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PROF. T. BERE AND MRS. D. MUSIYANDAKAJANUARY 25 , 2012

FOR

ACADEMY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Preparing Handouts

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What is a Handout?

A document that serves as an addendum to lectures used for student

Preparation

Comprehension

Revision

NB: Not a Substitute for Lectures

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Purpose of Handouts

Mature Student As a template to use during lectures. Few notes required during

lectures

Traditional (conventional) student As a template to which to add notes during lectures

Student with disability To be downloaded before lecture and engage in individual reading

Student with specific learning difficulties To familiarise with structure of lecture beforehand

International student As a templates to which to add notes and highlight keywords

ALL STUDENTS To reuse as a study aid at exam time

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Level of Detail in Handouts

Mature Student Highly detailed material

Traditional Student Slide notes handouts

Student with disability Highly detailed material

Student with specific learning difficulties Slides notes handouts

International Student Slide notes handouts

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Material Presented on Handouts

Summary of issues discussed in class

Complete worked examples

Graphical illustrations of concepts

Directions/References to additional learning/reading resources

Discussions of advanced work in areas just introduced

Discussions of practical applications of theoretical aspects just presented

Supplementary notes on subject areas

Additional practice exercises for student to attempt on their own

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Guidelines on Preparations

Identify the primary objective of the handout

Identify the student group (mature(block)/conventional/disabled etc.)

Collate the material you wish to present

Type the material as a Word document for ease of distribution/printing/reading

Distribute the handouts in advance (at end of lecture in preparation for next lecture)

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Distributing Handouts

Do not distribute the handout for lecture A at the end of lecture A otherwise students will experience the following problems:

Difficulty in writing continuously e.g. Mature students

Hindrances in cognitive engagement and full participation since lecture degenerates to an exercise in speed writing

Missing lectures e.g. Disable students

Difficulty writing notes in a second language – foreign students

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Pertinent Issues to Consider

Partially sighted students Use clear, simple, semi-large typefaces Size 12 font size Bold print for emphasis avoid block capitals Have plain background

Introducing new concepts in handouts Poor lecture skills Introduce the concepts in the very least Use handout to point to additional material

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Pertinent Issues to Consider

Using skeleton handouts To give structure of the lecture With space for note-filling during the lecture

The Spoon-feeding Phenomena Students must do the work and earn their degrees Do not give handouts in place of lectures (they cannot

be a substitute for the learning achieved though interactions and discussions between student and lecturer.

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Lectures and Handouts

The English you speak is better than the English you write. Really??? Let students be the Judge.

OR

Handouts ADD VALUE to your lectures!Use BOTH

Kuuya kulecture kunobatsira. Anyatso tsanangura chaizvo.

Shaa! You missed out I tell you! Baba ava vanogono kuleya!

I can’t understand a thing that he is

saying: the handout uses better English.

His is broken! Ndakuno ‘stada’

shamwari.

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Conclusion

A lecture without handouts means students spend too much time writing and too little time assimilating content

End Result: Reduce Learning