Hi Nicole,
Great advice for everyone to live by but even more important for instructors to follow. We need to keep student support as our focus as we encourage and help student achieve their career goals.
Gary
Developing a rapport with students is important because the students need to be able to trust that you are approachable and feel comfortable receiving constructive criticism without being embarrassed or intimidated. They will participate more in class and know that you are willing to empathize with them as students.
In the USA it is not any different. Treating others the way you want to be treated is a very famous saying and I have not met another human being that hasnt heard of this saying. It howerver is very true. If you think before you speak then you can possibly avoid potential classroom problems. Curriculum should be carefully plannned and thought out before each class.
Hi Bindu,
Good advice for all individuals, including faculty and students alike. Respect is so important to establish with students and to earn from them. Once respect is there it is easier to build on it to the point that rapport is developed and professional growth is enjoyed.
Gary
Students need to know that their instructor not only respects them but also their input. On the first day of class when I review classroom expectations I also give students a sheet to fill out on their expectations. What they hope to get from the class, learning methods that work for them, etc. On the same sheet there is also space for mid term re-evaluation of expectations and final re-evaluation of expectations. Each class that I have had fill these forms out seemed to really appreciate that I take their input into consideration. I explain to them that not only do their opinions matter but I also need their input to better myself as an instructor. Of course students will sometimes write off the wall expectations, but once in awhile I have had students make suggestions that I have used and learned from. By doing this every term I hope to continue bettering myself as an instructor and hopefully my students continue to contribute because they realize that their voices are being heard.
In my country the very first moral lessons that are taught while we are growing up are the ones that really stay with you all your life. And among those morals one of the most important one is "treat and respect others the way you want to be treated and respected". Therefore I think if you want positive learning vibes from the students you too will have to be positive and enthusistic about making them want more out of the learning process. And to give away that positivity building rapport is very important, student should feel at ease to clear his doubts and asking quetions. If students have good rapport they want to participate more and love to do more.
on the first day of class Boundaries and should be addressed and discussed.explain why you are there and that you are there for them.
Rapport is as important to me as an instructor as it is to the students learning. If I don't have rapport with my students, emotionally I feel bad. My day feels like an uphill battle. Building rapport needs to happen within the first few days.A good back and forth with the class makes the day go by faster.
If the students know that they can come to you with their problems, either with the class, or with others, they seem to be more willing to "learn" from you.
Thanks for going into some of the steps you take to build rapport with your students. I know this is such an important part of the learning process, and it can make or break the student's learning experience.
In order to build trust a rapport must be established between instructor and students. It is the instructor's responsibility to nurture this relationship in a positive way so that the student will stay engaged in the learning process.
Students must understand and trust their instructors in order to learn well. Developing a rapport with them will give them trust and understanding.
Hi David,
You make a number of good points about the need to work on developing rapport with students. The result of rapport development is increased student satisfaction and retention. They will follow a person that they respect and trust just as you mentioned.
Gary
Hi Heidi,
Good advice for all instructors. Thank you for expressing it. Relationships take time so instructors need to work at gaining the respect of students over a period of time. As a result the development of rapport will follow which in turn will help the students to become more engaged in the learning process.
Gary
The development of rapport with students very important in teaching since rapport basically comes down to trust and respect. If you build a good rapport with your students they will see that you are interested and care about them as individuals and their success in their education. Students will become much more involved in the learning process when there is a good instructor student rapport. Building a foundatin a mutual respect with your students will go a long way.
I've learned quickly that as a teacher, I'm not going to "make" or "break" it as the student's favorite teacher on the first day of class. It takes several attempts to form any kind of a bond, no matter how congenial you think you are on the first day. You can't rush the process, but the process is extremely important.
Hi Christopher,
Good comments about illustrating the need for and results from developing rapport with students. This relationship helps to make the course go smoother and enables you to provide input as needed to students.
Gary
If the instructor does not take the time to build rapport with his students, his students will not take the time to know him. The teacher will seem unapproachable. If the students know a little bit about the teacher and have a rapport, they will be more apt to ask questions when they need help or discuss ideas on the subject.
Hi Jeffrey,
Right you are about the need to develop rapport with students. If an instructor can create connection between the student and him or herself a foundation is created upon which to build throughout the course.
Gary
