The document discusses insights on effective teaching practices from students' perspectives, highlighting the importance of lecturer characteristics such as enthusiasm, subject knowledge, and approachability. It emphasizes the role of visual aids and virtual learning environments (VLEs) in enhancing learning experiences, though student opinions on their use are mixed. Additionally, it addresses the relationship between teaching quality and student discipline, noting that a stimulating class environment can minimize disruptive behavior.

1. Understanding Good Teaching: What do students say?Jessica Guth and Edward Mowlam

2. IntroductionThe ProjectBaroness Lockwood Award for Distinguished Teaching 20103 phases: Survey, focus groups with students, focus groups with HE teachersThe PaperLecturesUse of VLEsDiscipline

3. LecturesWhat’s the use of lectures? (Donald Bligh 1971)

4. How important are...Pace of delivery: 88% (very) important2. Interaction: 60 % (very) important3. Enthusiasm: 75 % very important4. Subject knowledge: 85 % very important5. Use of appropriate visual aids: 75% (very) important

5. What are good lectures? ‘Good lectures are presented by dynamic lecturers who explain the concepts concisely & don't try to cram in too much info all at once. It's really obvious when you have a lecturer who doesn't really want to be there & doesn't seem to love their subject’

6. Good LecturersMust be Good public speakers (93%)Confident (88%)Approachable (90%)Responsive to student needs (95%)Enthusiastic and passionate (97%)

7. Good Lecturers...‘An ability to keep the lecture flowing, to answer queries but not get sidetracked unnecessarily! A good working knowledge of their subject where the lecturer can comfortably incorporate more knowledge than the basic minimum required to teach. Enthusiasm is key, as is amiability to make students feel comfortable.’

8. Visual Aids12 % didn’t think presenting main points on a PowerPoint was important but 36% said it was very importantHandouts were seen as useful with 70% rating a lecture outline as important or very important33 % had no strong feelings about the use of video

9. Visual AidsPowerPoint has slightly ruined lectures: now we have computers & PowerPoint presentations that can be sent out at the touch of a button there's no need for a lecturer to read out the notes as we already have the info. It's much more useful if they explain difficult parts, focus on explaining diagrams, examples, highlighting the key points of slides / why various bits are important etc. Pictures / diagrams are good to vary between written notes. Lists & lists aren't any help.

10. The Use of VLEs

11. The Use of VLEs‘VLE is incredibly important to my learning. It provides me much needed access to many resources and it is so accessible that research etc is available (pretty much) constantly, regardless of the time or where I am. It is also crucial to increasing the availability of information/ resources that may prove difficult to find, are limited in number or are too old to handle etc. to every student. This allows my learning to be more interactive, thorough and successful.’

12. The Use of VLEs‘I would like to say it is very important but most of my lecturers - apart from a few don't use it. It would be very useful if they could start using it more.’‘It isn't very important, because it isn't used well in my institution. It doesn't come naturally to many of the older lecturers, and honestly the more important part is the lectures themselves. More engagement with technology and using it to supplement the lectures is important, though: it can help students with disabilities a lot’.

13. The Use of VLEs‘Quizzes online take the pressure off being in an "exam room" and help me feel less stress.’‘When they have learning unit videos with examples they can really help’‘Learning shouldn't become more flashy. The worth of spending time alone at the library is undervalued.’

14. Discipline‘a well taught class is the best preventative measure you can take’ (Lang 2008)

15. Discipline87% thought there was a link between the ability to manage behaviour and good teaching80 % thought that maintaining student discipline was (very) important to creating an effective learning environmentThe comments were revealing...

16. Discipline‘Behaviour is dependent on the quality of the teaching and the atmosphere of the working environment, as well as the personalities of the students themselves. However, disruption is unlikely as the student body have a different approach to learning than, say, in school, as all are (hopefully) interested/ passionate about the subject.’Boring lectures, bored students therefore restless students

17. Discipline‘a good teacher can control discussion and lead, preventing deviation from the subject. However, this is not nearly so important at university level, where most students are mature enough to engage appropriately’.‘I think the discipline questions are out of line considering that this is a University survey.’

18. Lesson for Law TeachersKnow your subjectBe innovative but make innovation relevantBe excited about your subjectBe approachable