Lectures get a bad rap.
Every organizer says:
“We want something fun, interactive. Not a boring lecture.”
And they’re right — lectures are overused.
But when they’re sharp and short, they’re gold.
Because sometimes you do need everyone to stop.
To look up. To listen.
To catch that one crucial piece of knowledge.
That’s what a lecture is for.
5–20 minutes.
Tightly focused.
Always in service of a Learning Outcome.
When lectures shine:
- Delivering pure book knowledge, theory, or a story.
- Giving the foundation before an exercise.
- Extracting takeaways after an exercise.
When lectures flop:
- When they drag past 20 minutes.
- When they try to teach something that needs practice, not theory.
Here’s the fix if you tend to lecture too much:
Pair every lecture with an exercise.
A little talk → then a group discussion.
A little theory → then a “try it now.”
A little framing → then a scenario challenge.
This rhythm makes your workshop breathe.
Lecture delivers clarity.
Exercises make it stick.
And sometimes, you flip it.
Hands-on first, lecture after.
Like pottery: practice on the wheel → short talk on clay types.
Like yoga: posture practice → 3 minutes on safety.
Even the most practical skills need a bit of theory.
And even the most theoretical skills need practice.
That’s the place of lecture.
Not center stage.
But still essential.
Thank you.
And Free Palestine.