Do we need to attend lectures? 大学生是否需要听讲座式课程？

随身英语 Do we need to attend lectures? 大学生是否需要听讲座式课程？

Play audio file 对于大学生和中小学生来说，课堂讲座是学习知识的最佳方式吗？日益更新的科学技术正引领教育人士不断改进并完善教学技巧，但这是否意味着讲座式教学和讲师授课的时代会一去不返？本集《随身英语》探讨讲座式课程所面临的挑战。

课文内容 Vocabulary: learning 词汇：学习

At some point in our lives, most of us have attended a school or university lecture. These learning sessions give us some insightful nugget of knowledge or can be something we yawn through, trying to keep awake. Whatever our experience, lectures have been and still are the most common teaching method in education. But will they exist in the future?

With the growth of the internet and so much information at our fingertips, you may think there is no need to gather together at a fixed location clutching a handful of textbooks. BBC journalist Matt Pickles, says "research has shown that students remember as little as 10 per cent of their lectures just days afterwards."

Professor Carl Wieman, who campaigns against the traditional lecture, felt talking at students and expecting them to absorb knowledge was not that effective so he introduced 'active learning' that encourages problem solving in small groups. He listens to them and guides their discussions. The result has been improved exam results. Other new alternatives to the lecture have included peer-to-peer learning and project-based learning that enable students to link up and work collaboratively on projects such as building a computer game.

Sometimes the lecture room is not conducive to learning; a boring, colourless room is not necessarily an inspiring place for stretching the mind. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology two lecture rooms have been refitted to allow students to sit around small tables with screens showing animated simulations to help them visualise concepts.

But new learning methods can come at a high financial cost compared to the relatively cheap way of being taught face-to-face by an academic. The real issue according to Professor Dan Butin, founding dean of the school of education and social policy at Merrimack College in Massachusetts, is that "Academics put thousands of hours of work into their books and much less time into thinking about the effectiveness of their teaching style."  But he says "the lecture has survived because research, not teaching, determines the success of a university and its academics."

So if research quality is a measure of a university's success and money is tight, then the lecture could be here for a little longer. How does that make you feel? How would you improve your lectures?

词汇表 nugget of knowledge 有价值的知识

method 方式，方法

at our fingertips 唾手可得的，近在咫尺的

textbook 教科书

absorb 理解，掌握（知识、想法等）

effective 有效的

peer-to-peer 同学间交流的，互相分享（知识）的

project-based 专题式的（学习模式）

collaboratively 合作地

conducive 有益的，有帮助的

stretch the mind 拓展思维

simulation 模型

concept 概念，想法

face-to-face 面对面的

academic 大学老师，学者

effectiveness 有效性

research 研究

测验与练习 1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What has helped us gain access to lots of information at our fingertips?

2. How has 'active learning' improved exam results?

3. True or false: It can be hard to learn in a dull and boring room.

4. According to one expert, what is seen as a measure of success for a university?

5. Which word used in the article means making you feel enthusiastic or excited about something?

2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处 。

1. When I'm stressed, I like to ______ myself in a good book.

absorb        method         effective         research

2. The companies worked ______ to get the project finished on time and on budget.

collaboration         collaborative         collaboratively         collaborated

3. A hormone injection for men has been shown to be a safe and ______ method of contraception, according to researchers.

method         concept         effective         academic

4. The judge's said the winning team's ______ is daring and very exciting. It is not the final design but instead a brilliant indication of the team's talent and imagination.

conceptual         concepting         conception         concept

5.When I came ______ with my ex-boyfriend, I didn't know what to say so I just ran away!

face-to-face         face-on-face         peer-to-peer         face-off

答案 1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What has helped us gain access to lots of information at our fingertips?

The growth of the internet.  

2.  How has 'active learning' improved exam results?

Because students have learned more effectively through problem solving in small groups.

3. True or false: It can be hard to learn in a dull and boring room.

True. The article says a boring, colourless room is not necessarily an inspiring place for stretching the mind.

4. According to one expert, what is seen as a measure of success for a university?

The quality of its research is seen as a measure. Prof. Dan Butin says "the lecture has survived because research, not teaching,     determines the success of a university and its academics."

5.  Which word used in the article means making you feel enthusiastic or excited about something?

Inspiring.

2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处 。

1. When I'm stressed, I like to absorb myself in a good book.

2. The companies worked collaboratively to get the project finished on time and on budget.

3. A hormone injection for men has been shown to be a safe and effective method of contraception, according to researchers.

4. The judge's said the winning team's concept is daring and very exciting. It is not the final design but instead a brilliant indication of the team's talent and imagination.

5. When I came face-to-face with my ex-boyfriend, I didn't know what to say so I just ran away!