Preparing Handouts
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PROF. T. BERE AND MRS. D. MUSIYANDAKA
JANUARY 25, 2012
FOR
ACADEMY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING,
CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
What is a Handout?
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 A document that serves as an addendum to lectures
used for student

Preparation

Comprehension

Revision
 NB: Not a Substitute for Lectures
Purpose of Handouts
 Mature Student

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As a template to use during lectures. Few notes required during lectures
 Traditional (conventional) student

As a template to which to add notes during lectures
 Student with disability

To be downloaded before lecture and engage in individual reading
 Student with specific learning difficulties

To familiarise with structure of lecture beforehand
 International student

As a templates to which to add notes and highlight keywords
 ALL STUDENTS

To reuse as a study aid at exam time
Level of Detail in Handouts
 Mature Student
 Highly detailed material
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 Traditional Student
 Slide notes handouts
 Student with disability
 Highly detailed material
 Student with specific learning difficulties
 Slides notes handouts
 International Student
 Slide notes handouts
Material Presented on Handouts
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 Summary of issues discussed in class
 Complete worked examples
 Graphical illustrations of concepts
 Directions/References to additional learning/reading
resources
 Discussions of advanced work in areas just introduced
 Discussions of practical applications of theoretical aspects
just presented
 Supplementary notes on subject areas
 Additional practice exercises for student to attempt on
their own
Guidelines on Preparations
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 Identify the primary objective of the handout
 Identify the student group
(mature(block)/conventional/disabled etc.)
 Collate the material you wish to present
 Type the material as a Word document for ease of
distribution/printing/reading
 Distribute the handouts in advance (at end of
lecture in preparation for next lecture)
Distributing Handouts
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
Do not distribute the handout for lecture A at the end of
lecture A otherwise students will experience the following
problems:

Difficulty in writing continuously e.g. Mature students

Hindrances in cognitive engagement and full participation since
lecture degenerates to an exercise in speed writing

Missing lectures e.g. Disable students

Difficulty writing notes in a second language – foreign students
Pertinent Issues to Consider
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 Partially sighted students
 Use clear, simple, semi-large typefaces
 Size 12 font size
 Bold print for emphasis
 avoid block capitals
 Have plain background
 Introducing new concepts in handouts
 Poor lecture skills
 Introduce the concepts in the very least
 Use handout to point to additional material
Pertinent Issues to Consider
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 Using skeleton handouts
 To give structure of the lecture
 With space for note-filling during the lecture
 The Spoon-feeding Phenomena
 Students must do the work and earn their degrees
 Do not give handouts in place of lectures (they cannot be a
substitute for the learning achieved though interactions and
discussions between student and lecturer.
Lectures and Handouts
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The English you speak is better than the English you
write. Really??? Let students be the Judge.
I can’t understand a
thing that he is saying:
the handout uses better
English. His is broken!
Ndakuno ‘stada’
shamwari.
OR
Kuuya kulecture
kunobatsira. Anyatso
tsanangura chaizvo.
Shaa! You missed out I
tell you! Baba ava
vanogono kuleya!
 Handouts ADD VALUE to your lectures!
 Use BOTH
Conclusion
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 A lecture without handouts means students spend
too much time writing and too little time
assimilating content

End Result: Reduce Learning