Thanks, Bruce, for your comments. Gestures are a major component of body language and particularly, as you referenced, accentuate points and examples that you are providing in your lecture. It is an excellent way to "animate" the classroom and engage students.
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Ray, thanks, this is an excellent point; I have seen so many instructors take the approach, "I'm going to tell you what you need to know." However, even though we have subject knowledge to impart and skills to teach, our adult learners bring both experience and expectations to the table.
When I have taken the time to ask students what they expect from a course, or from a lesson, I find that their expectations are usually similar to the already established learning objectives.
Hearing those expectations, as well as referring to them during the learning experience, helps me to customize a bit and results in student buy-in.
Jay Hollowell
ED106
I ask students what they expect to get from the class so we understand what their needs or wants are.
I beleive movement is very important to help keep your students awake and alert,and I think it makes students think you are teaching more to them, then as a group. I would like to get better at gestures, because I think this makes for a more interseting lecture.
Clearly all of your communication skills are important. I tend to focus making sure that I am using words and phrases that the class can understand. Sometimes this means story telling other times it means precise technical information or any where in between. Sometimes it takes a wide variety of methods as our class are ussually very diverse in age group therfore they learn differently and different attention spans.
I have to be carful about my pace of speech. AS I get excited about the lectures this excitement carries over to the students, which is great, but all is lost if I talk to fast for them to comprehend the information.
One aspect of my teaching skills I would like to improve on is to try and lose a little bit of my accent. I am from Tennessee and I have a bad southern draw. I have found that some of my students have a hard time understanding me with some of the things that I say.
I have found the good eye contact help show the student your aware of their presence and that they are part of the learning envirorment, and a confident voice reinforces to your student your confident in your ability to teach the subject matter.
I would like to take more time to pause after a students question,to see if another student jumps in on the question
Hi Mark! Thanks for your comment. What techniques do you employ to motivate students?
As always it is best to use what ever means you have to connect with your students. This means speaking with them at there level, which does not mean you have to compromise your professionalism, but do not "talk over their heads". With some practice using different delivery methods and paying attention to student response you can zone in on the best method for the majority of the class. All of the skills discussed here are important on different levels for different classes. The one skill I would like to improve most is my speach patterns, trying not to be monotone or use "O.K." or "you know" too much. It is simply a distraction to what I am trying to convey.
keeping your students motivated
Hi Donna! Thanks for your comments! I too, after years of teaching, tell myself to pause and take a breath while presenting. We get so wrapped up sometimes in the subject matter that other students can inadvertently fall behind.
I have often stopped during a presentation or lecture and asked a student volunteer to provide an example or paraphrase a presented topic in his or her own words, or asked students what part of the lecture would make for an interesting discussion; other times I simply ask students to simply raise their hand to indicate that I may need to slow down, and to your point, eye contact can speak volumes about student understanding of the lesson at hand.
Thanks again for your participation in the forum.
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
I thoroughly believe that the communication skills discussed in this module are all equally important. I have been teaching for about twenty years at college and university settings and have learned quite a lot from mentors. Maintaining eye contact though is a biggy for me. I find that it greatly enhances my presentation. I gear my delivery by watching students and adjust per their "feedback".
The one aspect that I continually have to focus on is speed of delivery. I tend to speak fast. I would add that it doesn't seem quick personally, but as I watch students I notice many struggle to keep up with the notetaking. Thus I provide comprehensive outlines and continually tell myself to pause and breath.
Thanks, Victor, for your input! Demonstrations that show cause and effect are an excellent teaching method because they not only lend themselves to the different adult learning styles, but they reinforce a critical workplace skill - seeing the big picture, or the connection between a process and an outcome.
Bravo!
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
Thanks, Olga, we have often found that "silence is golden, not arkward" so to speak. Sometimes a bit of quiet during a presentaiton or lecture can be quite powerful - it can bring special attention to a point, refocus students, or simply give learners a chance to catch up.
The hardest thing for me was to ask a quesiton and then wait for a response - it seemed like an eternity before a student might respond. I learned that it's OK to just let a little time pass before an anticipated response is given - it's actually a great communication dynamic.
Jay
ED106
As an instructor the communication skill that I would like to improve would be to talk a little bit less and alot slower. Before starting this class, I would get nervous when everything was quiet. If there was no noise it felt uncomfortable. Now I'm trying the making eye contact with the students and waiting for their response to my questions or just listen to what they actually have to say.
pass experiance and demonstraitions inlab
that show cause and effect and have hands on
learning in lab
Interpretation of information and enthusiasm.
My vocal practices(tone and speed)I can hear myself being "mono toned" and at the wsame time my speed doesnt vary.
RW
I think oral communication skills are very key in teaching in the traditional classroom. This takes eye contact, and movement around the classroom into account. By having great oral communications, you are able to express yourself to the students. You can do this from your eye contact to show that you are engaged with your students.
I tend to move around the classroom to keep the students engaged. I have student that sit at the back of the classroom because they think they will not have to participate. I engage them into the class because I am back there with them. It also shows the students that I understand the subject matter and can instructor from all aspects of the classroom.
I have had instructors that lecture from the podium and I lose interest very rapidly.
Hi Harry! Having students paraphrase presented topics, without putting them on the spot, is a recommended way to check for understanding.
Thanks for your comments,
Jay Hollowell
ED106
