Podcast - How to Convey Complex Ideas?
You are welcome to listen to the podcast, which was produced by the division in collaboration with Ran Levy ("Making History"), especially for the Bar-Ilan University teaching staff.
Episode 1 - Boring
Does the responsibility for boredom lie on the shoulders of the listeners or the lecturers? And should the fear of boredom dictate the subject of the lesson? Any topic can be boring. Therefore, a suitable method must be selected in order to convey a topic in an appealing manner, through a fascinating introduction and thought provoking connections.
Episode 2 - The Audience
The process of planning a lecture should always start with the question of who the audience will be and what their expectations are. Put yourself in the shoes of the audience, get to know them and notice if there are any knowledge gaps. Then, identify characteristics in the content that may be a luring force that will evoke an emotion in them.
Episode 3 - The Goal
Defining a precise and narrow goal for the lesson is a tool that may help focus on the main ideas and prevent dispersion. Every unnecessary piece of information we introduce into the lesson is another potential obstacle that our audience will have to face.
Episode 4 - The Structure
Should a lesson structure be planned top-down or vice versa? For one, we can be certain that the structure is a conceptual road map that should not be overlooked when planning a lesson or lecture. We must make sure that each and every component is essential and serves our goal.
Episode 5 - The Conflict
We are all drawn to stories, and information that is conveyed in a narrative manner is retained in our memory for a longer time. Conflict lies at the core of every story - it stimulates our curiosity, creates tension, and keeps us attentive and alert. So how do we create good conflict?
Episode 6 - Analogies
Using analogies can be an appropriate method to convey complex ideas. They rely on the listener's prior knowledge to help clarify an idea and bridge the gaps in understanding. An analogy can add new layers of understanding or meaning and enrich the original explanation.
Episode 7 - Information Stinginess
If our goal is to convey information to the audience, why is it a good idea to keep some of the information to ourselves? It's better to withhold bits of information and reveal them at the right moment - the very moment the question "why?" pops into the listeners' heads. This is the point in which the audience is most open to receive new information which will also be more easily retained.
Episode 8 - The Jargon
Using jargon to convey a complex idea is the exact opposite of what we are trying to achieve. We shouldn't use jargon unless we are certain that our listeners understand it, and that the use of the term is an essential part of the educational content we intend to convey.
Episode 9 - Presentations
Presentations are the contemporary lecturer's most common teaching aid. They may be very useful in some instances, but in the wrong hands and at the wrong time may harm, burden and interfere. Good presentations contain little information and don't tempt the speaker to get lost in the presentation and forget about the audience.
Episode 10 - Editing
Editing is an important step in any creative process. Taking time to reflect on our project during the process helps to examine it through objective and critical eyes that are less emotionally attached. The creator must receive constructive criticism with open arms.
