Lectures & Seminars

This section does not pretend to be a full guide to the giving of lectures and the leading of seminars. Really it is more of a list of reminders useful to lecturers for obvious reasons, but also useful to students so as to know what to expect.

THE INTRODUCTION TO A LECTURE SERIES OR SEMINAR:

The Introduction to a lecture series naturally needs to give an overview of the series as a whole.

It needs to state clearly what the educational objectives are; it needs to outline the course-work and exam-requirements, as well as explain the series in relation to the other disciplines within the overall curriculum. These things need to be repeated throughout the series.

Students need to know why they are following this course, how it will relate to the rest of their curricular demands and how they will be able to use the skills acquired in their professional life.

The first hour of the introductory talk should be devoted to explaining the program:

· Present the overall theme of the course

· Give the educational purpose of the course

· Explain the part the course plays within the degree program as a whole and how it integrates with the other courses

· Explain the relevance of the course to the profession

· Outline the coursework and/or exam requirements

· Ask listeners to think of issues they may want included in the series

· Lay down expectations concerning the taking of notes, plagiarism, attendance and punctuality

A FORMAT FOR LECTURES

Introduction:

· Presentation of theme. It is always helpful to repeat the theme several times throughout the lecture.

· Give a contextual history of the theme

· Explain the leading ideas

Body:

· Relate the theme to specific examples.

· Focus on one or two examples in some depth.

· Provide a brief preview of the subject to be discussed in depth in the tutorial.

· Show other examples which contrast or provide further evidence of the argument put forward.

· Explain how the examples discussed provide physical evidence of the theme of the lecture.

· Focus on relation between values and form.

End:

· Allow time for questions and discussion

· Rehearse “What we have learnt”

· presentation the theme and the reading suggestions for the next session.

The end of the course:
Allow time for at least two revision lectures which summarise the course as a whole.