Communicating with the students
How do you know you are communicating with your students?
That is a good way of testing them if they really absorbed what they suppose to.Any question they ask will show what phase of the lecture was not clear enough and need to be elaborated and repeated.In that way it will clear out any confusions.Good communication is very essential
After the lecture, I want them to ask questions and have a classroom discussion.
Thanks, these questions and answers are very helpful!!!
Hi Richard,
You hit on an important point with the vocabulary. As students move into a new field they have to acquire in most cases many new words in their vocabulary (the technical terms) plus use their existing vocabulary to understand what is being said and to study. This can be very hard for many of them as you well know. Thanks for the reminder to be mindful of how we approach our students.
Gary
Two things that have worked for me is to make sure my level of vocabulary is tuned in reasonable close to the level of the students. If they don't understand the terms being used they will tune you out. The second thing that works for me is to pick a statement out of the text and pick a student at random and ask what the statement really means. This gives you feedback and keeps the class more involved as long as you keep the discussion steered close to the subject.
Hi John,
Good strategy. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
Try having them share a newly made point with their seating partner so that they can express it in their own words; then call upon the partner to say to the class what they heard.
Hi Ward,
Variety is the key component to keeping students engaged and focused on the learning process. Interaction and discussion is necessary. Also, offering ways of applying the newly acquired knowledge is an important way of moving from theory to application.
Gary
Are your students attentive or sleeping. Are you asking questions during your communicating. Are you getting positive feedback. Ward
Hi Rosa,
By the feedback you receive from them. If they have to ask you over and over again about an assignment or course content then you need to look at how you are communicating the course requirements and/or contents. Use the 3x5 card feedback method I mentioned in the previous forum as a tool to get at the communication question.
Gary
