I’ve gotten back into the swing of things in the classroom. I have figured out how much material I can cover in an hour and a half. I’ve got a better handle on the students, so I think I’m targeting the material at the right level. I intersperse lecture with discussion playing devil’s advocate to force the kids to think. I walk around the room and dashing down rough notes on the black board. I’ve never used power point in the classroom, because the other universities weren’t wired for it at that time.

I’ve always been against detailed powerpoint lectures in the classroom. Students lose the ability to take notes on their own; they no longer know how to pick out what’s important in class discussion. Students become transcribers rather than participants in a classroom. Tests become about regurgitation. Students don’t bother doing the readings. Professors get glued to a projector and stop walking around the room. Dramatic walks and perching oneself on top of a desk is useful for keeping sleepy students awake. Students also keep their eyes on the screen and not the professor. Um, large ego here.

On the other hand, I can tell the students really want me to give them neat notes. My scribbles on the board make them nervous. It might be easier for me, too. All that posing and notes on the board can be exhausting. Thoughts?