It helps eliminates the usual distance between student and teacher and breaks the ice for a meaningful student-teacher relationship to develop.
It gives relavence to the student.
Hi Jill!
Eye contact is about connecting with students in a positive way for reenforceing concepts and improving self esteem. If this happens, I find students "goof off" less often.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Clarification on the last post. You are NOT viewed as this distant, unapproachable person.
It allows you to develop a relationship with the students and they are more likely than not to ask questions when their understanding is foggy. You are viewed as this distant, unapproachable person.
I agree, you can see for yourself the "deer in headlights" look(s). If more students have that look then don't you can stop, redirect your approach,etc. If it is just one student you can ask the student directly what they don't understand. However, you need to know your students...would calling this one student out cause more harm than good; some students do not like any attention drawn to them, they find it extremely embarrassing. If this is the case, direct the questions or discussions to the entire class.
It acknowledges the students presence in the classroom and lets them know that you are in personal contact with them. It was a great point not to maintain eye contact too long because it can be viewed and threatening.
I always tell my students to make eye contact with people....."the eyes are the window to the soul"
I have found that a lot of students won't admit to not understanding a topic in public. As an example; I'll ask if everyone understands the topic and there will be silence in the classroom.I'll rthen ask, Who doesn't understand the material? Just rewording the question may bring a response.Eye contact definitely helps identify the students that are having a problem.
Good eye contact not only helps you to see what your students are or are not grasping, but it helps prevent them from becoming distracted. It stops unneeded chatter and keeps students focused on class because they're afraid you're going to catch them goofing off.
Hi Kirk!
You definitely have a great approach for connecting with the students in your classes. Students like to feel like they are part of the process. It certainly builds self-esteem.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Good for you Diane!
I really like the handshake. So many people don't understand how important personal and professional etiquette is for the workplace. I, too, shake my students's hand both when they arrive and leave my class as well as encourage them to make eye contact.. It's amazing how intimated they are in the beginning but then become very excited about it. AND - remind me if I forget!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
Ed106 Facilitator
Good eye contact is essential for effective teaching. Having eye contact with your students for 2-3 seconds at a time allows the instuctor to keep the students focused on the subject, identify those students that are having problems understanding the material, and identify students who are grasping the content of what you are teaching. Moving eye contact from student to student makes the student feel important and more comfortable in the classroom.
Hi Trevor!
Thanks so much for sharing so many great ideas. It sounds like you mix up your instructional approack and activities that you use in the classroom. This obviously keeps students engaged. I always have a plan B, C, D etc., so that students are always thinking.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Peggy!
I also think that eye contact helps the instructors stay focused and ontrack!
Good job!
Jane davis
ED106 facilitator
An important topic that was discussed in this course was the importance of the physical communication methods that we all use in our classrooms. However, how does this affect those that may be teaching a live lecture- online course? I put some thought into this and came up with some methods for making up for the lack of physical interaction that online students may experience.
One of the goals with eye contact is to monitor students’ involvement and assure that students are retaining the information provided in the course. I do this in an online environment by using polls. By using multiple-choice or multi-answer polls, I am able to monitor/identify those that may or may not be engaged in the current activity.
Additionally, I use group work frequently in my lectures. Group work requires students to be more actively involved in what is happening in the class. Sometimes the peer pressure that a group activity creates is just the push that a non-participating students needs to interact with their classmates. Being a part of a team can be a very motivating part of my students’ online experience.
Lastly, I enjoy having very active discussions in my classroom. I work toward engaging each student in the discussion by asking open-ended questions to them individually. I also participate in the discussion, providing my experience. Self-disclosure is an important part of the relationship building process. This kind of relationship building greatly assists in a student’s readiness to be involved in a discussion with the rest of the class.
I greet each student everyday with a hand shake and eye contact to acknowledge to them that they are a part of this class. I am also teaching them respect. At the beginning of class some of the students won't look at me, but by the end of class they are looking at me with confidence and excitement
It makes the student feel you care abuot them and their learning process.
Maintaining eye contact shows confidence in the instructor and keeps the student more focussed on the lecture. Although it may be difficult for some instructors to maintain it is very vital for the upkeep of constant awareness of the student
Outside of the control of your voice- eye contact might be the most powerful teaching asset you have as a physical attribute- the importance isn't just in gaining the attention of the student it allows you to 'read' the student and draw response keys from their body language.
