Issue Home Volume 12: Issue 2

Discussion Techniques for the Lecturer
Paaige K. Turner, Ph.D
Associate Provost for Community Engagement
Graduate Director, Dept. of Communication

The truth is, I am a lecturer. I like directing the topic of conversation and ensuring that we spend an appropriate amount of time on each subject. But as a communication professor I know that all communication is interactive. That is, communication is done with people not at them. Below are some of my top tips for lecturing with my students:

• PowerPoint dictates discussion if you let it. Your class may want to talk about a topic that either you don’t have in your slides or that you haven’t gotten to yet. Rather than stopping discussion, use shortcut keys. In a slide show “B” or “W” will take the screen to black or white without losing your place. Any other key will return you to the same slide. This allows you to stop and talk about a subject that might not actually be part of the slide show without students being distracted by the material on the screen. If the discussion jumps ahead of your slide show type in the number of that slide, hit enter, and you immediately skip ahead. To return, just type the number of the slide you were on!

• Introverts can contribute, too! They just need time to think and collect their ideas. You can encourage their participation by asking students to write down their thoughts or ideas on a subject prior to discussion. Be sure to be quiet while they think and warn them as the time for writing draws to an end. Now you can call on any student and know that they will have something to contribute.

• Let everyone have a chance to contribute and listen. When you allow students to reflect prior to speaking you may get “popcorn” hands … hands popping up so students can share their thoughts is a teacher’s dream! But students who are holding up their hands aren’t paying attention to the contributions of those who are speaking. Identify students with their hands up by name and hold that number of fingers on one hand in your other hand. As each speaks, release a finger. That way students can focus on the other speakers with their hands down, and you know that you have speakers who still want to contribute.

No one likes to be talked at, but by using these and other discussion techniques, you can ensure that class time stays focused on the subject while talking with your students.

Last updated 11.24.09