We are not only mentors, but facilitators of learning, coaches, cheerleaders and fans!
We gain trust by showing how much we value students as human beings,listening to them, problem solving, and above all, laughing with them. That spells rapport, and includes not a "buddy" relationship but a trusting mentor friend relationship that is very important to the learning process.
Hi Craig,
I use small group panels (3-5) students to present topics. The panels are mixed well so I have all the different student groups represented on each panel. I spend time with each panel as they work for a couple of sessions getting ready for their presentation. This way I talk with and spend time with each student and I can develop rapport with them even if they are shy or reluctant to talk in class. I also, greet each student as they come into class and try to spend a few seconds with them. I ask them questions about things of interest they have shared with me or about general things occurring in our community. Anything to get them talking and respecting that I care about them as individuals. This sets the stage for rapport development.
Gary
It is important to develop rapport with your students because typically you are their only support system for school. Many individuals in their lives do not understand why they are trying to make a change or go back to school. The students look up to and want someone to trust and understand what they are going through.
Rapport helps develop an openness for both student and instructor which can enhance the learning process. Often times having a good rapport makes the student more excited about the learning experience.
Students need to know we are approachable,knowledgeable, and non judgemental in order to foster an environment conducive to learning.
Without trust, respect and understanding, student participation will be limited. If this is widespread, there will be minimal value gotten from individual and group activities. I am interested in additional actions that can be used to build rapport in the classroom, particularly involving reluctant participants in group activities.
Hi Nora,
Well said. This is what rapport development is all about. It is such a great feeling when you know you are connecting with your students and that they respect you for your knowledge and abilities as a teacher. It is a win win situation for everyone.
Gary
In order for students to care about the course and therefore succeed in it, they must feel that their instructors respect them and care about their success. That is what rapport is all about. The instructor must build trust between themself and the students and the instructor must freely give respect to the students. The instructor must demonstrate interest, in a non-judgmental way, in their students' thoughts and ideas. If this is done, students will be more likely to share their thoughts and ideas and increase participation in the class, which will increase their interest in the class and the material, and lead to student attendance and retention.
Its important for the fact that to get the student to buy in to what you are teaching they need to trust you. Also they need to know that you are teaching from experience and that you are giving them useful working information.
It builds trust and understanding. It also causes more "buy in" to the relevancy of the content you are delivering.
Hi Dana,
A mentor relationship is a relationship that has much potential for students and their career development. By knowing their instructor is supportive of their efforts and that they can talk with their instructor about how the "real world" operates in relation to their careers means a lot especially as they get closer to graduation.
Gary
I don't think students even want to view instructors as friends. Most of my students respect the teacher/student roles and actively seek mentorship rather than friendship. I think this is because the mentor role of the instructor is special for the students--it is designed to help students make progress with their lives, which is precisely why they've come to college.
I feel that by developing a rapport with the students is important because it helps to make them feel more comfortable with you. They also will have a level of respect for you which when combined together, will generate productive discussions in the classroom.
The student benefits from good rapport almost immediately. You must be careful not to be too friendly as it may cause some to lose their focus.
Rapport is an alliance built on trust between the instructor and the students It is all about connection with the students. It is not just any connection. The connection must be harmonious and sympathetic. That means the instructor must create emotional connection with the students. We must extend the students a warm and friendly invitation to our learning environment in every class meeting. It is especially important on the first day of class. We need to remember their names and treat our students with respect. Afterwards, we need to adopt this demeanor every day, in or out of class. It will make learning more meaningful and fun.
Rapport is an alliance built on trust between the instructor and the students It is all about connection with the students. It is not just any connection. The connection must be harmonious and sympathetic. That means the instructor must create emotional connection with the students. We must extend the students a warm and friendly invitation to our learning environment in every class meeting. It is especially important on the first day of class. We need to remember their names and treat our students with respect. Afterwards, we need to adopt this demeanor every day, in or out of class. It will make learning more meaningful and fun.
If students don't feel like they can connect with you the battle is more difficult for student and instructor. It let's students know you are human and you care about them as a person.
When a teacher develops rapport with students it makes them feel like a true person. The students learn to respect the teacher because the teacher listens and respects the students.
Developing a rapport with your students builds trust. The students are more likely to listen to what you have to say if they trust you. The students will also feel as if they can communicate with you openly and honestly.
My students enter my courses with a certain sense of apprehension, nervousness, and some fear of what their abilities may or may not be. I take it is my mission to try to connect with each of them. I believe that in doing so, I can alleviate the three negatives that they enter with and thus promote a positive learning experience.
