Large Group Teaching

A good lecture will stimulate curiosity and convey your interest and enthusiasm for your subject. In your preparation, you will need to consider your student’s familiarity with the material and how best to present the content in a way they will follow. 

At the start, find ways to make links with prior knowledge; this could be a recap on the previous lecture or a real-world example to build on.

Maintaining attention for a full hour is challenging, so plan in pace or activity changes to help your students maintain focus and concentration. Simple techniques include:

• Short discussions / problem-solving in twos or threes
• Anonymous polls / quizzes using classroom technologies like Vevox
• Short video clips or animations
• Non-digital method for learners to share their ideas with the rest of the group: like voting by show of hands, writing ideas on post-its or flipcharts

Providing slides or notes on Canvas before the lecture will support students in their notetaking and will be vital for students with additional support needs. 

As part of your preparation, make sure you are familiar with any new technologies you need to use. NUIT use standard equipment in teaching rooms and their AV team can support your use of in-venue facilities.

You may need to:

• adjust audio playback for any sound/video material
• use wireless microphones; operate visualisers; use wireless presentation systems for computer / mobile devices
• or pause/restart lecture recording

Make sure students can hear you. Using the microphone will help you draw learners’ attention back at the end of active learning activities, and will ensure that your words are captured on the ReCap recording.  

When lecturing to a large group, effective use of visual aids is key, especially for those seated far from the front. Begin with a slide showing learning outcomes and use section headers to signal transitions. Keep slides uncluttered, focusing on key points, and provide written instructions for activities. Include accessible resources in advance, use visual changes to capture attention, and always have a backup plan in case of technical issues.

If the lecture has been recorded, make sure the recording is made available to students.

A helpful way to reflect on and develop your lecturing skills is to engage with peer dialogue with colleagues in your academic school/unit.

In practical sessions, especially those with groups larger than 20-30 students, effective management and engagement techniques can make a significant difference. The following strategies can help create a supportive and structured learning environment:

• Begin each session with slides that outline instructions and explain the purpose of the practical. This helps orient students and connects theory to practice. 
• As you move around the room, monitor group progress and offer support, helping maintain engagement and clarity. 
• Assigning short pre-work tasks on Canvas can prepare students in advance. For those new to UK higher education, providing a practical overview during induction or through a video guide can help them understand expectations and feel more comfortable in the lab environment.
• If you are running large group practicals, you may have the opportunity to work with postgraduate demonstrators or teaching assistants. Take the time to help them prepare and support them in their role.

Traditional project supervision with a low supervisor-to-learner ratio becomes challenging with large cohorts, requiring more strategic coordination. At Newcastle University, several programmes address this by tailoring supervision: the Business School allows sign-ups for project topics based on supervisor expertise, Biomedical Sciences uses an algorithm to match students with supervisors, Game Engineering students receive both individual and team support, and Sport and Exercise Science assigns group projects to streamline oversight.