IBRAHIM,
Indeed it does!! I have said many times that respect is one aspect that is missing in our society today. Thank you for adding it to your class and discussing it!
Shelly Crider
Robert,
I love the example that you do with your class. Seeing is believing!!
Shelly Crider
Students often enter my classroom defensively because I teach English Composition and Oral Communication courses. The two subjects that give many students a stigma or fear are English and Mathematics.
Knowing that on the first day of class the students have a guard up, we generally do non-traditional skits, schemas, and lesson plans for the first two class sessions. That helps them to lower their gaurds yet they still have great expectations for the learning experience.
Illustrating that I value effective communication comes with encouraging students to express how they feel, I encourage them to ask questions freely, there is a rule in the classroom that the dumbest question is the one that has not been asked. When students are speaking, it is understood that no one else should be speaking. I generally ask students to listen to others as they ask questions so that the same question is not asked twice.
The greatest joy of working with adults is that I am very close in age with most of my students. They see that there is a connection yet their instructor has a lot to offer them even though we are of the younger generation. Listen first and speak secondly is a general rule of thumb for most of my students.
Effective communication helps us better understand a person or situation and enables us to resolve differences, build trust and respect, and create environments where creative ideas, problem solving, affection, and caring can flourish.
here are some of the most Effective communication skills
1. Listening.
2. Nonverbal communication.
3. Managing stress
4. Emotional awareness
( the consciousness of your moment-to-moment emotional experience)
In a technical career, use of correct terminology is critical to communicating the problems encountered, and the best methods to overcome these problems. Quite often I will use an example of a customer using incorrect terminology describing a problem which results in the technician coming to an erroneous resolution.
Leslie,
This is a nice assignment as in the real work world there will be group projects to do!
Shelly Crider
We work on effective communication with projects each term to have the students present PowerPoint presentations to the whole class over various subject matter that we are currently learning about.
Jason,
I like how you give students an assignment with various forms of communication as the heart of the assignment. Most think of communication as verbal or nonverbal...and that is it!
Shelly Crider
Andrea,
Oh I love how you hit on international customs. More and more of our students will be met with international questions in their future. My own son is off to Japan!
Shelly Crider
To illustrate the power of effective communication, instructors can give examples or have students find examples of communications in any form that fall anywhere on a continuum of effectiveness. This can included written, verbal, graphic, video, or even kinesthetic methods of communication. Have students discuss what the goal of the communication might be then assess whether it met the presumed goal. Lastly an analysis of the characteristics of effective communication based on the strengths and weaknesses of each sample would serve to codify the key points of the lesson.
A follow-up to this lesson would include an opportunity for application of the key points of effective communication. Students might suggest or actually recreate the communication samples in a way that is more effective. This could be followed by a discussion about the rationale for their selected changes.
I think that they also need to be aware of the social norms of other societies. Because the world economy is in play, we are often having conversations and meetings, via the computer, across the globe. Having an understanding of international business etiquette is essential. Non-verbal communication differs from place to place. For example, maintaining eye contact may be appropriate here in the US, but in some cultures, making eye contact could be viewed as a sign of disrespect, especially depending on the gender of the individuals. It helps to be aware, and students need to know that these differences exist so that when faced with a situation, they can do their due diligence and find out what to do as well as what NOT to do.
LeeAnn,
Different situation do need different communication skills.
Shelly Crider
In the clinical setting, where I spend the majority of my time, I find that there is often a communication barrier between many of the team mates. I try to encourage good communication skills so that the gap can be lessened. It is important for my students to understand that it is not necessarily what is said, but how it is said that makes a difference. The correct delivery must be chosen depending upon the situation and the receiver.
Lissete,
So many times people, not just students, miss the body language. Thank you for prepping on this!
Shelly Crider
I provide presentations and one on one assistance to students on verbal and non-verbal effective communication for job interviews. Verbal communication is important for job interviews and I conduct mock interviews with students and apply active listening then provide them with feedback. For non-verbal prep I coach students on body language, shaking hands, and eye contact during interviews. I also coach students on communicating professionally via email with employers. Effective communication is extremely valuable to job seekers because the interview is the most important piece of the hiring process.
Dell,
Oh so true....what is it that you see when you first walk in to a funeral home....a nice quiet man/woman holding the door for you speaking in a soft voice.
Shelly Crider
Ali,
Be sure to use a name when you are speaking or writing to someone, even if it is a response.
Shelly Crider
Joe,
This is so true! What you "see" is what you "get"....or at least that is what the customer thinks.
Shelly Crider
I think however you communicate your body language is important, because you can express yourself in a positive or negative way and the person or customer will feel the energy.
A large part of teaching is about being able to communicate effectively to everyone in the classroom and when effective communication is missing, teachers can misunderstand or be ignorant of student’s needs and expectations. These are some ways that can be taken by my students the value of having effective communication skills:
1. Assume the best of everyone.
2. Operate with the assumption that everyone has the students’ best interests in mind.
3. Remember that effective communication is the key to having your suggestions and ideas heard and taken seriously.
4. Keep a positive attitude.
5. Take time to say “hello,†and listen to others as much as possible.
6. Practice empathy and understanding.
