In a diverse learning enviroment you will have to learn your students and find out how they react when you speak to them. Some students might not be able to comprehend some words; while others will understand it. You might have to explain yourself or change the way you explain something so that everyone understands, but not to the point where you make them feel dumb or childish.
Any...everyone has their own way of communicating and I try to adapt to the needs of the students.
Eye contact is one of my most valuable tools. I can clearly see understanding or confusion on the topic of discussion. Students will profound language barriers are my most difficult obstacle.
What I find most important in a diverse environment is using powerpoint presetnation along with my lectures. I give the students visualization of the subject being taught along with the lecture to help the student understand the information.
I also add color and clip art to the slides to provide more enjoyment than just looking at a plain slide. I try to use the idea of making a more appetizing meal, by using the right colors and information as not to overwhelm them.
I believe being able to read students' faces is an important communication skill in a diverse learning environment. Your students provide you with instant feedback regarding the learning environment you have created. With their facial expressions they are telling you whether the class is exciting, boring, or confusing.
Being able to read your students is very important because you need to understand the intent and context of their questions to be able to teach effectively.
1. Listening. Nontraditional students aren't always equipped with optimum communication skills making our listening skills even MORE important.
2. Repetition. Hitting main/important points multiple times.
3. Variety of presentation. Keeps ME attuned to what's going on, esp. if it's material I'm VERY familiar with, and keeps the students attentive.
Lots of motion, eye contact, asking questions, and giving personal anecdotes keeps students engaged and participatory in the learning process.
I believe one of the most important communication skills is sensitivity to the cognitive processes that an individual experiences when interacting with other cultures. It is imperative for one to keep an open mind with other cultures. Mannerisms and language that may be acceptable in one culture or region can be negative or threatening in another. Intercultural competence ensures ones message will be effective.
TO ME THE ANSWER IS SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED. HOWEVER, THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK AT MULTIPLE LEVELS OF EDUCATION. MANY STUDENTS REQUIRE A SIMPLER FORM OF EXPLAINATION THAN OTHERS. BEING ABLE TO USE PICTURES, VERBAL AND HAND GESTURES AS WELL AS SIMPLE EXAMPLES IS MY WAY. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT USING WORK HISTORY EXAMPLES WORK EQUALLY WELL.
Eye contact, smiling when appropriate, changes in voice volume and tones, using your facial expressions and hand/arm gestures to emphasize/make a point. Adults in a classroom for 5 to 8 hours with 1 1/2 to 2 hours break can get pretty restless, sleepy and desparate intermittently.
Body langauage and facial expressions go a long way to expressing your message, or conversely detracting from it. By modeling good behavior and attitude, students are more likely to follow suit
In a diverse learning environment, visual, auditory, and tactile skills must be capitalized by the teacher in order to effectively connect to the students. Student engagement to more complex topic is highly boosted when understanding of basic information is realized.
I think not only do you need to have good verbal communication but also visual and even written communication skills. The reason is that in a diverse learning environment, you have to communicate with each student in the manner that is best for them.
Memorable examples is the most important. Instructors must be able to connect to each student and find relative content to their learning. I always get satisfaction in finding that "divine spark" when a student learns a key concept for the first time. Drawing their attention to the relevance of a memorable event or example that they encountered in life and directing it to subject content helps. However, using the memorable example in some form of an assessment such as a homework assignment, quiz or test question or project activity gives the student(s) pride when they succeed from this benchmark of learning.
Greetings Joann!
Nonverbal communication is very powerful. How do you use nonverbal communication in your classes?
To help students understand the power of nonverbal communication, I have an exercise that we use where we use nothing but NV communication for up to 30 minutes. The results are very interesting and impressive in how people can communicate without ever having said a word.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I think nonverbal skills are important. Instructors must remember to keep their expressions in check as to not offend students.
I think that body language is one of the best universal communication skills. All individuals can show attentiveness and common courtesy despite cultural or language differences.
You are correct that the online environment is leveling - do you have any suggestions about how to best engage students? What methods have you found that enhance communication in this environment?
I think being able to not only speak but create eye contact on a one on one basis as well as at a class level is important. It allows you to connect with all your different students and especially making it a point to connect personally on a one on one basis is daily to check in with all your students to make sure everyone is still engaged and learning.
