Suggestion 49. Begin with a brief summary of the last meeting

IF YOU WANT TO:

• Summarize major points

• Identify what you consider most important

• Check students' understanding of a major concepts and ideas

• Provide a good transition between major topics

Beginning each class period with a brief summary of the main points covered in the last meeting and then calling for students' questions.

The advantage of summarizing and asking questions at the beginning of a class period is that, "the students are fresher and after a brief recapitulation, they are more likely to realize and acknowledge if they have any problems," as one teacher puts it. A variation on this technique is to summarize and call for questions whenever there is a major transition from one topic to another within the same lecture.

Limitations on Use of Suggestion

  Discipline:  None
Course Level:  None
 Course Size:  None
        Mode:  None

Copyright 1983 by the Regents of the University of California

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