Despite criticism of the lecture model (aka "the sage on the stage") of education, it has endured for all of recorded history. Even in our age of “alternative learning models,” flipped classrooms, and group projects, it remains incredibly common. Consider TED Talks and YouTube videos for two examples that we all continue to enjoy. They are, generally, lectures. One could even consider a book—or any written work—to be an asynchronous lecture.
Now, I agree that sitting in a lecture will do nothing for you on its own. Some responsibility falls on the presenter, but most of it is on the student. It requires engagement on the part of the student. To have an optimal benefit from a lecture, it is useful to have some prior knowledge of the material, at least enough to have a framework to place the information in and to ask intelligent questions.
Second, being engaged in the lecture, looking for answers, looking for useful information from the lecture, and capturing that information, makes a huge difference. Yes, some presenters are better than others, but this is advice to students. Sit attentively, pen in hand, expectantly. Dare them to not give you information.
Third, reflect on the information received. Often, instructors try to stimulate this by assigning a writing assignment. But it can be just as useful—or maybe more useful—to sit with a small group of peers who also prepped for the class and were engaged in it to sit around and discuss the information.1 "Did you understand this bit?" "How could we apply that to this other thing?" "That's different from what we learned last semester. Which is right?"
These discussions cause students to interact with and internalize the information and make connections to other information. Isolated facts are just data; connected facts are knowledge. Predicting how other facts may connect is proficiency.
There is nothing wrong with lectures, per se, but the shift from education as something sought to something bought has lessened the student's perceived burden in their own education. This calls for re-calibrating our mindset. You’re not there to get a degree, a diploma, or a certification. You are there to learn truth, so you can apply truth in your world.
Sirach 14:20-27 instructs us:
Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom and who reasons intelligently.
He who reflects in his mind on her ways will also ponder her secrets.
Pursue wisdom like a hunter, and lie in wait on her paths.
He who peers through her windows will also listen at her doors;
he who encamps near her house will also fasten his tent peg to her walls;
he will pitch his tent near her, and will lodge in an excellent lodging place;
he will place his children under her shelter, and will camp under her boughs;
he will be sheltered by her from the heat, and will dwell in the midst of her glory.
Pursue wisdom like a hunter. That is not a passive activity. Picture chasing down a wild animal with a spear or stalking one with a bow. It is an active, focused activity. No one bags a deer while half paying attention and playing Candy Crush on their phone. Learning can be hard work. It takes effort, persistence, and discipline.
Students are the only constant in their own education. Teachers and peers all change over the course of a program of study. Therefore, students need to know how to direct their own learning and use whatever is presented as best they can to learn from (or in spite of) their instructors.
The "I hope this is an easy class" attitude is the death of learning. Students should walk into a classroom prepared to drain every bit of knowledge they can from the instructor. “This class is a waste of time,” may be a valid criticism, but it doesn’t let you off the hook if you want that information. Go find it yourself.
Students following my advice may not fix the mess that is higher education in the United States, at least not immediately. But small bands of students taking their learning seriously, and eventually taking their profession seriously—some of which might be teaching—will have an impact over the long haul.
Grace & peace,
Chris
This part is important. Sitting around pooling your ignorance doesn’t help. Letting people freeload off of your work isn’t a good strategy, either.