciplinary 111

Catlin Tucker

MAY 30, 2023

Often lectures or mini-lessons are provided to the whole group, presenting significant barriers for ELs who may not have the language skills or prior knowledge to access the information. The flexibility of these models allows teachers to customize instruction, adapt to students’ individual needs, and maximize learning outcomes.

English 274

English Blended Learning Language Languages 274

Edsurge

OCTOBER 17, 2023

In fact he had been pursuing research to improve physics teaching for years, as a parallel area of work that people hadn’t paid much attention to. You’ve famously compared lecturing to bloodletting. This was my soundbite, but it was effective, that lectures are the pedagogical equivalent to bloodletting.

Teaching 202

Teaching Lecturing Evaluation Teaching Evaluations 202

Edsurge

OCTOBER 26, 2021

He’s even written a book about an approach called “ Flipped Learning ,” where professors ask students to watch lecture videos before they come to class so that class time can focus more on experiences and other forms of learning. But [I expected] that the feedback loop isn't there. What did you expect the answer to be going in?

Teaching 189

Teaching Attention Feedback Lecturing 189

Edsurge

JUNE 6, 2024

The new model can also accept not just text, but spoken voice inputs and visual inputs , so that users can do things like share a still photo or image of their screen with the chatbot to get feedback. New AI tools can make audio recordings of lectures and automatically create summaries and flashcards of the material.

Lecturing 216

Lecturing Education Assignments Syllabus 216

Edsurge

APRIL 12, 2018

Lecture + Digital Formative Assessment I recently attended a local conference and the keynote was delivered by Aaron Polansky , superintendent from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester, Mass. Within his talk he exclaimed, “Lectures are only terrible if you are a terrible lecturer!”

Essay 167

Essay Teaching Lecturing Coaching 167

Edsurge

OCTOBER 19, 2016

Most MOOCs, despite the claims of innovation and disruption, consisted of video lectures and text-based assignments. Thus, the impression that most people have of online education is an attempt to create an online lecture. But there are powerful and exciting alternative.

Technology 156

Technology Lecturing Instructors Beliefs 156

Edsurge

JUNE 19, 2018

In other words, students aren’t just passively watching videos—they’re doing projects, and they get instant feedback from the software. Laurie Santos, a professor of psychology at Yale, recorded lectures for her Science of Well-Being MOOC in her home. Self-help courses might be one viable competitor. “I

Teaching 167

Teaching Lecturing Instructors Quizzes 167

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

In lecture-based classes, combine lecturing with interactive activities such as Q&A sessions, pair/group work (two to four students) to go over muddy questions, summarize key points, or draw an infographic to demonstrate understanding of what was just covered in smaller segments throughout the class.

Motivation 126

Motivation Instructors Lecturing Feedback 126

Ask a Tech Teacher

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

Artificial Intelligence–AI–has been around a long time, but caught everyone’s attention with the launch of generative AI, ChatGPT, and DALL-E. This saves teachers time, while giving students quicker feedback. AI tutors provide feedback and encouragement that can motivate students.

Education 183

Education Essay Critical Thinking Intelligence 183

Edsurge

JUNE 12, 2020

Attention feels more frayed and fragile during live video lessons for all of us. That’s especially true for our learners who experience challenges to sustained attention when in the physical classroom. is Executive Director and Chief Scientist at EdTogether and an Adjunct Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Accessibility 218

Accessibility Distance Learning Learning Students 218

Edsurge

MARCH 6, 2019

David Peña-Guzman starts off his Friday class at San Francisco State University like any other professor might: students file in and pull out their note-taking materials, and he opens his laptop to begin lecture. For most of the course, there’s no lecture happening at all. For starters, it’s long. and wraps up at 2:30 p.m.

Reading 163

Reading Teaching Lecturing Syllabus 163

eSchool News

NOVEMBER 9, 2015

A free online course from Rice University uses attention-grabbing videos, interactive lab activities, dramatic physics demonstrations, engaging instructors and a free online textbook to help high school students prepare for the Advanced Placement (AP) Physics 1 Exam. MOOC uses new AP Physics curriculum, could aid both students and teachers.

Exams 161

Exams Lecturing Textbooks Instructors 161

Edsurge

JANUARY 26, 2018

MOOCs are just digital versions of the much maligned large group lecture, virtual flashcards are simply another tool for useless rote memorization, and online textbooks are just one more problematically unidirectional method of transmitting information without cultivating learning.

Textbooks 146

Textbooks Evaluation Feedback Language 146

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

In lecture-based classes, combine lecturing with interactive activities such as Q&A sessions, pair/group work (two to four students) to go over muddy questions, summarize key points, or draw an infographic to demonstrate understanding of what was just covered in smaller segments throughout the class.

Motivation 111

Motivation Instructors Lecturing Feedback 111

eSchool News

APRIL 5, 2024

Interactive Lectures: Instead of passive listening, interactive lectures involve activities such as quizzes, polls, or small group discussions interspersed throughout the lecture to keep students engaged and reinforce key concepts. This encourages active participation and helps students stay focused and attentive.

Active Learning 137

Active Learning Activities Critical Thinking Quizzes 137

Edsurge

MARCH 11, 2019

In this system, students choose from a menu of content delivery options (textbook, downloadable study guides, lectures) and interaction options (in-person or online). Creating modules, one step at a time In 2002, Robertson began to “chunk” his long lectures into short videos, each focusing on a specific topic.

Curriculum 154

Curriculum Hybrid Courses Lecturing Gamification 154

eSchool News

JANUARY 1, 2021

Additional attention needs to be given to all types of learners by addressing various learning modalities, intervention paths, and students with Individual Education Plans through technology that is customizable, integrated, and aligned to state standards. Daniel Quant, Vice President of Strategic Development, MultiTech.

Distance Learning 362

Distance Learning Hybrid Learning Accessibility Culture 362

eSchool News

APRIL 1, 2025

Interactive technologies and multimedia tools now replace traditional textbooks and lectures, creating more dynamic and engaging learning environments. Modern students require interactive and stimulating content to sustain their attention and deepen their learning.

Teaching Methods 167

Teaching Methods Interactive Learning Assignments Participation 167

Faculty Focus

JULY 13, 2023

Lecturing has long been the primary method of conveying information to groups of students. But the monotonous presentation of information and lengthy one-way communication in didactic lecture lacks student engagement and makes students passive listeners in their learning process.

Lecturing 97

Lecturing Instructors Minute Papers Students 97

Faculty Focus

JULY 13, 2023

Lecturing has long been the primary method of conveying information to groups of students. But the monotonous presentation of information and lengthy one-way communication in didactic lecture lacks student engagement and makes students passive listeners in their learning process.

Lecturing 97

Lecturing Instructors Minute Papers Students 97

Edsurge

AUGUST 26, 2022

As the teacher lectures, I’m scribbling down everything that I see on the board, verbatim, in my notebook. I’m paying attention. I get this snapshot into how Derek is processing feedback and growing from it. There’s a huge whiteboard at the front of the room. I’ve done all my homework.

Math 218

Math Assignments Discussions Culture 218

Edsurge

JULY 20, 2017

Then, I test instructional concepts and product ideas by building rough prototypes that I put in front of learners to get their feedback quickly. If you’re looking for a crash course in digital education specifically, recordings from Stanford’s lecture series on Education’s Digital Future are all available for free online.

Feedback 163

Feedback Failure Lecturing Reading 163

Faculty Focus

MARCH 2, 2023

In-person: When operating in an in-person class, I often have students work individually or in partners to solve a problem based on the material covered in lecture. Then, when we reach that part of the lecture, I separate students into five to seven groups (roughly four to five students per group) using Zoom’s random breakout rooms.

Feedback 105

Feedback Teachers Assignments Lecturing 105

Edsurge

JANUARY 16, 2020

From faculty who deliver classroom lectures to copywriters who create recruitment brochures, colleges employ plenty of professional communicators. For example, ASU chatbot writers know from feedback that transfer and graduate students typically prefer Sunny to be more business-like than fun.

Intelligence 154

Intelligence Communication Writing Attention 154

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

In higher education, there has been an over-reliance on administering summative assessments and simply assigning student grades, often with minimal to no feedback provided prior to the conclusion of the course. Providing student feedback on an assessment, or any assignment, provides extensive value.

Fairness 122

Fairness Instructors Feedback Evaluation 122

Edsurge

APRIL 14, 2017

There’s an old joke that the original form of distance education is sitting in the back of a large lecture course. OnTask identifies the challenges students face and gives regular feedback in the form of a detailed automated email that’s personalized,” says Siemens, director of the LINK Research Lab at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Instructors 131

Instructors Lecturing Writing Students 131

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Most of us have the experience of registering for a workshop only to discover that it is a lecture or (worse) an advertisement for the presenter. Principle 2: A workshop is not a lecture. This means the center of attention should be on the students doing work, not on the expert talking about their expertise.

Lecturing 97

Lecturing Participation Discussions Group work 97

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Most of us have the experience of registering for a workshop only to discover that it is a lecture or (worse) an advertisement for the presenter. Principle 2: A workshop is not a lecture. This means the center of attention should be on the students doing work, not on the expert talking about their expertise.

Lecturing 95

Lecturing Participation Discussions Group work 95