Sheila,
Yes this is a great way to get a feel for whether our students are grasping the concepts & content of the course.
Dr. Ryan Meers
shawn,
Good eye contact is definitely one of the best ways to show our students that we value them & what they have to say.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I think that effective eye contact demonstrates to students that you are interested in what they are saying and that what they are saying has relevence (that they are an active/important part of the discussion).
Eye contact helps maintain a student's focus on what is going on in class.
Raquel,
Yes, our eyes say a lot to the students, but as you pointed out, their eyes tell us much too & we can see if they are with us or not.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Michael,
So true. I'm actually working with a guy right now, whose content is great & his preparation puts all of us to shame, but he is fairly ineffective due to lack of eye contact.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I've learned that maintaining eye contact show that you are listening and or are paying attention to the students. Also, you can see who is learning or who may be confused as to what you are talking about when you are maintaining good eye contact.
Eye contact is a way of letting your students know that you are not a machine programed simply to supply info, but an actual person that is there to help them understand what is being presented. It puts a human side to it all.
it lets the student know your are listening to them and involved in the issues at hand.
I think it is important class size is a big factor
Lina,
Yes eye contact is a great way to demonstrate our respect for our students & to open up the class for discussion.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Eye contact keeps students engaged and participative. Acknowledgement of them is important to their learning experience.
Florita,
I think you've captured the best reason (to me) for good eye contact. I agree that it really does help students feel recognized & welcomed in the class & it does help them to get involved.
Ryan
The value of eye contact with the student to me is acknowledging their presence in class, and involving them into the subjects presented. It also makes known they are important and welcome in class, and an assurance of their participation with the project. Florita Robinson
I think it makes them feel like they matter to me and it makes the whole learning process more personal for them. A simple feeling like that makes them want to excell
Tara,
You are so right. Eye contact can serve a wonderful purpose on both ends. For those students who need some reassurance it can be a great way to demonstrate care & concern. And for those students who may be challenging us, direct eye contact can, as you said, be a statement of authority & confidence.
Ryan
Having eye contact with students lets them know you care and see them as an individual. Making eye contact also shows confidence and authority.
it builds confidence, and reduces anxiety a student may have. Eye contact in general shows trust.
Making it a point to make eye contact with all people/students in a room when doing a lecture shows that you are confident and genuine. It also shows openness to what you are communicating about and creates an environment that encourages and amplifies classroom participation.
Eye contact is a powerful tool to show respect as well as authority/control in the classroom. And you are right that it can help in maintaining the attention of those students whose minds might wander.
Ryan
