I agree. each student is different and in order to better address the learning needs of your class mixing it up is essential....
One set of communication skills is not better than any other rather a versatillity in making students comfortable communicating is invaluable
Pamela ,
this is so true. The more variety we can use the better chance we will have of engaging all of the learners in our classes.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Non-Verbal communication espically when dealing with The Disrupitive Student. Also, Volume and Tone and concise, consistent, directions.
I believe that you need to use many teaching styles in any one session of class, you need to engage all types of learners. Good eye contact, multiple styles of teaching( ie: visual, audio and tactile) and haivng an instructor who is excited about the topic being discussed all bring a positive classroom experience.
IDA,
yes all of these aspects of nonverbal communication are that way to portray how you really feel about a topic.
Dr. Ryan Meers
i believe body lauguage, voice and facial expression is important because it makes students view you as a person and how you feel about teaching
Thank you. You taught me another teaching skill.
Derrick ,
listening is definitely one of the most powerful communication tools that we don't use nearly enough.
Dr. Ryan Meers
brendon,
yes, instructors should be or become excellent readers of students' nonverbals as these are powerful tools to use in the classroom.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Since students' learning styles are different, we must use varied communication styles as well. Almost everyone learn better if they see or visualize things. Hence, visuals can aid in teaching important (and abstract) concepts and creating memories of those concepts in students' minds.
The communication skills that I believe are the most important are the tone of voice, and the enthusiam(gestures) that one would have about the material they are teaching. Think that the tone is important because if you have a very soft a slow speech it often times can bore the students and make them not enjoy what they are learning. The gesture or being enthusiatic about what you are teaching set the atmosphere of the class room if the instructor is excited then the student will get excited is some way it enlightens them and makes them want to be in class instead thinking about being at home.
I think tone of voice and showing interest in the subject and the students can really tell when you are interested.
Listeing because it shows the student that you care about them
I think evaluating the students reaction to what has been said or presented, by way of watching their body language as well as questioning them as to what they have understood the message was, is an important communication skill. Good communication begins with getting my message across in a concise easy to understand manner, but it ends with the message being received and understood in the way it was intended to be. We have to be careful not to believe that if we focus on the beginning of good communication the end will take care of itself. We still must evaluate the perception of what we have presented.
Tammie,
yes, listening is a key skill that is part of our entire communication package.
Dr. Ryan Meers
There are several communications skills I believe are important in a diverse learning environment. One of the important communications skills is the ability to listen and project in a way that the student does not have a hard time understanding the materials.
Wesley ,
yes the more open we are in our communication with our students the more welcome & supported they will feel in our classrooms which in turn aids their learning.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Dr Meers,
In a diverse learning enviornment insturctors need to communicate with their students. Students need to feel wanted in a classroom. Communication shows how the instructor acknowledges the student population. In addtion, it shows the instructor is interested in each and every student and their learning capabilities in the classroom.
I think that my movement about the classroom (not so much that it becomes distracting) helps me communicate more effectively. Fully and consciously listening for what the student might NOT be saying helps me answer their questions. For my subject matter, students can't take large chunks of info. It has to be broken up into small segments. Each segment becomes a "success." I reinforce that success as a transition to another segment.
