Identifying Important Communication Skills
What communication skills do you believe are the most important in a diverse learning environment? Why?
I understand the impact of pausing in a conversation and a lecture. The interesting part of the first module was not the pausing to express a point but the pausing to let an idea or concept sink-in. I have not really thought about it before this module. What I would do when covering important topic is to linger on a subject to help answer questions and tell a related story. I find it interesting the concept, that about 12-15 minutes of a lecture is the most information a student can absorb before they start to lose the ability to retain the information. This could explain some grades in a few of my undergraduate courses. I will have to develop technique to improve my lecture to smaller bits of information to creating mini-lectures. Is that 8 minutes truly a drop off for student learning?
Just like a great sports team, a great ensemble for a play, or a great orchestra delivering a musical performance, all the communication skills play an integral part in having a well-rounded instructor deliver instruction in a diver learning environment.
Due to typically having class sizes of almost 50 students, the most important communication skills to me is projecting my voice so that all may hear and speaking clearly and with clarity. This lays the framework so that everyone in the class whether they are in the back or in the front have the same learning experience. Due to the large class size, I also try to be very personable so students feel welcomed to have a one-on-one relationship with me so I ensure to distribute eye contact to each student, make relevant examples, good body language, etc.
Non-verbal is definitely important, we respond to non-verbal cues and can tell when someone is not truthful or uncomfortable. Voice inflection is important in delivery of information and I like repetition for reinforcement of important points.
This is so correct, if you over talk a student they not only feel humiliated but also, may feel as if their voice is not important. While classroom management is very important we don't want or students to just become apart of the scenery.
I think that not only the quality of your voice during lecture/ presentation/ crit, but varying your tone as you move between different sections, points ect. works to add emphasis and keep the students engaged.
Students are unique individuals, they all come from different background weather it is social, cultural, or economical, they possesses weakness and strengths, valuable experiences and perception. As a teacher/instructor, it is important to acknowledge these factors and establish a solid foundation and understanding to produce a rewarding experience for both the teacher and the student
I believe using your voice, being confident, and making eye contact. All three show students you are motivated about the content which in return can motivate them as well. You can reach all students when using these three skills.
I believe there are several important communication skills that need to be accessed in order to create a successful learning environment for students. First and foremost, instructors need to build rapport with the students. Greeting each student as they come to class for the first time, using their name, making eye contact. The old adage, "I don't care how much you know 'til I know how much you care." goes a long way in my classes. Clear, concise expectations, again using eye contact and names, always help keep students engaged in the classroom and with the course content.
One of the most communication skills to be developed in a diverse learning environment is the art of talking. Not just talking as in talking to one's spouse, but proper oration. Standing erect: with careful and thoughtful selection of both words and sentence structure is paramount. I try to project my voice so that the student most distant can hear and understand me. I also find it helpful to deepen my voice slightly, slow down my delivery and carefully enounciate each word. While maintaining eye contact, I then ask a student to give their interpretation of what they had just heard. Be analysing the response, I can better understand how well I am gettint through to my students.
I believe that having specific examples and life experiences to share with the class help retain the students attentions because they are learning what they would need to know in the field.
The ability to communicate deficiencies in performance of work/task and most of all the ability to accept correction.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT COMMUNICATION PROMOTES SUCCESS IN MANY AREAS OF LIFE. COMMUNICATION IS THE ESSENCE OF CONNECTING TO ALL INVOLVED. THE FOLLOWING LIST BELOW DEMONSTRATES IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
LISTENING
EYE CONTACT
CLARITY
FRIENDLINESS
OPEN-MINDEDNESS
RESPECT
BODY LANGUAGE
EMPATHY
FEEDBACK
AFFIRMATION
I believe the single most important communication skill is providing adequate feedback to the students in a timely manner.
Intercommunication skills where the instructor communicates and the students contribute to the lesson verbally as well.
Kerri ,
yes, these are excellent skills to have for an instructor as we can really connect with our students this way.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Sometimes the link is not communicated easily by students and as a instructor you may need to read between the lines of their questions to see if the light bulb is lite or not.Answering a question with a question is not to find out what they do know but what they don't.
I agree with learning to use your voice during a presentation
Having an open mind and being a good listener are probably the most important communication skills to have when working in a diverse learning environment. Knowing that others will have differing opinions and learning styles and being open to that is a defintie. Also, being a good listener is a skill that all instructors need.
Pretend you are in the audience, "How do you hear the Lecture?" Watch for Monotone speaking - you will lose the group real quick. Change up the tones of your voice, add in some variations that may intrigue the group.
