The Sage on the Stage

As a new teaching semester gets underway, it's interesting to ask: "Is there still a case to be made for the traditional academic lecture as an effective aid to learning?" 

In this internet age when information is freely accessible to most if us, what's the point of the lecture? Recently, physicists have been compiling data that suggests that the "Sage on the Stage" should be replaced by the "Guide on the Side".

This piece from National Public Radio tells the story.

Any thoughts on this?

© 2012, David E. Giles