Part 6: PLANNING A LECTURE | How to Lecture in Higher Education

Virtually all planning should start with the course curricula and lesson plans. Study the planned learning outcomes, i.e., what the students should know and be able to do after the course. Then, design the lessons so that you help the students obtain that goal.
A lesson plan could include the following as an example:
• The name of the department and the course and your name.
• The overall goal for the lesson and the specific learning outcome for the lesson.
• Requirements for this particular lesson, e.g., the students should have read chapters in the course literature, watched a specific video, any equipment needed, et cetera.
• Your teaching content, e.g., notes, presentation slides, and other assets.
• Ending remarks, call-to-action, instructions for further study, or assignments.
Write your lesson plan so that it can be used by a colleague if need be. That way, you ensure everything is clear and easy to follow, not just something that makes sense to you.
Preparing presentation slides:
Before working on the presentation slides, I often start by writing a manuscript. I use a common language, address the students, and explain and discuss the topic. I know from experience that the average attention span for my students is approximately 20 minutes. Given that, I design the presentation so that each sub-topic is of that length.
Another thing that I try to do is to make the presentation dynamic. For example, I prepare questions or plan for a Q and A after each sub-topic. I can also show some digital assets related to the topic, such as websites, videos, or similar. The overall idea is that I should vary the lecture's pace and format.
This manuscript is later converted into a PDF file, including links to any digital asset. I share it with the students. There's a lot of work to prepare, but it's worth it. I strive to prepare as much as possible a week before class in the best of worlds. However, I must admit that I sometimes finish everything just the day before.
Example of an outline for a one-hour lecture:
These are just some examples. You need to adjust it so that it fits with your lesson.
The introduction (2-3 minutes)
• If needed, start by reviewing, for example, the previous class, an assignment, etc.
• Describe the lesson's main topic and the main headings.
The main presentation (approximately 45 minutes)
• As I said, the manuscript forms the basis for my presentation slides.
• The slides are divided into 20-minute sub-topics.
Each with short introductions and conclusions.
• I like starting the presentation and some sub-sections with a short story or fact. An example could be that I've had problems understanding an academic theory or concept. Or that I'm happy or sad over something. My overall idea is, of course, to catch their attention.
• To vary the pace, I use questions and digital assets when appropriate.
The conclusion (2-3 minutes)
• I repeat the main points.
• Generally, I try to emphasize the take-home message, for example, a specific problem, a benefit, or something relevant to the lesson's planned learning outcome.
• Based on the presentation they've been listening to, I try to give them a call to action. For example, a question I want my students to reflect on or an effort I want them to make after this lesson, for example, to visit a website or to read something.
• If applicable, a short talk about the next class, e.g., regarding readings or assignments.
As you can see, my classes aren't unique in any way. It's just the standard instructional design for a lecture in higher education.