Corder, Jim W. "Traditional Lectures Still Have A Place In The Classroom." Chronicle Of Higher Education 37.39 (1991): B2. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Mar. 2012.
Jim Corder's article "Traditional Lectures Still Have a Place In The Classroom" provides reasons why active teaching strategies may not be the most efficient method of teaching. Demonstrating how professors whom stick to the classic ways of teaching lectures continue to provide fundamental information and techniques appropriate for retaining knowledge.
Jim Corder is a professor of English at Texas Christian University
Experiential Learning: basically any classroom method of teaching other than lecturing
Traditional Lecture: professor reading from a book or powerpointl, not engaging the students
“lectures can show the consequences of knowledge—show what comes of knowledge, how it can be used in ways not previously seen or guessed” (Corder, 1991). Essentially Corder’s theory emphasizes the importance of the individual professor. Whether or not he or she has the ability to produce a successful learning environment depends on the style of each teacher.
“at their best, they dramatize the creation of knowledge” (Corder, 1991). The lecture in a sense demonstrates the student’s intent to learn. Listening to simple anecdotes of the professor intrigues the student allowing them to concentrate and wonder what may lie ahead in the particular class.
"the rich array of learning situation, course goals, students, and subject matter that make up a college education leaves room for the well-constructed lecture--at the right time, for the right people, and in the right place" (Corder, 1991). Traditional lectures may still allow individual students to successfully acquire knowledge. It basically depends on the students presented at the specific time and how willing they are to work with the professors teaching strategies.
This material creates an argument within my paper offering another view on the "proper" teaching methods. Creating dialogue between ideas within my research paper allows for a deeper and more intricately designed piece of work that shows apposing views on the subject. Unlike my other readings, this article pertains to the importance of the traditional lecture style compared to active or experiential learning environments.
This guy would be perfect to argue against, though he looks to me a bit too much like a "staw man." After all, he is simply asserting, with no real evidence, what I'd call the "heroic professor" theory of knowledge transmission. It's just such a romantic notion of teaching he describes, whereby a fully attuned teacher connects with the class to impart knowledge (though there is no way to measure the knowledge imparted -- he is simply describing a feeling of having imparted knowledge really).
ReplyDeleteIn any case, you should critique this guy and the views he represents. He obviously represents a very conservative mentality (consider the conservative school he teaches at), and he is simply expressing a conservative opinion that he "backs up" with no more than story and ideology. You can use him as a spokesperson for the traditional viewpoint and the logic that informs old fashioned lecture. He is certainly right that a very talented lecturer (like people who appear on TED) can impact the audience, but we also know that the majority of college professors -- whose main goal is to publish and make a name for themselves outside the classroom -- just do not devote enough time to their teaching in order to create this effect. You also have to wonder, though, how much of the effect is simple persuasion and the imparting of ideology rather than the imparting of knowledge.