The document argues against replacing face-to-face lectures with digital lectures in three main points: 1. Pedagogically, face-to-face lectures allow for more interaction between the lecturer and students, enabling discussions, questions, and active learning. Digital lectures encourage passive consumption and remove this interactivity. 2. Culturally, prospective students and parents expect the university experience to include attending lectures as part of being a student. Removing face-to-face lectures could harm recruitment. 3. Practically, replacing lectures could make the university's key statistics look worse and increase student attrition rates if students do not engage with the digital replacements.

1. Brunel University London
“Face-to-face lectures are no longer
appropriate in the digital age”
The Case Against
Ray Kirby
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and
Civil Engineering
The Case Against 1

2. Brunel University London
The Pedagogic Case
Lectures should be based on interaction and should:
• Engage
• Inspire
• Enable discussions
• Develop confidence
Lectures can
• React to questions in real time
• Change scope and aims depending on feedback
• Encourage active learning
• Respond quickly to SSLC and other issues raised by students
17 April 2015
The Pedagogic Case 2

3. Brunel University London
The Pedagogic Case
• Digital lectures:
• Formal recordings encourage:
• Dull, regulated, formal and boring delivery
• Passive consumption by students
• Remove the ability to interact
• This is not new!
• We have had the wonders of the moving image for
many years.
• OU lectures on TV are a classic: dry, dull delivery
17 April 2015
The Pedagogic Case 3

4. Brunel University London
The Pragmatic Case
Cultural
• Prospective Students Expect to Attend Lectures
• This is what we do at “University”, it is seen as a part of
“being a student”, a shared experience
• Parents expect their children to attend lectures, this is part
of what they think they are paying for.
• This is how students are used to “learning.”
Practical
• Our Key Information Stats will look bad and harm
recruitment
• Students will not use digital forms, so attrition rates will go
up.
17 April 2015
The Pragmatic Case 4