Hi leroy!
Eye contact is so important as you have stated. It offers the instructor so many ways to connect with students. The instructor benefits as well from knowing that student are interested and comprehending the material being discussed.
Good job and keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED 106 Facilitator
Eye contact helps to reinforce that class is starting; get focused! Later, it helps you to stay connected with students learning processes and his need to be a part of class. Using eye contact coupled with facial expressions alerts you to students understanding of lecture materials, flags instructor to slow down, speed-up, repeat point, or perhaps its time to reposition myself to prevent boredom. Doesn't student eye contact help the instructor as much as it helps the Student?
For me it is about engagement - it sets up a dialectic whereby my engaging them, spurs them to engage with me, setting up a much more conducive atmosphere for participation and learning. It ultimately makes it more interesting for me, which in turn makes it more fun for them. A happy balance...
Eye contact maintains a personal relationship with the student even if nothing is being aid. It also keeps people who might cheat honest.
Maintaining appropriate eye contact is paramount to your overall instructional delivery. Establishing eye contact lets that student know he or she exist and matter in the class. Also, having eye contact can engage those less engaged students. Eye contact shows you respect them and their input to the class. Mutual respect in the classroom allows that class to be more productive.
M. Allen
Eye contact lets the student know that the teacher is actively engaging each student on a personal level and I believe it also keeps the students attention by making them realize they are actively participating in the classroom discussion.
Maintaining god eye contact enables instructors to see who understands what you are lecturing or teaching. I noticed when lecturing sometimes or demonstrating techniques how intense and focused my students are. It is rewarding to see that everyone has their eyes on you and paying attention to every single word. I also notice when I do not have their focus, I need to change something about the lesson for the day.
Maintaining eye contact will give the student the impression that you are speaking to them and gives a more personal touch to your statements/comments.
I was once taught the key to being a good instructor is “VEGA.†"VEGA" stands for; Voice, Eyes, Gestures, and Attitude. Maintaining eye contact demonstrates your confidence in the material and will draw the students into the lecture. Varying your voice, using appropriate gestures, and having a positive attitude will make your classes much more interesting and effective.
For the most part it is one of the most important aspects of my instructional style, I also think it has to come naturally or you will come off as fake and the learning falls off a cliff.
The value of maintaining eyecontact includes rapport, keeping students' attention, letting student know you are actively engaged in their learning process, and allowing the instructor to keep students involved.
It lets the students know that you are engaged with them and the subject matter you are covering.
eye contact keeps the students more attentive.It also helps the instructor to overcome the nervousness.
Having good eye contact with my students keep them interested and engaged with my lecture. Some may feel, "why does she keep looking at me?" but, once they are asked a question it settles them and they participate in their learning process. Also, they may feel like their instructor truly cares and wants to be there with them as they learn. Having good eye contact can be a very useful skill when communicating with a class.
Hi TC!
Eye contact is a great way to help build students self-confidence since they feel like it's all about themselves. It also builds an instructors self-confidence knowing that students are connecting with them.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
The value of maintaining eye contact is that it can be used to assess the attitudes of students. As the course acknowledged, I only use the direct eye contact for a 3 second event. This way, I do not make a student uncomfortable. I usually use a smile as a means of softening the contact. To let the student know I am just sweeping the room. Not focusing in on them, to find something wrong with their activity or lack of activity.
Having eye contact with students helps you to see if the students are understanding what you are saying. It also helps you to make a connection with your students so they feel that they are a part of the class.
This helps to retain their interest by captivating them. It also helps you relate to how they are grasping the content you are talking about. If they avert their eyes they are usually not totally getting the idea and you can help by reiterating what you are talking about and call on a few students to try and get your point across. Sometimes a student can help another student understand better.
It establishes contct and instrest with the student. if over 2-3 seconds can feel like a stear down...
mataining eye contact for the 2-3 seconds recomended is just long enough to let the student know you are instrated in them and not too long to where the student feels engaged in a "stear down"
