While attending lectures at uni over the past few weeks, i've been taking mental notes about what makes for a good lecture. I thought that it might be a good idea to write these ideas down. If I ever find myself giving lectures (fingers crossed), I may like to look back over these notes.

- When you give people print outs of your power point presentation, everyone knows when the end is coming. On the last page, everyone starts to pack up and get ready to leave. For me, this would be infuriating.

- Power Point presentations are excellent for things that words can't express. Graphs make data easier to understand. Photos make key people feel more real and easier to remember. Demonstrations of optical illusions make for good practical examples of phenomena.

- However, lines and lines of full sentences distract from what you're saying. People can't read and listen at the same time.

- The less that is on each slide, the less that students feel like they need to copy down everything.

- Power Point slides work best when they set the context for what you're talking about. Short topic headings remind everyone what the point at hand is, and focus attention back to what you're saying.

- Don't let people read ahead. Reveal each dot point as you talk about each dot point.

- Use the power point presentation to chunk your information into meaningful sections.

- Sometimes, it's worth enduring long awkward silences while waiting for students to answer questions.

- Tell them what you're gonna tell em....tell em....then tell em what you told them

- Being passionate and a tad theatrical might lead you to be considered a goose, but what is more important? Having your lecture remembered, or being respected?

- There is nothing like a good anecdote

- Feel free to include a sprinkle of the hard advanced topics (it motivates certain types of people)

Now, i hope that none of my lecturers read this blog. I should state for the record, that none of them infringe on all of these guidelines. There are some brilliant presenters among the faculty at uni. And of course, i'm sure it's far harder than it looks