Maintaining eye contact alerts students to the fact that you are attentive to their own participation in the classroom. And it alerts you to students who are not paying attention. I also use I contact to guage comprehension. Sometimes students who don't understand can clearly be seen by their how they look at you. Personally eye-contact for me is very distracting when I am trying to listen to someone, because I become too engaged in reading their facial expressions and cannot process the audio so well, so I do not maintain eye contact for extended periods. But when I am talking, good eyecontact helps me focus as it is easier to talk to an audiance and gauge understand as you speak then to maintain a stream of thought without an audience.
Its really a two way message. It lets the student know that you are scoping the classroom and paying attention to those who are engaged and looking to re-engage those who are not. It also send a very power message to the student that you care about whether or not they may have a comment or question.
Maintaining eye contact tells the student you are paying attention to the individual and that you care. It helps the student realize that he/she is being monitored.
Maintaining eye contact tells the student that I am engaged and interested in their learning as well as to keep them engaged. I find that they participate more readily when I ask a question if eye contact is made.
Maintaining Eye Contact
I think it makes them feel important, and more connected to you and the class. Having eye contact helps with many facets of classroom management. It makes the student feel part of the class and part of the learning experience. It shows you recognize their individual input. In a lecture, if you make eye contact with a student who is doing something that is distracting him/her from listening or they are just not paying attention in general, that eye contact will draw them back in. Also looking directly into student’s eyes while speaking could possible enhance their self-esteem. The better they feel about themselves the more motivate they will be to apply everything they can to help develop themself
Eye contact allows the instructor to see if there are confusion in students' faces--which says that they do not understand; therefore, the instructor can ask the students if they understand or should the topic be discussed a little more in depth,
Eye contacts assures the student that you are serious about your subject matter, and you create a sense of comraderie.
I think eye contact is a very good tool to evaluate student understanding. If you're not having any eye contact with them, you wouldn't see any puzzled or confused looks on their faces when they don't quite understand something. You also wouldn't see any positive feedback, like smiles or nodding, to know that what you are saying is getting throught to them and they're enjoying the lecture. Eye contact is good for the instructor, but also for the student. It keeps them connected to you and engaged in the class.
Having an eye contact with students lets the students know you want them actively involved; and it shows them that you want them to learn.
It helps your students to know that they are a part of the class and encourages rapport with them. When they feel a personable connection with the instructor it helps to keep them engaged in the class.
I think it makes them feel important, and more connected to you and the class. In a lecture, if you make eye contact with a student who is doing something that is distracting him/her from listening or if they are just not paying attention in general that eye contact will draw them back in.
Eye contact lets students know that you respect them and helps both you and the students stay focused. I am one of those instructors with "nervous eyes," and working to improve in this area!
Eye contact helps the students know that I care about the way that they're learning. At times, I can evaluate whether or not a concept is "hitting home" based on the way their eyes are looking back at me. If I see a question in their eye, but they're choosing not to ask a question, I'll lead that particular student in a discussion instead. Eye contact not only helps the students know I care about them, it also assists me in evaluating how a student is understanding a concept.
Good Eye Contact gives the individual student the sense that the instructor is aware of them and not just off in their own world while they lecture. On a subconscious level it also lets the student know that they are being watched and that the instructor does not fear interaction with them, giving the instructor an advantage with classroom management.
Having eye contact helps with many facets of classroom management. It makes the student feel part of the class and part of the learning. It shows you recognize their individual input. In addition, it is a great tool for chacking for comprehension (via facial gestures)or enthusiasm for the class.
Maintaining Eye Contact lets the students know you are present and interested in them. It provides immediate connection with the students. Additionally, it provides the instructor an opportunity of reading nonverbal expressions of understanding.
It is important for me to see each student as an individual. The shy student knows I care about them. It makes it hard for the cheaters to cheat. I believe it shows confidence. Each student realizes they need to pay attention, when I look at them, I might be asking them a question.
Eye contact is important because it gives value to the students. It lets them know they are important in the classroom and add value to the class. It also helps to keep them involved in the discussion.
Eye contact has the following advantages:
1. it gives the feeling of connection and engagement with your students.
2. you are acknowledging their person.
3. it shows them you care and are interested in them.
4. it helps to maintain order.
Thanks.
Joseph A. Rosales, Jr.
it lets them know that you "see" them.. acknowledging them
