Preparing a lecture from your research

Aims of the session

To reflect on the challenges and opportunities presented by the lecture format;

To consider how to turn your research project into an inaugural lecture/a lecture for a popular audience;

To consider how/what your research might qualify you to teach.

Challenges and opportunities presented by the lecture format

The challenges:

1. Clarifying the focus

2. Structuring your talk

3. Keeping the audience’s attention

4. Physical and technical hitches

Challenge 1: Clarifying the focus

Stick to one main message, or two sides of one argument

Who are your audience? Which aspect(s) of your work are likely to

engage non-specialists? What is your original contribution to knowledge? What are the practical implications of your work?

Challenge 2: Structuring your talk

The start:

Tell them what you are going to tell them Remember how much they may need

simple explanation Give them a reason to listen

Challenge 2: Structuring your talk

The structure: Title Introduction Main body (most interesting point; second

most interesting point; third most…etc) Conclusion or recap.

Challenge 2: Structuring your talk

In short: Tell them what you’re going to tell them Tell them Tell them what you’ve told them.

Paired discussion

With the person sitting next to you, think of the best lecture you have attended, and discuss what made this lecture special?

Was it the message? Was it the lecturer’s delivery style? Was it visual support? How long was it?

Challenge 3: Keeping the audience’s attention Audience attention span limited Lecturer needs to make conscious effort to

regain attention Some activities possible... ...but how homogeneous is your

audience? Voice projection, poise and presence

Good voice production techniques

Gain your listeners’ attention before speaking Speak relatively slowly & articulate clearly Speak at a comfortable pitch and loudness level Use pitch change rather than loud volume for

emphasis Maintain good posture Warm up the voice prior to start

Visual aids

Powerpoint presentation – for you and them! Bullet points not statements Not too colourful Maps, diagrams, photos Videos

Are they listening?

Maintain eye contact Look at the whole audience Diagnose problems

Challenge 4: Physical and technical hitches Familiarise yourself with the space Check the equipment Have a back up anyway; and print your

powerpoint Use a microphone...? Check acoustics Check visibility

Challenge 4: Keep yourself comfortable Dress appropriately and flexibly Lay out your materials carefully Keep water at hand Eat appropriately beforehand Have a strategy in case you panic... Work out your timings in advance

Challenges and opportunities presented by the lecture format

The opportunities: Practice makes perfect Raise your academic profile Obtain feedback on your work Make a difference through your research Enhance your employability

Turning your research project into an inaugural/popular lecture Communicate one key message Focus on an aspect of your work likely to

engage non-specialists as well as specialists in your field

Be clear in showing what is unique and original about your work

Show the practical implications of it in a real-life context

Preparing a lecture from your research: step 1 (individual reflection) 5 minutes1. Try to identify one key message you would want to

communicate about your research.2. Which aspect(s) of your work would be most likely to

engage a non-specialist public? Try to identify up to 3 key points of interest and put them in order of most interesting, second most interesting, third most interesting (from the audience’s point of view).

3. What is original about your work?4. What are the practical implications of your work?

Preparing a lecture from your research: step 2 (paired discussion) 10 minutes

In pairs, explain your research to your partner and discuss what they think you should present in a lecture

Preparing a lecture from your research: step 3 (group discussion) 15 minutesJoin another pair to make a group of 4.

Describe to the rest of the group the basis of your partner’s lecture. In each case, suggest questions you might want the answers to. The person who owns the lecture should note these and use them to inform planning later. What needs to change about your original plan?

Teaching

What are you being asked to do? Can you do it? How much prepared material is available? What will students cover in preceding and subsequent

lectures? Powerpoint presentations may not be the best handout

Conduct a short recap quiz at the end... ...or maybe at the beginning?

Summary of session

Considered some of the challenges associated with giving a lecture & how to overcome them;

Acknowledged the benefits of communicating your research;

Reflected on which aspects of your research lend themselves to a lecture;

Considered how to find and prepare for opportunities for teaching based on your research.