Our eyes are indeed the windows to the world!
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Germain another excellent observation and recommendation.
Jane Davis
Ed106 Facilitator
sometimes, brief eye contact can not only clue an instructor in to whether or not a student is following what is going on in class, but also whether the student is okay. changes in mood, intellectual/psychological discomfort, and perhaps even physical discomfort can be observed. this can assist faculty in better addressing students independently, later, perhaps recommending services through referral.
I wanted to comment on this concept as well. A student's eyes will tell you almost immediately if they understand or not. You may have to elaborate a bit more on a certain topic or go ahead and move on to the next one based on expression alone.
Maintaining eye contact is important because it establishes a relationship with the student and instructor. The instructor can see if the student is paying attention and see if the look on their face to see if the student(s) is understanding what is being covered.
Eye contact is very important when speaking to your students because it is 2-3 seconds when you are speaking with your students as individuals in a large group. It shows that each and every student is an important part to the class.
I completely agree with you. Students get more involved in class.
I think it makes them feel that you truely do recognise them...and they are focused on you and what you are saying at least for those few moments.
I gives the student the preception that you are talking to them and makes the lesson more individual. It also gives the instructor the opportunity to see if there is comprehension of the material or at least some understanding.
After reading the replies, it strikes me that most of the respondants are only using eye contact one way. Sure, eye contact helps put the student at ease and makes the instruction more personable, but is is also a valuable feedback tool. If the student doesn't understand, is confused, or attention is wondering, this is agreat way to get the nonverbal feedback. Eye contact can be used for inclusiion or exclusion. It is a wonderful tool to quickly bring back into the fold someone who is wondering away. Eye contact is another tool that assits the instructor in better presenting material, establishing raport and controlling the classroom. The uses are only limited by your imagination.
That few seconds of eye contact, gives the student a sense that he/she is part of the class. That student is not being ignored or shunned. It empowers the student with the feeling of " my instructor is really talking to me, and making me a part of this class."
Eye contact with students, or anyone we enteract with is one of the soft skills I teach. It let's the student feel respect and give respect back to the instructor, prospective employer or whomever the conversation is with . Eye contact is also a way for instructor to gauge whether or not a point made was a point received. You can see in a students eyes whether the get it or not.
Great job Loren!
What are the others ways of engagement do you use?
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
In maintaining eye contact with my students throughout the corse of demo/lecture I am using non-verbal communication that they are part of my lecture. Each student is important and I convey that to my students by drawing them in through eye contact. If I notice a certain student not reciprocating I might use other methods for engaging them into the process of discussion.
Good question Gregg!
People use their eyes to express many things - anger, happiness, sadness, negative and positive looks.
Thanks for the question!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Please explain "positive eye contact".
Maintaining eye contact has a two fold effect. One it makes the student feel that you are teaching them and only them. And two, it shows the students that you respect them enough to look them in the eye and in turn they will respect you.
I agree every student wants to feel like its just you and that student
Greetings Gregg!
I totally agree! But I find more and more often that people in general are unable to have good eye contact. We actually practice positive eye contact in my class.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Eye contact not only helps you to focus on the fact that your students are people, it helps them to see that you acknowledge their presence. People like to feel important or to be noticed in a positive or even neutral way more than they prefer to be ignored.
