Dorothy,
yes, the personal experience is a great asset as the students really do love to hear about our stories. These also provide a great way to solidify the concepts in their minds.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think what helps me is that I have 20+ years experience in my field. I am able to bring real life experiences into the classroom which, in turn, allows me to to engage the students.
I also believe that "floating" is important to keep students attentiion. It really does help with classroom management.
Phuong,
yes, listening really is a key communication skill. As you said, the students need to listen to me & their peers & I must demonstrate that I am listening to them & their questions/concerns as well.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
what i truly believe in as communcation skills will be listening. the students are listening what you have to say you as an instructor you have to be able to listen what they think.
Dianne,
you are so right & we know that by using the variety of styles we will reach all of our learners at some point.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Being flexible with teaching styles is a must. Students learn visually, auditory, kinesthetic or a combination of all three. I try to mix my lecture/demonstrations so I can reach all of these learning styles. Humor and silly comparisons also help to reinforce the information and take some of the "dryness" out of lecture.
gary,
yes, we do need to work hard to put our students at ease & make them feel ready to learn. I've found the better prepared I am, typically the more I can put my students at ease.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
In addition to all the information in the module i also believe it is imortant to relate to the students. If speaking to them is such that they cannot relate to the vocabulary, or example toics the educator will loose the studetns interest.
I think the most important communication skill is having the ability to put your students at ease to relax their fears before beginning to introduce a new skill. If you come on to harsh, they aren't listening. Also, being deliberate in the delivery of step-by-step instructions without getting off topic is important.
benny,
clarity in our speaking is a must & the stories are a great way to illustrate points & to keep the students' attention.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
speaking in a clear audible voice. also having good andicdotes keep people help those individuals pay attention.
Robert ,
this is all good advice, especially the point about being clear & precise. Students like to know what they should be learning & also what is expected from them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Be clear and precise in your goals and expectations of the students. Also, be a great motivator. This will help students to want to learn.
William,
yes, the more we can encourage our students to talk to us & answer the questions the more we can gauge their understanding as well as their level of achievement.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I like to use illustrations on the whiteboard when I have a diverse learning environment. This allows me to observe the students if they understand what I am lecturing about.
I would have to say verbal participation because the student is giving the solution from his or her perspective.
The instructor should speak clearly and with confidence in his knowledge of the topic being discussed. He should be able to use whatever educational materials he may have available and not rely solely on the lecture.Eye contact is important because this technique allows the student to feel he is an active recipient of the lecture.
Gail,
this is very true. We must make sure that our nonverbal & verbal messages are consistent & communicating what we want them to.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I believe the best communication skills come from having a clear and calm voice. Students will feel that you are comfortable with the information and will be able to make them understand it too. Also visual aids are always good for people who are visual learners.
I let student's talk about their background and how they are apt to learn better. Some student's have told me they like the class quiet and dislike groups. I let them express how their culture usually communicates in a classroom setting and i try to adopt that same communication technique throughout the classes.
