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Is any trick, a new trick? Most of what is being used today is just a variation on what was being used yesterday. The key is not to learn new tricks but to effectively modify old tricks.

We are rapidly moving in to an age where technology is impossible to ignore in any context. PowerPoint presentations are an effective way to provide lecture material to students. If one adopted just this trick though, most students would not learn much. PowerPoint is only affective when applied to tried and true teaching styles and the lecturer must still be active and break away from purely relaying on such a tool. Computers are also a great tool to provide information to students of any age (though close monitoring is required for the younger ages). Computers are interactive and add the ability to target students in ways that conventional teaching may not work.

There are many gimmicks in the teaching world, especially in the way of distraction or surprise. A sudden breakaway from relevant material may make that material more memorable since it can now be tied to something abstract. Again, if you use these tools to much they will stop working or not be as effective.

Teachers who never modify there methods will never be able to reach all their students. These teachers should not focus on constantly learning new techniques, but should focus on ways to vary what they already know. Where new technology is provided, they should actively learn how to use it, but still use what they know. One of the most affective university lecturers I have had so far did not use anything in the way of modern technology except for an overhead projector. His lessons were easily learnt due to his over the top use of gesture, quirky drawings and high levels of motivation and happiness in teaching.

New tricks or old tricks, ultimately they are the same; variation is the key to teaching.

Learn more about this author, Sage Doak.
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