Improving Your Communication Skills
I tend to get ahead of myself - I'm excited by the course I teach and sometimes that enthusiasm pushes the lecture along too fast. When it happens, I can see that the students are losing track which is another reason eye contact is important. I' working on finding a way to keep my enthusiasm in check but still express it. In the next term, I'm going to try working in some small group exerices to create a logical break in the lecture and reinforce the topics.
You can also time and pace yourself by using slides with no more than 3-4 points. I think it's hard not to use umm or other phrases while collecting your thoughts. Taking a breath can help here.
As an instructor, which communication skills would you personally wish to improve? Why?
I teach Public Speaking, so for me I not only have to talk the talk, but walk the walk. One struggle that I have is students point out things that I do as public speaking "mistakes." I have to constantly remind them that I am not giving a prepared speech, but that I am delivering a lecture.
Still, a lot of what I teach-- eye contact, good delivery skills, little to no verbal fillers, strong use of organization and supporting materials, overlaps with what I teach about delivering speeches.
I think that I would like to improve my use movement around the room. I use a lot of multimedia presentations, so I am somewhat tethered to the computer. However, I think that this would eliminate some of the text messaging and closed eyes that I often see during class time.
Hi Carl!
I like to encourage instructors to find the pace and rythmn that works best for them. The other thought is that each group of students will react differently to an instructors pace. So - find what works best for you keeping your students learning needs in mind and you will be very successful with classroom communication.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Like many of the other comments, I am working on slowing down my delivery and pausing for comments and questions.
Carl
As an instructor the communication skill that I would perspnally wish to improve is nonverbal by working on developing the personas of mime and a storyteller.
Do you have any suggestions on developing or improving these skills.
Sometimes I talk to fast. Talking to fast does not give the student a chance to digest the inforation delivered. Nevertheless, I believe me talking fast is contributed to me being excited about teaching.
For me, this is a great question, as I teach in the virutal environment. In essence, it is similar to losing one of our senses. This requires development of the other senses to keep the class moving. Virtual communication is a whole set of communication skills that must honed. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated here.
I also tend to lecture fast and need to remember that all my students are pretty fluent in english but not all of them.
Hi Amanda!
I think that most people are guilty of this especially those people who are in the helping fields. But you are well aware that listening is important and a learned skill. If you don't listen to books on tape, I encourage you to get something of your liking and "listen". Really helps to build listening skills if you are practicing active listening.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Greetings Sabrina!
Pacing ourselves can be a challenge knowing that we have tremendous amounts of information that needs to be discussed. I will use the group process with students and we make it a game (or anyway they want to deliver the info) for delivery of required info. It's changes the dynamics of the instruction and students are excited about helping deliver class topics. Some very interesting conversations have occurred as a result of student delivery.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I would like to work on slowing down the pace, but the structure we offer is intensive and fast paced. So I have to work on slowing down and not taking so fast!
As an instructor, I would like to improve on my listening skills in one on one interactions. I have a tendancy to begin answering questions without getting the full gist of the question or issue. This sometimes causes frustration and miscommunication.
Hi Kim!
I have a tendency to talk to fast as well. I have reflected on why I find myself rushing. One reason for me is that I often have too much information or too many activities planned for one class. Instructors have so much information that they are expected to share in the given time, we feel like we have to speed up.
I continue to work on my planning and delivery.
Keep up the good work1
Jane Davis
Ed106 Facilitator
I tend to talk fast. I prepare at home and do fine when timing, but that goes out the window sometimes in class. I noticed moving around relaxes me and helps me slow down. I also ask alot of questions to hopefully get discussions going.
Hi Maureen!
Congratulations and welcome to the world of teaching! Yes, as you mature in your teaching skills and have positive (and sometimes negative) outcomes, you will definitely develop your own communication style.
Teaching/instructing is the best experience in the world - so gratifying when you see the twinkle in a students eyes knowing that you helped them learn!!!
Good luck and keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I am a new instructor, and I will begin teaching in less than 2 weeks. I am curious to see how I come across to a class, and I was actually quite worried about this. I substituted for a class, however, and my worries were a bit unnecessary. I know I definitely have areas to work on, but, overall, it was much better than I expected it to be. I am sure that as I gain experience, my communication skills will improve as well.
I would like to speak at a normal rate when I am lecturing. I have a tendency of speaking fast because it helps me to get through the project at hand. Speaking fast is norrmal for me but its not beneficial during lecture for my students.
"Totally evolving" is a great way to put it Terri!
Since we have access to the information highway through technology, instructors should be current on the latest in their subject. This in itself can improve our information delivery.
We should also keep in mind that each new class of students will teach us something new!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
