Good eye contact allows the opportunity to recognize that they are respected as active member of the class, while assuring self confidence.
Making eye contact makes the student feel you are talking to them individually which gets them involved during lecture.
I totally agree any longer and that makes the customer feel uncomfortable...
If you have big brown eyes you ight as well share them with your class...i usually move them to all of my students throught a demo period...i focus on getting eye contact with every one of them
Maintaining eye contact with the students allows you to reinforce that you are interested in each of them and that you are seeking acknowledgment that they understand what you are saying. You are showing that you are talking TO them and not AROUND them. It helps me to see whether or not they are understanding what I am presenting--am I getting blank stares, glazed over eyes, or to I sense understanding in them. If I sense too many of them are not understanding, I can pull back and take another approach in presenting the material.
I use eye contact to assess how well the student understands the information being presented during the class. If the student avoids eye contact, I make a note to spend spent some one on one time to ensure he/she is grasping the concepts required to move on to the next section of the course. By using eye contact and assessing body language, I can normally find the students that require more time to comprehend the subject while allow the more advanced students to explore the subject in greater detail.
This is the one that I struggle the most with because I tend to read too much into the student's faces. The value of having eye contact helps you to visualize how your lecture is progressing - Are the student's still engaged or are they getting bored. It can help you to "switch gears" before the malaise sets in.
Deborah.Balentine
Students also are more alert when you are interacting in these ways. Calling on a student by name, and then adding those few seconds of eye contact shows a committment on your part, and keeps the students on alert and focused - they are part of the classroom conversation.
It helps the student become or fell like part of the class. It allows them to feel that you are giving them individual attention. You are also acknowledging their existence.
Although part of a class, each and every student is learning as an individual person and every person likes to feel personally connected to someone to whom they are engaging. In reality, whether they realize it or not, an instructor is , at some level, personally engaging each person in the classroom simultaneously.
Maintaining eye contact serves several purposes. One, you are acknowledging the student and making him or her feel like you are speaking directly to them. Two, eye contact reinforces the relationship to give the student more ease in asking questions and three, eye contact provides you the opportunity to evaluate the class to see who is engaged and who isn't.
The value of having contact will let the students know that you are giving them respect and it helps you with with reading their non verbal cues. It will also aid in which way the lecture needs to go.
I actually had a student in a recent class of mine tell me that she noticed that I always look people in the eye when I am addressing them. She liked that and felt it was worth mentioning to me.
Before getting involved in teaching, one of my careers was Law Enforcement. I noticed, while in that role, that eyes can be quite telling. I always make a point to make eye contact and by nature I am suspicious if I do not receive it in return. I understand it could be a variety of reasons why the student is uncomfortable with eye contact, but it is something they need to overcome.
It helps to gauge if they are understanding the material being covered. A lot of students will not voice their opinions in class, but their eyes can tell you how they are feeling.
i think it helps the students stay focused.
I believe it is extremely important. It involves each student you have eye contact with to let them know you acknowledge their participation in class;it helps you know whethet they are involved or not, understanding the information or not, falling asleep or not, etc. I believe eye contact helps the students stay focused on what you're saying as well.
I also thinks that maintaining eye contact with my students reaffirms to them that I am not only listening to them but that I am confident in the response that I am giving them, therefore leaving the student with a sense of confidence
It gives the student a personal contact with the instructor, "the instructor is aware that I am here".
The value is the personal connection and recognition of that student. To let them know that you are aware of their presence and behaviors and care if they are involved with the lesson or lecture. While, I agree with these values, I am also finding it more difficult to maintain eye contact because of the increase lack of it in our society because of computers and more virtual communications. I also find that students used to digital communications are becoming more uncomfortable with eye contact as well. Thus, it is ever more important to practice good eye contact.
