Interacting with every student makes them feel like they are part of the course and not just a number. It gives me the ability to create a rapport with the student and lessens the amount of "angry, quiet and cheating" students in my courses. It begins the trust building with them.
Hi Leon,
Connection is key. We need as many positives to help combat retention because retention is certainly a constant battle.
Patricia
With the correct amount of interaction students feel more comfortable with the instructor at any given point of the class. When the students feel comfortable they show up to class everyday with enthuaism and a willingness to learn. During classtime students will want to ask questions give there opinions because through interaction you have shown them that you care about their future. Students want either a small group setting or that one on one interaction so they do not feel like just a number in the student population. Asking questons to the students during a lesson or demo makes the students think about any situation. I have had demos that were supposed to take up to a half an hour last twice as long because all of my students had some type of input on what we were doing. Through interaction you get to know how each student best retains the information you are giving them and that makes you a better instructor for the future.
They will feel coonected to the instructor and to the class. This also helps retention.
It is important to let them know you are interested in them and in their ability to progress well in their chosen field. If they know you care and want them to succeed they may be more willing to ask questions and discuss areas they are struggling with in the course. By empowering every student with a positive interaction you may be able to positively cultivate class cohesiveness and team work that will continue much longer than that particular class.
Students need to feel that someone is there for them. There are many types of students in any given class. Some are really good at interacting with me, asking questions, chatting before and after class, always appearing interested. The students that can be left out are the other ones. they are shy or intimidated and won't ask questions or ask for help. These are the ones to reach out to, so that they feel they are being taken seriously, not only by me, but also by the institution.
Its important to interact with the students becasue I think it shows to them that you care and want to make sure they succeed. It also shows to you as an instructor what they are retaining and what they may need help on.
Hi Danette,
It is imperative that you interact with ALL students. You can not give or let one student have all the attention. You MUST spread the love!
Patricia
i do agree also by showing the students that you welcome their interaction; even if they are shy they now trust and understand that you want to hear their voice: their voice does matter, not just to you yet always to their peers
It is important because some students who may be shy may feel as if they are being ignored. This could turn a good student into a student who does not respect or care for the class. Also, it can help keep disruptive problems under control if you interact with everyone rather than just the one or two students who always seem to be participating or trying to control the classroom.
Hi Maimoona,
It is extremely important to interact with students. Students will open up to you in more ways than one, if they feel they have developed a rapport with you.
Patricia
Interacting with students is one of the best ways of getting feedback about your instructional methods.
you can easily tell at what level a particular student is by listening to them.
It gives them a sense of belonging and having a say in what goes on around them and that is important for adult learners.
Hi Patricia:
Students definitely like to feel that they belong in the class and have something valauble to contribute. I teach at 3 different schools, and some have 45 or more students, so the interaction gets challenging. The proprietary schools fortunately have classes of 25 or fewer, whihc makes inclusion and one on one interaction more accessible.
John
Hi Patricia and Dixie:
I agree that we are necessarily open with praise and show positive aspects of students' work, along with gently pointing out their weaknesses. We are learning advocates for the students and much coach, encourage and guide them whenever and however possible.
John
The biggest reason from my standpoint is so we can influence them. One of the things that I have learned from my military experience is that leadership is all about influence and we can only influence the people we touch. Ignoring any student reduces our ability to influence them and help them grow as students and as human beings. That's what makes teaching so rewarding! The funny thing is the challenging students are often the ones that we remember when we help them overcome their fears and limitations.
I’ve found that if you spend some one on one time with each student on the first day that it will break down the big-me/little you mentality. That in turn helps create an environment where the students feel important and safe. If I can project myself as an ally instead of just an instructor the entire learning experience becomes more exciting and fun.
Hi Adrienne,
Students want someone to care about them. It means a lot to students whenever instructors reach out to them.
Patricia
Hi Eli,
Yes, interaction with students helps to build their confidence in class participation. They usually feel more comfortable and relaxed with instructors who reach out to them.
Hello Instructor Scales,
It is important to have interaction with every student to communicate that you are interested in his or her ideas about the course topics and progress through the course material. It is also important for setting an example and encouraging student participation so they do not feel ignored or isolated. Interaction with every student helps the individual to understand that the instructor is there to guide and support, not just to lecture from 'on high'.
Hello Instructor Scales,
It's important to have interaction with every student so he/she knows that an instructor is monitoring their progress and available to help them at any point during the class. This helps students to feel valued by their instructor.
