Eye Contact
I agree about making eye contact with each student during lecture. It helps me find out if the student is understanding the topic or not.
Carolyn,
yes, eye contact is a great way to engage all students in the work of the classroom & to really help them feel like the belong.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Also making eye contact with each student reinforces that I recognize each person as an individual
eye contact is essential. Without eye contact you have no idea what the students are retaining or if they're even engaged. Establishing good eye contact, one keeps more students engaged and two allows the instructor to see when they are loosing the students. This alows the instructor to either slow down or repeat the content in another way.
Heather,
yes, if we have a conversation or have established that relationship, just a quick look can tell them that we'll help them later or allow us to see if they are understanding.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Good point. Also, I sometimes make more eye contact with students that I know have struggled. This way if they are too embarassed to ask a question, I can check their body language
Shaghayegh,
yes, this is a great, quick way to check for understanding from many of the students; the eyes will often tell us if they are lost or not.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I too make eye contact this gives me the reassurance that the students are understanding what I am talking about or if they are confused or lost.
