對於大學生和中小學生來說，課堂講座是學習知識的最佳方式嗎？日益更新的科學技術正引領教育人士不斷改進並完善教學技巧，但這是否意味著講座式教學和講師授課的時代會一去不返？本集《隨身英語》探討講座式課程所面臨的挑戰。
課文內容
Vocabulary: learning 詞匯：學習
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. AYYBLOG 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?
詞匯表
nugget of knowledge 有價值的知識
method 方式，方法
at our fingertips 唾手可得的，近在咫尺的
textbook 教科書
absorb 理解，掌握（知識、想法等）
effective 有效的
peer-to-peer 同學間交流的，互相分享（知識）的
project-based 專題式的（學習模式）
collaboratively 合作地
conducive 有益的，有幫助的
stretch the mind 拓展思維
simulation 模型
concept 概念，想法
face-to-face 面對面的
academic 大學老師，學者
effectiveness 有效性
research 研究
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
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. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
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. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
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. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
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!
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