Getting the most out of sequential teaching

The dual nature of the university as a research and teaching institution provides students the opportunity to be taught by experts. However, with course offerings decreasing, teaching loads increasing and class sizes swelling, students’ access to expert instruction is often limited to 1-3 lectures per topic. Typically, a sequence of lecturers presenting material in their field of expertise and a unit coordinator (who may or may not attend the lectures) is the students’ sole continuous contact. This “sequential teaching” is qualitatively different from solo lecturing, teamteaching or guest lecturing.