Mahmoud,
Thank you for sharing this personal example of the impact an instructor can have on a student. Your professor helped you to realize that you could be successful in the class and that influence is still being felt as you work with your own students. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is very important to listen, show interest and be accepting of different thoughts and cultures.
My first semester in college, I was the youngest student in a class and the only foreigner. Our professor was very good at listening and showing interest, so much so that I quickly warmed up and felt comfortable enough to voice my thoughts without fear of being ridiculed by the professor or the other students.
If you bring up the students opinion to the rest of the class and state that they had a good idea. Maybe you can put their opinion to use.
Dana,
This is a good approach as it requires the students to do some thinking and support their position with facts. This work will help in building their confidence in what they are learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
give positive feedback of their opinion and relating it to actions in the world around them .It may helps each student understand why their opinion matters. I believe it is always key to have the students support their opinion with some factual basis.
Anne,
Listening to students is a valuable teaching tool needed by every instructor. By listening and valuing their opinion they will respect you and know you respect them. This is a great foundation upon which to build rapport.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I make it a point to value my students opinions. They are very important to me and the results that I am trying to achieve. I have them see the change and also make it a point verbally that I appreciate it and that I also learn from them.
Richard,
You make a very good point. Instructors need to learn how to listen to students. By listening instructors can see how they can more accurately target their instruction to meet the current group of enrollees.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To make students feel as if their opinions are heard, the teacher should use their opinions and a basis for discussion in class. If a student suggests a different technique for accomplishing a task, share it with the class and have them test it to see if it works. This will encourage student sharing and the students will feel valued in the class.
Nicole,
Listening is a valuable teaching tool. Knowing you are listening to them is important to students. By them knowing you are listening they will open up and contribute more to the course as well as listen themselves when others share.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Addressing their opinions as neccessary. Students want to be heard when they give their feedback. Not all issues can be addressed at once or at all , but knowing your taking the feedback and attempting is a way to gain good rapport.
Brian,
Listening is a very powerful learning tool for instructors. By listening you are showing students respect as well as learning how you can provide them support and encouragement.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Listen to the student and show interest in what they are saying.
Robin,
Validation is so important especially with older students. The more opportunities they have to receive validation the more engaged they will be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sometimes a student wants to be heard, and validated. It is not alright to ignore the students, or make them feel as though their voice cannot be heard. Sometimes the students will give an oponion that is very valuable, and they may help the group including you, think outside of the box.
Nicole,
Letting them share their own experiences helps to bring value to the course content. They get to see how what they have experienced can be integrated into what is being taught and the result is career growth.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Keep the students actively involved in all lessons. Allowing them to share their personal or career experiences is a great way to show you value their opinions.
Marilyn,
Good strategies to follow as you engage students in interactive discussions and topics. The more they contribute the more valued they will perceive themselves as being. This is an important growth point for them in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
By listening to what they say with interest and asking questions. Getting into an argument if you don't agree is counterproductive. Paraphrasing and finding out why they feel that way is important. Keeping conversations positive. We can all learn from one another.
Tonya,
A simple technique that yields big dividends when interacting with students. By listening and staying focused on them you are giving them respect while earning theirs.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
