How can we make Psychology lectures better?

Jennifer Kemp @JenniferKemp2
Prepare students for the reality that they cannot base their assumptions and practice on what is 'normal'. Diversity extends to every aspect of a person, including neurodiversity, gender, sexuality, identity, culture, and more. Help them learn to challenge their assumptions.

Dina Astuti @AnastasiaDinast
Real-life phenomena and examples from the students' cohort and context.

Dr Kaitlyn Zavaleta @dr_klzavaleta
Using accessible language and defining jargon when possible.

Dr Malcolm Clayton @malcolmclayton
Contemporary issues and research, tell stories, not facts, less PowerPoint more discussion.

Karolina Kalisz @Karolina_Kalisz
Problem-based, more rooted in applied psychology to build the bridge between theories and practice.

Lauren M Hickling @LmhicklingPsych 
Service user input!

And on BPS Member Connect Students…

Jenna Holmes
I hate recorded lectures… I have to really discipline myself to engage. Isn't university about being lectured in a theatre by individuals with the knowledge? … I spend a lot of time at my computer researching, do I really want to be sitting in front of it watching lectures? 
A change of scenery would work best for me. 

Dean Ismay, Birkbeck College, University of London
My lectures are delivered in person and then recorded for use with revision. In most cases, they are also live-streamed. Due to the nature of the university and the people attending for example, they have other commitments, as we are not 'traditional' in this sense, where most people at Birkbeck work and the ethos at the university, we should always strive to meet that balance.

I have found with having the lectures recorded is much easier to revise with, however, I wish that the closed captions were on and having attended them previously in person, it can help cement theories and knowledge and go back across a concept you may be stuck with. For someone with a disability, these do pave the way forward, without myself having additional equipment to be carried with me on campus. 

Personally, for me, Psychology needs to embrace technology, but have in-person lectures where possible but they are recorded, so students are able to re-use the content for revision and go back across any concepts… We should always be trying to improve but remain inclusive on campus.

James Phillips
I am of pretty much the same opinion as Dean, education especially graduate & postgraduate education needs to keep up with the technological advances that pervade all aspects of most students' lives. At the same time by incorporating technologies such as: audio & video recording, speech-to-text transcription, electronic whiteboards, and accessible intranets, we level the playing field for students with disabilities and make education truly accessible to all.

The problem today is the fact that a vast selection of tools was adapted or rapidly developed to allow education to continue during Covid. There is still further development necessary to advance these products & tools enabling them to achieve peak performance. In this aspect, the tools developed for disability inclusion are miles ahead of many of the delivery platforms for online education.

When looking at online delivery it is important that we don't lose the elements that make a truly memorable lecture, truly memorable. In my experience, good lecturers find ways to differentiate themselves from their colleagues and connect with their students, and this shows in both their traditional lectures and their purely online content. It is that ability to connect with the students that have a higher impact on attendance than the delivery method.

We expect to return to this topic in the October edition, so have your say via [email protected] or on Twitter