Large Lectures: Active instruction and ‘creative touches’

The importance of quality instruction for students at the university level cannot be underestimated. With research identifying clear and understandable instruction as having the strongest association with student achievement, it is imperative that lecturers embrace best practice when educating sizeable groups of students. Sadly, reputable concerns about the effectiveness of large lectures in facilitating deep learning and maintaining student concentration/interest have resulted in lecturers seeking out creative ways to activise their large lectures. This chapter recognises a suite of activities and resources that can be used in an active way to engage students during large lecture taught input. The chapter then introduces the reader to the idea of ‘creative touches’, as proposed by the author, reflecting on how simple alterations and additions can effectively energise large lecture instructional materials and taught delivery.