Eye Contact
I found the bit on eye contact especially helpful. Often when lecturing it's awkward when you make eye contact with someone who is obviously uncomfortable with it; but those are often the students that need to be the most engaged for retention.
Antonio,
this is an excellent point: we should emphasize the eye contact with one another, not just with our students with us.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
If students can learn to look at, or toward, the person who is talking to them, then others will realize that they are listening, and that they do understand and will be more likely to treat the student as if they understand.
Maria Estela,
Yes great point to make here, in some cultures it would be disrespectful for the student to make eye contact with the instructor. We have to keep cultures in mind.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
with good eye contact. students feel like they are part of the class not just sitting there.
Yes i had frequent experiences with doing eye contact with students but I have noticed that we have to consider the cultural background of some students. There are some students from dfferent countries who can't tolerate eye contact, so what I do is call their attention by asking questions.
John,
and the other benefit is that the students really feel a part of the class.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I try to create eye contact with every student in the room several times during a presentation. Students seem to be more apt to ask questions if you have brought them out of hiding.
Monica,
yes & don't be afraid to hold that eye contact for a moment, not to stare them down, but just a friendly fix for a moment.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
