Details about INTERACTIVE LECTURES

What is an interactive lecture?

There are several different forms of interactive lectures (aka lecture games), but they all share these features:

It is interactive. The participants are encouraged--and sometimes even required--to talk to each other and to the presenter.
It is a lecture. It involves a presentation by the instructor.
It is active. Unlike the traditional lecture, interactive lectures require the participants to continuously process the information.
It incorporates two-way communication. The participants receive frequent feedback from one another and from the instructor.
It is adjustable. The instructor has complete control of the level of interaction among the participants.
It is effective. Information received passively is quickly forgotten. The information in an interactive lecture gets actively processed and stored for easy recall even after a long period of time.

What topics can be presented through an interactive lecture?

Just about any topic, including

Informational topics such as new-employee orientation or the future of mobile computing.
Procedural topics such as preparing a Pareto chart or writing an advertisement.
Conceptual topics such as decision-making styles or types of cross-gender interactions.
Principles such as quality management and affirmative action.
Interpersonal topics such as communicating with the opposite gender and handling customer complaints.
Affective topics such as political correctness and the national health plan.

What interactive lecture formats are included in this booklet?

FISHBOWL. You coach a participant in the middle of the room. Other participants observe and vicariously learn from the session.
IDEA MAP. The participants listen to your lecture and take notes using an idea-mapping approach. At the end of each unit, teams of participants consolidate their idea maps into a combined product.
SHOUTING MATCH. The participants are organized into positive, negative, and neutral teams. They debate a controversial issue and you present additional information and opinions.
PRESS CONFERENCE. The participants form teams, write and organize questions, and interview you in a simulated press conference.
ITEM LIST. The participants review a list of items and select a few for you to explain. They also select other items for discussion and debate.
INTERACTIVE STORY. You present a case incident in the form of a story. At critical junctures, teams of participants analyze the incident and make decisions.
QUESTIONNAIRE ANALYSIS. The participants answer a questionnaire and compute their scores. You help them interpret scores and learn about themselves and the topic.
INTELLIGENT INTERRUPTIONS. You stop your presentation at random intervals and select a participant. This participant is required to ask questions, make comments, or challenge your statements.

How many people can participate in an interactive lecture?

Any number can participate in an interactive lecture. We have used these lecture formats with groups as small as three and as large as 300.

How much time is needed to conduct an interactive lecture?

You control the amount of time you want to spend. In general, interactive lectures add from 10 to 100 percent to the time requirement of a traditional lecture. Depending on your topic and your needs, you can present an interactive lecture in as little as 10 minutes or as long as 10 hours.

How do I prepare for an interactive lecture?

Just like you would plan for a regular lecture presentation. Then you select an appropriate interactive format and apply the procedure to the content.

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