Eye contact with students
Making eye contact keeps the students more aware of the instructor and where they are. It makes them more attentive
I woul agree with your thoughts, I also tend to make eye contact to make the students aware that I'm watching what's going on around the room also sometimes you can read individuals on how they are absorbing the information and gives you heads up on if you need to redirect your train of thought so that everyone understands the lecture and information being discussed.
Hi Ruth!
Very good suggestions!
I do think that all types of technology will eventually be used in the classroom for academic learning. Some schools have not placed a ban on mentioned technology so they either use it for learning or students abuse the use in classrooms.
Keep up the good work!
Jane davis
ED106 Facilitator
Regarding an instructor that has difficulty making or keeping eye contact:
I think the method of public speakers to look at the space between the eyes instead of the eyes themselves may be helpful to the instructor having this difficulty. Another method is to look just above the students' heads. Just the glance in their direction will give the students assurance that you are interested whether they are understanding/learning the material being presented. Your peripheral vision may be enough to get the impression whether your students are "getting it" and your own discomfort will be minimized.
Regarding students feeling the discomfort of direct eye contact:
If the instructor is getting a feeling that the student is embarrassed or made uncomfortable by direct eye contact, you may want to talk to that student privately and confirm that is indeed the case. Believe it or not, the reasons my adult students sometimes avoid eye contact include embarrassment for not being prepared for the lecture/assignment as directed or that they are frantically trying to catch up by copying another student's material/homework. I have had students working on homework during my lecture for their next class. For that reason, I usually do not give assignments or handouts that need completion before my lecture is over for the day. Again, I think these are matters that should be discussed privately with the student if they are a problem. Often students are not aware that they are disturbing the concentration of classmates by their actions and just a word will be sufficient. Stressing that lectures are important to their own comprehension of the material may also be "a word to the wise."
Cell phone, texting, and other contact technology or earphones are not appropriate during lectures AT ALL and they are banned from usage during classes at our school. I sometimes have students that transcribe/ type notes on laptops during lectures, however I ask them to sit on the back row so they do not distract the others.
Hi Denise!
You make a very valid point. Making eye contact is not comfortable for everyone and in some cultures unacceptable.
I personally do not think that the lack of eye contact will negatively impact student interaction. Having said that, I do believe that you have to find another way of connecting with your students. Scanning the room but not necessarily making one on one contact will help students feel like they are contributing to the class. Certainly, if you are interacting with individual students in conversation, you should make some type of eye contact.
You know - most people can look at people/things but never see really see them. You have to find a technique that works for you, if you don't, students will begin to feel very disconnected.
Perhaps, that a topic of discussion with your students since we encourage our students to practice eye contact in many areas of their lives. You may find some very revealing and interesting comments.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I often connect or look to see if any of my students connect with the concept or idea I am discussing.
Eye contact does help the instructor keep the attention of the students. It helps those students who want to hold personal conversation, check out facebook on the computer or work on another classes assignment refocus on you and what you are saying.
In the reading for this lecture there was mention that some people react negatively to eye contact, but it did not seem to me that the advices given concerning making eye-contact included these peoples specific needs.
As a person in this category, it is unclear to me whether making eye-contact with me will be reassuring to my students or just transfer to them some of my discomfort as I do this for them and therefore make things worse. Also, I am unable to assess the effects that the eye-contact has on students because I have no personal connection to their experiences of it.
Is this just another hopeless situation? Or is their some advice out there for people like me who choose to teach despite a certain level of discomfort with some of the requirements of teaching?
Hi Anne-Marie!
It also helps the instructor know whether the student is understanding what is being discussed.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Eye contact lets students know that you are in charge and that you are involving them in the lesson. It will also discourage them from doing other work under the desk, catching some z's, or chatting with their neighbors.
