Get Your Students Hired
I observed the same situation, when you maintain eyecontact they seem willing to ask questions....
I agree..... It can also let you know if the students are following what your covering.
Hi Renee!
I totally agree! It's about validating the value of our students. It gives them positive reenforcement that they are important to the process of the class.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I think it is important to maintain eye contact with the students because it is engaging and lets them know you are interested in what you are communicating.
If you maintain eye contact with the students they are more likely to ask questions because they feel you care about them as individuals. You are showing them that you want them to succeed.
John:
I so agree that they begin to participate more when you look at them. We see them and they begin to learn...it is a beautiful thing!
Best,
Renee
One of the main lessons I have learned as a teacher is that is a student knows you 'see' him/her. They are more likely to have buy in in the classroom. I learned this from teaching middle school where the students where they are at their most awkward and fell invisible on many levels. To help them establish visibility in the classroom, I would greet them at the door, shake their hand, look at them in the eye and notice something about them..their new shoes, new outfit, new hairdo...doing this simply task changed the dynamic of the classroom. When class started I continued the eye contact and I watched students change their behavior...if they know you see them in a positive light by giving them eye contact, they do not seek visibility by acting out and they begin to learn. I cannot think of a more important value than learning in the classroom and this is what eye contact does in the classroom...it is that important.
when i see expressions on my students face on being curious about my questions, i will ask them do everyone understand my question.then everyone will either node yes or no and i will repeat my question if everyone does not agree to make sure everyone is on the same page before moving on.
I believe the value of good eye contact is providing that "connection" between the instructor and student. Good eye contact can also inform the instructor that the group is grasping what is being covered.
Rob
Eye contact is a one of the most important ways of keeping the student focus while lecturing. Is 100% effective.
I agree. Eye contact with students is an important part of communications. When eye contact is made the student becomes part of the conversation and will tend to listen. You can also include questions to the lecture and the lecture will become a more valuable conversation.
I feel that through eye contact your students get a sense of your interest in the material that you are covering. It can also give the instructor an idea of the students that may not be comprehending the material.
it engages them in the discussion and lecture and makes them feel as though they matter in the presence of the room
Personally I feel it makes a student feel included. I think it is important that the eye contact be brief unless the student is presenting an idea or information. Be attentive to what they have to say and find tactful ways of correcting their information or adding pertinent supplement to it.
Let the student know they are special and involved. It also can give you a window into their understandind of the material.
I think it makes the student feel that you are there for them you are not there just to give them the information. I feel you you will have better interaction with the class.
It helps the student know that you are paying attention to them, that they are being looked at (so they can't fall asleep or goof around), and it also helps the instructor to gauge their facial expressions to see if the students in the classroom are understanding the topic being discussed.
Having eye contact with students makes the students feel, many times, like you are speaking to them personally.
Eye contact also expresses confidence and students believe much more of what you have to say with that confidence.
A word of caution with eye contact: In many Asian cultures, maintaining eye contact is a sign of dominance and disrespect. For this reason, self-monitor length of eye contact.