Direct eye contact is one way of making the "daily connection" with each student.
Eye contact is a form of respect. Maintaining eye contact is also a sign of confidence. If you engage the student in your lecture and look at them as you speak, they are confident of your knowledge they are learning. It will also act as a guide that when you present or speak, look at your audience as if you are speaking to each as individuals.
The know and feel you are engaged with them
Mary,
I completely agree that making eye contact is very key. Don't look over their heads, students know when you're doing this, look them in the eye.
Dr. Ryan Meers
It is very important because it shows the student that you are speaking to them and not just to a room full of people and you get their attention more, they also might think you are about to ask them a question about what you just said
Maintaining eye contact lets your students know that you are aware of them and engaging them in the discussion. It also helps the instructor see if they are paying attention and have understood what is being discussed. Eye contact can show approval and also decrease tension in the classroom.
Making eye contact allows me to show the students that I am sincere, and their eye contact with me lets me know if they are following along.
Eye contact is very important to have with the student because it makes them feel that they're part of the class, keeps them engaged, focused and & important. I move around the room and keep eye contact with my students so that not only I can see what is going on but to keep their attention or see if they're having a problem and may need some extra attention from me. You can pick up on a lot of things by maintaining eye contact with your students.
You are able to respond with better understanding by making eye contact. Eye contact is viewed as respect and gives the speaker the attentiveness and attention they deserve. Although, in some cultures it is improper and lacks respect (American Indian and Asian). Eye contact lets the speaker know that you are listening, understanding and following the discussion.
Maintaining eye contact implies instructor acknowledgement of the student, helps the student understand that his/her participation/input is as important as the next one and makes the student feel 'valued.'
Eye contact shows each student that you care about him/her. It brings the student in to the 'conversation'.
Eye contact helps to maintain focus by the students, lets them know that they are respected, and provides "pause moments" so the student can refocus. Students are always more engaged in a lecture when eye contact is part of the instructor's tool kit.
By maintaining eye contact, instructors will be able to determine if a student needs even more attention during the class.
Angelique,
you make a good point here regarding eye contact. We want to establish that eye contact with each student, but be careful not to stare them down.
Dr. Ryan Meers
By having eye contact with each student, you will be acknowledging that they are a part of the class. You only need to have brief eye contact with them for them to know that you respect them and what they bring to the class.
I have tried maintaining eye contact with each student several times throughout the class. I find that by maintaining eye contact with the class during the discussions, it makes each student feel like they are truly apart of what is going on. It also seems to make them feel like they belong, and when that happens I find that they participate more and it increases their willingness to strive that much harder.
When you have eye contact with your students it not only acknowledges them as a student and an important part of the class but that they are important to you their instructor. When you can't look someone in the eye you usually don't have anything good or worthwhile to say and that would come across loud and clear to your students. Also you can get a pretty good idea what they are thinking when you look at them.
I feel that when you make eye contact you not only acknowledge the student as far as his or her responses go. But you also acknowledge them as a person and a part of the learning experience that is part of the classroom. It gives you the power to make each student more than just a face or a test score, but an individual in their own right as part of the class. It also sets a respect precedence as well.
I have noticed when an instructor does not maintain eye contact it is more likely for them to lose control of the class. The students will start to chatter among themselves and will not pay attention to the instructor.
The students feel a part of the group. That you are speaking with them not at them. It also helps me to know that they are processing the concepts. If I get the "deer in the headlights" look I know I need to slow down or take a different approach to this concept.
