Well I teach HS US History and AP Psychology. Other than lecture, I have my kids analyze primary documents (pictures, diary entries, government documents, etc.), answer questions from the textbook (but not too often!), do library research on a certain person or event, do computer research (not allowing them to use .com sites or .net sites or wikipedia.org), various projects, demonstrations in psych class, class discussions (have them read an article first then discuss it together), etc. Of course you can also show videos but I def. wouldn’t do that too often. There are tons of things you can do other than lecture! It just depends on the level you are teaching.

Well I teach first grade so I VERY rarely lecture. I use lots of hands on learning, games, manipulatives, centers and cooperative learning.

I am not a big fan of lecturing at all. In fact I cant stand it. I have found, even when I was in college, students learn better when they are actively engaged. That rarely happens with a lecture.

I have people I am teaching teach someone else. I have them research a topic and than explain it either to the large group or a small group. I have found that this method works extremely well for retaining information. The trick is making sure the entire class benefits.

I think that on the elementary and secondary level a lecture is one of the poorest methods to use, You know the statement in one ear and out the other ear. I like the development lesson.

Variation of types of lesson is also important. Consider audio-visual, directed study, skills lessons,reviews, group work and PBL in addition to others.

HANDS ON!!! We home school and the kids love the hands on stuff. We also talk about it, research it, or find some way to see it. We read classical literature and historical fiction. But the most fun is the messy stuff. I also find that when we have to talk about something to give them play dough to keep hands busy. Some times they end up trying to make a model of what we’ve talked about.

Sensory “hands-on” for ALL subjects…. call it “experiential learning”… with guided open discussions along the way….

It not only keeps the students diligently concentrating on what they are physically doing…. but each student learns the subject matter from each other while learning social skills in the classroom…

It works….

what about adult classes?