I think communicating in a clear manner (not mumbling or going to fast) is a big key for students to learn especially in a diverse learning environment.
Even being Texan, :) I always find myself speeding up especially at the end of a class trying to cram the last amount of material in to the lecture. This is one area that I could work on for improvement.
Learning to slow down and pause and listen better is really a good point. I'm practicing it. I ask students to elaborate as well.
It's nice to narrow down the topic to see what works best. You don't waster time on redundancies.
Explaining things effectively. So students get the points.
Learning new ways to communicate. It broadens my options for better communication.
Hello Jay:
It is nice to know I am not the only one that speaks quickly on a subject that I know well. I will take your advice and use some more demonstrations or examples to aid myself in slowing down.
I will also be using a subject outline. I would rather have the student have a good understanding of the basics than get confused or overwhelmed by too much content.
Thank you for your time and advice
Hello Clarine:
Thank you for the advice I do appreciate it. In face to face classrooms I can read the nonverbal signals and they are helpful to finding solution with the students who are struggling. If I see that a student is struggling in a certain area I try to take some time at the end of class to aid the student. I do also think the online environment is more of a challenge. Those nonverbal signals are not there and if the student does not communicate with you they can become frustrated.
I agree with your statement “there is always room for improvement in communication”, especially in our changing world.
Teaching is a great learning experience and look forward to many more challenges. I think the challenges that we face help us grow.
Don't make assumptions about students' knowledge. It is critical to teach to a variety of learning styles and knowledge levels. Embrace the diversity ~ diverse ideas can enrich the learning experience. I think it is important to clarify the information given to the students to ensure that the information was interpreted correctly and understood. Ask for clarification and provide manageable amounts of information for the students to process. Information overload can cause further confusion. Listening is also an important skill for both the sender and the receiver. The online environment can be challenging in that there is no face-to-face communication. I typically read the nonverbal signals from my students in a traditional classroom. The online environment has challenged me to improve my communication skills through the use of technology. I believe there is always room for improvement in communication. Know your audience and use a variety of techniques to reach that audience. I work extremely hard at being available to my students. Timely feedback is essential to student success.
Hi Joan! I too tend to speak quickly when covering a subject I know well, but realizing, as you mentioned, that it may be the student's first introduction to the material. I have found that taking the time to paraphrase, asking a question, telling a related story, giving an example or demonstration, and sometimes just stopping and taking a few good breaths all help to slow things down a bit.
It is common ground for most of us in career education, as you mentioned, to have the responsibility of teaching a lot of content or applications in a very short period of time to students with diverse backgrounds, needs and challenges. Though it is important to cover the primary learning objectives in a course, particularly if they involve foundational and sequential skills, each needed to be mastered before the next one applied, I have found that knowing the basics well is better than knowing a little something about everything.
Subject outlines that highlight the most important topics in order are an excellent resource.
Thanks so much for your observations!
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
The communication skills that I believe is the most important to a diverse learning environment is to speak slowly and clearly. Some of my classes that I teach only allot me three sessions. There is a lot of material to cover in this time. How can I cover more material without frustrating the students and making them feel overwhelmed?
As an instructor the communication skill that I would personally wish to improve upon is slowing down after I have taught a subject before. I have to remember that these students are here to learn and that they do not have knowledge in this area.
TO ME THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION SKILLS ARE VERBAL AND EYE CONTACT. THESE TWO FORMS WILL ALLOW US AS INSTRUCTORS TO DEVELOP A GOOD RAPPORT WITH OUR STUDENTS AND OBSERVE THEM WHILE GAINING THEIR TRUST AND RESPECT.
I WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE ON THE CLARITY OF MY WORDS TO DUE MY SPANISH ACCENT.
Refining communication skills is even more difficult when I'm teaching online, where the graphics, text, and my voice are the main tools. Still, the basic communication skils apply: Writing clear points that distill sometimes complicated concepts to their essence; speaking in a friendly yet authoritative voice that brings out conversation; and appealing to the diverse yet individual needs of the students, who are often coming from a place I may not know.
I'm reasonably good at empathy when it's called for. For example, when a student has lost a job or a parent, it's important to be responsive yet not get lost in the feeling. I'd like to learn how to deal with student who is just not engaged, attending class without really being there. What can one do to bring out this person?
Hi Gil and all,
I have used a scavenger hunt on several occasions. I think of the ten or so most relevant issues or topics that I want them to know and ask them to find the answers in the syllabus.
This way they know the information is there, and they have something they are actively looking for as they read/skim for the answers.
I am not used to the white board either. what are some good techniques that you have discovered?
Hi Jay and all,
Being aware of your audience is one of the most important skills when teaching. It makes sense to have some idea of who your students are so that you can predict which methods of communicating will be most effective. You would address a group of inner-city kids differently than you might address a group of rural kids. They have different backgrounds and are likely to react in different manners to different approaches. A good deal of this "skill," however, seems to come from experience.
My question might center on discovering if there are ways to shortcut this information? Are there methods or books that will help us learn to communicate better with different cultures and subcultures?
I would improve on my patience. Through patience a student sees I am trying to listen and connect with their process.
Watching a student and being in tune with their process is always a wonderful way to connect with them.
Keeping a sense of humor and be able to relate to them. Bring myself to their level and speak their language. Pay attention what is their motivation, take them seriously even if I think their motivation is small or insignificant.
English is my third language, I constantly find ways to improve my English and find better ways to communicate my thoughts.
I feel that it is important to try to make course material relatable and accessable to my students. For example, some of the terminology (especially Latin terms) tend to scare many students because the words are so long, but I find that repeating those terms a number of times & using them frequently during lectures helps take the edge off. Using pop culture references for examples of important concepts often helps too.
As an instructor, I would like to improve upon what I call the "um factor"; I know that I say "um" a lot and I REALLY want to stop that! It makes me sound as though I'm not sure of what I'm saying, when in actuality, it's a bad habit that I developed when I'm trying to slow down my pace or when I'm searching for a word & cannot think of it.
Hello,
I believe it's the command of the voice and realizing how to use it well is important.
I'd like to work on my communication through the use of the white board. I print so everyone can read it.
What other options would help students read the syllabus besides an open book pre-test? I could use the board for the main points of the current topic.
thx Gil Gaitan
I think the most important communicartion skill is to establish eye contact with each and every Student and to provide a positive encouraging attitude.
As an instructor, I think the one skill that I can always improve on is my ability to listen intently.
It has taken much experience to be completely comfortable in every classroom, but I have found that one of the most important things I bring to the classroom communication is comfort with my material and an ability to relate what I am teaching to something they already know and understand. I feel the connection helps the student retain the lesson taught.
There are occasions when I find myself moving through the lecture too fast, mostly when pressed for time... I need to learn how to "edit" when I need to wrap things up quickly.
Susan
