What's the use of lectures?

Part 4, Alternatives when Lecturing is Inadequate, will be of interest to the many instructors who want to combine lecturing with other teaching methods. Bligh provides numerous reasons why the lecture alone is rarely an adequate teaching method when the instructor has multiple goals. Bligh discusses, in very practical and applied terms, some of the teaching methods that can be effectively used with lectures. His practical presentation even suggests room and seating arrangements to enhance various combinations of lecturing and other teaching methods. Bligh's diagrams in this section will be useful to instructors who want to incorporate techniques such as buzz groups and horseshoe groups with their lectures. Further discussions of the lecture-discussion method, case studies, short talks by students, audio tapes, controlled discussion, readings, and computer facilities in the classroom should spark many teaching ideas for instructors. What's the Use of Lectures? is a valuable updating of a popular book first published in the 1970s. The book contains an interesting combination of academic research and practical "how to" tips. Some of the more academic sections (e.g., Factors Influencing Memory) are likely to be of more interest to education and psychology faculty than to those who are looking for less analysis. However, What's the Use of Lectures? also has many valuable suggestions and tips, backed in many instances by research results, for anyone who lectures as part of their teaching. As a result, What's the Use of Lectures? may not be a book everyone reads cover to cover, but it should appeal to a wide spectrum of readers. Individuals may decide to read certain sections according to their immediate needs. For example, they may read one section when they are attempting to revitalize or improve their lectures, and others when they are wanting a brief literature review on student attention, looking for methods to motivate students, lecturing for the first time, or attempting to effectively combine lectures with other teaching methods. Faculty and graduate students may also find What's the Use of Lectures? valuable for its analysis and short literature reviews.