MedEdWorld Updates highlight

MedEdWorld
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of information on key and important
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A global online medical education community contributed by leading experts from
around the world.

U P D AT E O N
LECTURES Useful resources on MedEdWorld
Dr Catherine Kennedy, AMEE Projects Officer

GLOSSARY A database of the expanding

vocabulary used in medical education

Lecture: An instruction or verbal discourse by a speaker before a large group of students.

This teaching method has historically been quite prominent in education because it is an
economic way to communicate information to large groups. However, increasing knowledge
about the group’s difficulties in maintaining concentration and absorbing extensive
information while in a passive listening mode has brought the value of lectures under
criticism. Audio-visual presentations, demonstration of patients and intermittent discussions
can help activate learners.
Reference: Wojtczak, A. (2003) Glossary of Medical Education Terms. AMEE Occasional Paper No 3. Dundee: AMEE.

The MedEdWorld Glossary can be accessed at www.mededworld.org/Glossary.aspx

TEXTBOOKS A selection of texts recommended

on MedEdWorld

Bligh, D.A. (2000) What’s the Use of Lectures? (6th Rev.Ed.) New York NY: John Wiley &
Sons.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Textbooks/What-s-the-Use-of-Lectures.aspx
A revised edition of the 1970s classic, this book examines the nature of teaching and learning in
a classroom lecture, describing how they learn, how much knowledge they retain and how to
enhance their attention and motivation.

Brown, G. and Edmunds, S. (2013)”Lectures” in Dent, J.A. and Harden, R.M.(Eds.), A

Practical Guide for Medical Teachers (4th Ed.) London: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Textbooks/A-Practical-Guide-for-Medical-Teachers-%284th-
Ed-%29.aspx
This chapter on lectures provides a useful overview of the purpose and processes of lecturing,
from the considerations to take before designing a lecture, to the evaluation of its effectiveness
at the end.

Brown, S. and Race, P. (2002) Lecturing: A Practical Guide. London: Routledge.

www.mededworld.org/Publications/Textbooks/Lecturing-A-Practical-Guide.aspx
Guides the reader through the art of good lecturing, demonstrating how lecturers are a flexible
and essential tool for enhancing learning and understanding.

www.mededworld.org www.amee.org
Exley, K. and Dennick, R. (2009) Giving a Lecture 2nd Ed. (Key Guides for Effective
Teaching in Higher Education). London: Routledge.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Textbooks/Giving-a-Lecture-2ndEd-%28Key-Guides-for-
Effective-T.aspx
Uses a multi-disciplinary approach based on educational theory to provide clear guidance on
how to give a memorable and motivational lecture. Updated to address developments such as
podcasting and e-lecturing.
Harden, R.M. and Laidlaw, J.M. (2012) Essential Skills For A Medical Teacher. Edinburgh:
Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Textbooks/Essential-Skills-for-a-Medical-Teacher-An-Introduc.
aspx
Chapter 21 in this book provides a useful overview on lectures, with key tips on how to deliver a
good lecture.
Race, P. (2013) The Lecturer’s Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Assessment, Learning and
Teaching (3rd Ed.) London: Routledge.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Textbooks/The-Lecturer-s-Toolkit-A-Practical-Guide-to-
Assess.aspx
Practical guidance on effective teaching with accessible advice and helpful tips.
JOURNAL ARTICLES A selection of key articles recommended
by the MedEdWorld Community
Brown, G. and Manogue, M. (2001) Refreshing lecturing: a guide for lecturers.
AMEE Guide No. 22. Medical Teacher, 23: 3, pp.231-244.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/Refreshing-lecturing-a-guide-for-lecturers-
AMEE-Gu.aspx
An overview on lecturing, a model of the processes of lecturing, and suggestions for
improving lectures, learning and evaluation.
Fyrenius, A., Bergdahl, B., and Silén, C. (2005) Lectures in problem-based learning – Why,
when and how? An example of interactive lecturing that stimulates meaningful learning.
Medical Teacher, 33:2, pp. e105-e112.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/Lectures-in-problem-based-learning-Why,-when-
and-h.aspx
A discussion of the lecture in the framework of theories of learning in general and the problem-
based learning tradition in particular.
Gülpinar, M.A. and Yeğen, D.C. (2005) Interactive lecturing for meaningful learning in
large groups. Medical Teacher, 27:7, pp. 590-594.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/Interactive-lecturing-for-meaningful-learning-in-l.aspx
Structured integrated interactive lectures were more meaningful for students and can assist in
the development of higher order thinking.
Harden, R.M. (2008) Death by PowerPoint – the need for a ‘fidget index’. Medical Teacher,
30:9-10, pp. 833-835.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/Death-by-PowerPoint-the-need-for-a-fidget-index.
aspx
Three approaches to making presentations using PowerPoint which should yield a more
attentive and appreciative audience.
Harden, R.M. and Crosby, J. (2000) The good teacher is more than a lecturer – the twelve
roles of the teacher. AMEE Guide 20. Medical Teacher, 22:4, 334-347.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/The-good-teacher-is-more-than-a-lecturer-the-
twelv.aspx
A useful model for examining the roles of a teacher in a curriculum and matching staff to the
different roles.
www.mededworld.org
Lochner, L. and Gijselaers, W.H. (2011) Improving lecture skills: A time efficient 10-step
pedagogical consultation method for medical teachers in healthcare professions. Medical
Teacher 33:2 pp 873-874.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/Improving-lecture-skills-A-time-efficient-10-step.
aspx
A method of improving lecturing through the use of consultants and student committees.
McLeod, P., Steinert, Y., Capek, R., Chalk, C., Brawer, J., Ruhe, V. and Barnett, B. (2013) Peer
review: An effective approach to cultivating lecturing virtuosity. Medical Teacher, 35:4,
pp. e1046-e1051.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/Peer-review-An-effective-approach-to-cultivating-l.
aspx
Explores the impact of a programme in which video-recorded lectures were critiqued by peers.
Malik, A.S. and Malik, R.H. (2012) Twelve tips for effective lecturing in a PBL curriculum.
Medical Teacher, 34:3, pp. 198-204.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/Twelve-tips-for-effective-lecturing-in-a-PBL-curri.
aspx
These tips highlight methods of preparing and delivering lectures that follow the educational
philosophy underpinning the PBL approach.
Masikunis, G., Panayiotidis, A. and Burke, L. (2009) Changing the nature of lectures using
a personal response system. Innovations in Education and Teaching International. 46: 2,
pp. 199-212.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/Changing-the-nature-of-lectures-using-a-personal-r.
aspx
Describes how using a personal response system encouraged lecturers to explore new
approaches to lecturing, including the use of video clips containing problems to which the
students were asked to respond.
Nelson, C., Hartling, L., Campbell, S. and Oswald, A.E. (2012) The effects of audience
response systems on learning outcomes in health professions education. A BEME
systematic review. BEME Guide No. 21. Medical Teacher, 34:6, pp.505.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/A-BEME-systematic-review-BEME-Guide-No-21,-
The-eff.aspx
Provides evidence to suggest the effectiveness of audience response systems in improving
learning outcomes.
Ventura, S. and Onsman, A. (2009) The use of popular movies during lectures to aid the
teaching and learning of undergraduate pharmacology. Medical Teacher 31:7, pp. 662-
664.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/The-use-of-popular-movies-during-lectures-to-
aid-t.aspx
Investigates whether the use of short movie references to pharmacology during lectures could
stimulate learning in undergraduate students.
Visioli, S., Lodi, G., Carrassi, A. and Zannini, L. (2009) The role of observational research in
improving faculty lecturing skills: A qualitative study in an Italian dental school. Medical
Teacher, 31:8, pp. e362-e369.
www.mededworld.org/Publications/Articles/The-role-of-observational-research-in-improving-
fa.aspx
Observational research on lecturing skills and the provision of feedback for faculty
development.
www.amee.org www.mededworld.org www.amee.org
RESOURCES Including reports, websites, video clips,
images and diagrams.

Resources contains over 300 images, video clips, websites and conference
presentations that may be incorporated into lectures, including:

Jesse Desjardins Video Clip (2010) “Steal this presentation!”

www.mededworld.org/Resources/Resources-Items/Steal-This-Presentation!.aspx
Hints and tips on how to put together a great PowerPoint presentation.

Grand Rounds
www.mededworld.org/Resources/Resources-Items/Grand-Rounds.aspx
An on-line open-access journal of interesting case reports that can be used in lectures and
other teaching.

LEARNING TECHNOLOGY Recommended to support teaching,

learning and assessment

BioDigital Human Platform: A Virtual 3D Body

www.mededworld.org/Learning-Technology/Equipment-Items/BioDigital-Human-Platform-
A-virtual-3D-body.aspx
Brings to life thousands of medically accurate anatomy objects and health conditions in an
interactive web-based platform.

Poll Everywhere
www.mededworld.org/Learning-Technology/Equipment-Items/Poll-Everywhere.aspx
An instant audience feedback tool for enhancing interactive lectures.

TurningPoint
www.mededworld.org/Learning-Technology/Equipment-Items/TurningPoint.aspx
A ‘clicker’ based in-class system for polling, voting and feedback.

FORUMS A space for debating a wide range of topics of

current interest to the health professions.

Lectures
www.mededworld.org/Forums/f64/Lectures.aspx
Post you queries, ideas and suggestions about lectures here for discussion
with colleagues.

You can also add your recommendations on topics to a forum for upload into
the MedEdWorld site.

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learn, connect and debate key issues in medical education. Join the MedEdWorld Community by
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www.mededworld.org

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Copies of this and other MedEdWorld Updates are located in the Resources section of MedEdWorld.
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