How does a learning facilitator know if they are communicating well?
What are some specific ways to get feedback from students on what is working in the classroom and what can be improved? The class surveys at the end don't help with the current class. Do you ask students directly if they are learning or do you gauge by body language and level of interest? I'd like to hear from other professionals.
Hi Bret,
I will often ask group questions specific to what the students were learning, and I observe who responds (Is it the same people every time? Is anyone responding at all? Do I get blank stares?). If I feel that not enough people are getting the material, and it is due to my teaching style, I may try a different method. I try to over prepare for class by having several different teaching styles available for the various subjects I am covering on that particular day. Just switching gears can sometimes help. However, if I feel that many of the students are distracted and not staying focused, I may give an assignment for a grade or a reward of some sort. The reward system seems to get the students back on track again, while the graded assignment reminds the students that they are there to learn, and I am taking their education seriously. This usually encourages more engagement. I hope this helps. Jodi
It seems that we can gauge our communication skills through the understanding that our students obtain through our lectures and projects. If my students are passing their state board tests with flying colors, I assume they are getting what they need. I do like the idea of student surveys about faculty. It keeps us on our toes.
Brett,
I actually allow students the opportunity to voice the opinions on how they feel about the course. I ask specific questions about what they like most about the course. What activities do they like and find most helpful in reference to the course. Adversely, I also ask what they like least about the course, and what suggestions they may have in reference to how the material delivered. Carefully listening and evaluating their responses.
we may know when we are communicating well ,when we get feedback from the students ,whenever we teach a new material we need to check what the students understand about that before we move on,if we go to fast or if there is something that they didnot understand it is the time to repeat or clarify any questions
I will be doing this. Overall I learned alot about verbage and will be using new ways to communicate with my students. This why I think a survey would be good. Students seem to get upset with things we say but would they really have a better way we address them with instructing and classroom issues,to hear direct feedback sounds like a real plus to me and not just Yes/No surveys
Bret,
one thing I've recently implemented is to conduct my own survey about half-way through the course. I simply ask them to respond to a few questions: 1) what are you getting in the course that you like? 2) what are you not getting that you want (or more of)?; 3) what are you getting that you don't really want (obviously besides tests, etc). To make it safe I will have them email responses to a colleague who collects & gives to me in a compiled format.
Dr. Ryan Meers
