When lecture is the best way to teach

There are basically three ways to teach adults:

·        Lecture

·        Fun and games

·        Question and answer

Lecture is a good method, especially in certain special circumstances.

• If you need to communicate a good deal of information quickly. Lecture can be a very efficient way of communicating.

• If there isonly one person in the room that knows the truth. Group life should not be about the pooling of ignorance. I have seen groups fish for the right answer for days when there is just one person who knows. Say it.

• In short bursts. Every lesson ought to have some lecture. In my online lessons I will often put footnotes to the teachers and say, "Preach a little on that." Every lesson ought to have a bit of the prophetic voice of someone saying, "Thus saith the Lord!"

• f the material is somewhatcomplex one voice will often make it clearer than a group of voices discussing.

• If you only have anexpert in the room for a limited amount of time. I remember hearing Dr. Curtis Vaughan speak one time in El Paso, TX. Dr. Vaughan taught me Greek in seminary and I have enormous respect for his knowledge. I remember people asking a question about a word that was completely out of context and off the top of his head he would say, "On page 1232 of Kittel, volume 4, it says. . ." Anyway, at this meeting in El Paso, he gave his presentation, then opened it up for discussion. Discussion? Dr. Curtis Vaughan is in the room. I don't want to hear us dummies speak. I want to hear Dr. Vaughan. Let him lecture till the cows come home!

From Good Questions Have Groups Talking: the book.