Points of View: Lectures: Can't Learn with Them, Can't Learn without Them

Abstract

Note from the EditorsPoints of View (POV) addresses issues faced by many people within the life science education community.Cell Biology Education (CBE) has launched the POV Feature to present two or more opinions published in tandem on a common topic. We consider POVs to be “Op-Ed” pieces designed to stimulate thought and dialog on significant educational issues. Each author had the opportunity to revise or add to his/her POV after reading drafts of the other's POV.In this issue, we ask the question, “What is the appropriate role of the lecture format for teaching?” Many teaching methods are used around the world, but the “tried and true” lecture format is surely the best known and probably the most common. To what extent should lectures be used and how would we know if they are effective or merely convenient? The POVs in this issue are grounded in different class settings and teaching philosophies, and yet they share a subset of common principles that are evident on careful reading. Harvey Lodish, Professor of Biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is well known for coauthoring a cell biology textbook and is the current President of the American Society for Cell Biology. Dan Klionsky is Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Michigan; in 2003 he received the National Science Foundation Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars in recognition for his high-quality research and teaching. Both authors are deeply concerned about the quality of instruction in their own classrooms as well as nationally, but they differ in many of their teaching methods. Readers are encouraged to compare the authors' perspectives and share their thoughts and reactions using the online discussion forum hosted by CBE at http://www.cellbioed.org/discussion/public/main.cfm .