One of the classes I teach is, for the most part, pure lecture. Luckily, the subject matter (motorcycle mechanics) is one in which most are highly interested in. The age of the students varies from teenage to their 50’s; in addition, their mechanical aptitude and experience vary greatly. Due to their passion for motorcycles, I find generating discussions in the classroom is not a difficult process, even for those used to learning in a more traditional manner (brick and mortar with an orator). During the lectures I offer many learning platforms and opportunities for instructor-student interaction and I have developed several hands on projects that I use during the lectures. Because of the interaction I have during the lectures/labs, I am not concerned whether or not the students are be able to effectively demonstrate subject knowledge due to the kinesthetic learning and my interaction with thee class. Over the last 25 years of teaching, despite the occasionally restrictive nature of the learning environment, it is possible to engage and interact with students and I agree that it is imperative that facilitators understand how to incorporate meaningful discussion into lectures along with hands on projects.
