Developing Student Rapport
Why is the development of rapport with students so important in teaching?
Dr. Meers,
it not only builds their confidence in the course but also allows them to approach you with concerns and issues, whether they be professional or personal so that one may assist and encourage them.
Developing rapport opens the door to trust. Students need to feel safe and comfortable before they can relax and open themselves up to take risks that will help them find ways to express themselves and be able to make the most of academic opportunities and challenges. By taking the time to get to know your students as people, you become a person to them; someone they can trust and relate to. Developing student rapport demonstrates that you wish to create a respectful relationship.
Rapport with the student is important because you want the students to have trust in you and your ability to teach. By starting off knowing their names and a little bit of their background goes a long way with the student having trust in you and helps keep them in class and completing the program.
Keondra,
Respect and rapport are two elements needed to build upon with students. Once you earn their respect then you can move to developing rapport with them and this is when learning really takes. A great environment for learning and career growth.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Rapport is essential in instruction, because students are more likely to listen to an instructor that they have a professional relationship with or respect deeply. Without rapport with the student, the student will be unwilling to learn and won't be an active learner or participant in the course. Establishing rapport with students also helps the instructor to determine what type of learner the student is. The student will also be more willing to ask for help if he or she needs it. Students are more vocal and open with instructors that they have good rapport with. Therefore establishing good rapport with students improves instructional methods and creates a positive learning environment.
Nichelle,
This is one of the learning tools that instructors can use. Respect needs to be earned by both the instructor and students and then rapport can follow which will result in enhanced learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Building rapport, builds trust; building trust creates a great learning atmosphere and experience. The learning atmosphere and experience allows the the class to gel.
Once rapport is built, students are open to discussions and insight.
Christina,
Good point. Respect and rapport are two essential elements needed for successful student interaction.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students learn more from someone they are comfortable with and respect.
If you cannot develop a good student rapport, with a student. they will not get along even with other students. This must happen for the event of education.
At the risk of being repetitive, the importance of rapport is to establish the environment of comfort and validation. This encourages them to not only come out of their shell but also to encourage others within their class to do the same. The 'what do you think?' method works well here to demonstrate that all opinions are valued and safe.
I think the development of student rapport is a great thing. When you sit and talk with your students and understand their way of thinking and even why they are thinking a ceratin way, helps you to undertsnad them better and them to understand you as a person and not just their instructor.
rapport with students builds confidence and allows them to be more open and comfortable
When students know that they can trust the instructor, they tend to open up with questions and opinions. I find this helps with the learning process for everyone involved. It also helps the student know that they can approach the instructor with concerns. I try to let each of my students know that I care about their opinions and what is going on outside of the classroom as I know that it affects what happens in the classroom. Because I try to build this type of rapport with my students, I have students who will pull my aside before/after class or during breaks and let me know they need someone to vent to about something. This helps get the emotions of something going on outside of class out in the open and often times helps these students come back to class ready to work.
Students also feel welcome to speak up when they don't understand material. This gives me the chance to re-evaluate how I presented material or come at the material I am presenting from a different stand point. I see good rapport help the students and myself create a good learning environment where the students can get the most out of the class.
MICHAEL,
It is great that you have this relationship with your students. You are right about the need for respect and trust to be present if you are going to have rapport with students. It is obvious you have both and get to enjoy the results of being a learning leader of your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is probably the best skill that I have developed over the years as an instructor. I have an excellent rapport with all of my students. I see other instructors struggle with student issues that I do not seem to have. I attribute this directly to the relationships that I develop with my students. I have their trust.
Developing a rapport helps to build a trusting bond between the teacher and students. We as teachers have to use our personalities,charisma, and humor to win our students over. Once we've accomplished that, our students are willing to follow us. They just have to know that we as teachers have there best interest at heart.
I think it is important for students to know that you are for them. This should be demonstrated consistently throughout the term. Development of a rapport with the students helps with this. I like to joke around with the class and individual students. Then, when they need help, I try to show them I care by meeting off hours to help them. This has gone a long way with making students feel less stressed and more at ease in the class.
I agree. When the students can respond in class it also helps us evaluate how well they are learning the material. Engaging the students in brief discussions can be an effective tool to build their confidence and motivate them to prepare for class. In a competitive spirit, some like to speak up and this could encourage others.
