Methods of Teaching Economics Lecture 1

General Strategies Do not read your notes Do not read your notes –Very mechanical; students know Prepare yourself mentally for class Prepare yourself mentally for class –Come early and prepare your thoughts, listen to relaxing music, etc.

Opening a Lecture Avoid a “cold start” Avoid a “cold start” –Talk to students informally before class, etc. –Helps keep the voice (tone) conversational Minimize nervousness Minimize nervousness –Nervousness is normal –Use relaxing techniques to keep your mind calm –As you get experience, this goes away

Opening a Lecture Grab students’ attention Grab students’ attention –Provocative question –Startling statement –Unusual analogy –Striking example –Personal anecdote –Dramatic contrast –Powerful quote –Short questionnaire –Demonstration

An Example The world is full of contradictions! The world is full of contradictions! Mikhail Gorbachev is still a communist. Mikhail Gorbachev is still a communist. Why does he live in California? Why does he live in California? Isn’t the U.S.A. a symbol of capitalism? Isn’t the U.S.A. a symbol of capitalism? Does he have an agenda? Does he have an agenda?

Opening a Lecture Vary your opening! Vary your opening! –Prevents the opening from becoming stale! List the Objectives for the course List the Objectives for the course –Lets students know what you are planning Establish rapport with your students Establish rapport with your students –Warmth and rapport has positive affect on students

Capturing Students’ Interest Keep an eye on students Keep an eye on students –Do the students look confuse? Try another example Try another example –Are you boring your students Maintain eye contact Maintain eye contact –Students know you are paying attention to them –But don’t stare for long periods of time!

Capturing Students’ Interest Vary your lectures Vary your lectures –Students need to pay attention to learn –Students lose attention about 10 minutes of listening –Ask questions –Play the devil’s advocate Look at the other side of the issue Look at the other side of the issue –Use visual aids Slides, graphs, charts, video, etc. Slides, graphs, charts, video, etc.

Capturing Students’ Interest Explicitly organize your lectures Explicitly organize your lectures –Use an outline –The form of this lecture –Students can easily catch up, if their attention wanes

Capturing Students’ Interest Be enthusiastic about the material Be enthusiastic about the material Use facial expressions Use facial expressions –Students know if you are bored or do not like your subject –If you are bored with the subject, then why should students be excited about it? –I had several very boring professors

Capturing Students’ Interest Be conversational Be conversational –Use informal language Colorful language, expressive adjective, use first or second person (I, we, and you) Colorful language, expressive adjective, use first or second person (I, we, and you) –Be direct –Be natural

Capturing Students’ Interest Use anecdotes Use anecdotes –Anecdote is a short story –Anecdotes help break up monotony –Students pay better attention –Can use for key points

Capturing Students’ Interest Move around the room Move around the room –Keeps students’ interest –Breaks up monotony –Can use gestures

Capturing Students’ Interest Laugh at yourself when you make a mistake Laugh at yourself when you make a mistake –Drop notes, mis-pronounce words, etc. –Helps keep students at ease

Capturing Students’ Interest Keep track of time Keep track of time If time is running out, don’t speed up the lecture to finish If time is running out, don’t speed up the lecture to finish –Most professors do this; even me!

Mastering Delivery Techniques Vary your speaking pace Vary your speaking pace –If you go too slow, then students become bored! Vary your voice Vary your voice –Pitch –Volume –Duration of words –Intonation –Intensity of your voice Lawyers do this! Lawyers do this!

Mastering Delivery Techniques Use pauses Use pauses –Used as punctuation –To mark a thought, sentence, or paragraph –Add emphasis, before or after a key idea –Take a sip of water or coffee after discussing an important idea

Mastering Delivery Techniques Avoid saying Avoid saying –"um" –"well" –"you know" –"OK" –"so" –Watch yourself on video tape –Silent pauses are more effective

Mastering Delivery Techniques Breathe normally Breathe normally –Normal breathing prevents vocal strain that affects the pitch and quality of your speech –Keep your shoulders, neck, and jaw relaxed –Keep your eyes fully open

Closing a Lecture End with a conclusion End with a conclusion –Students know the lecture had a purpose –They have closure –End with a thought provoking problem or question –Avoid “I almost forgot…”

Closing a Lecture Keep your voice strong Keep your voice strong Lift your chin up Lift your chin up Keep your eyes facing the audience. Keep your eyes facing the audience. Be sure to stay after class for a few minutes to answer students' questions. Be sure to stay after class for a few minutes to answer students' questions.

Improving Your Lectures Assess how the lecture went and which parts need improvement Assess how the lecture went and which parts need improvement Record your lecture Record your lecture Watch yourself on video tape Watch yourself on video tape –Watch for good and bad traits and mannerisms Talk to a speech consultant Talk to a speech consultant

Economics Instructors I violated most of these suggestions. The best suggestion is to pick a good professor and emulate him or her. The best suggestion is to pick a good professor and emulate him or her.