Robin ,
yes the examples & visuals are one of the best ways to keep attention & focus; I also like the emphasis on being aware of waining attention.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I believe a very important skill to have when instructing is being confident. When you stand in front of a class and can show them that you are confident in your own abilities to teach them the skills that they will need, it shows them that you have invested time to the subject and will gain you the respect of the class.
Giving good examples and using a lot of visuals helps to increase learning by giving a mental picture of what they are learning about. Also, how you break down your lecture can either gain their attention or put them to sleep. Be conscious of taking breaks for discussion, games, and other interaction to keep their attention focused.
Gregrey,
and this also helps you to reach the variety of learners that are in your classes.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
ANDREA,
the movement around the class really is great for both connecting with students as well as maintaining a certain level of classroom control.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Being able to use all types of communication in the same presentation can be important to keep all the stundents ingaged and have the ability to comprehened the information.
I am comfortable with moving about the classroom, but probably do not do enough of this. I really like the idea of notecards as this would enable me to move about easier and gives my hands something to do. I can also see how this could help with distractive behavior from the back of the room.
I think they all are very important but I 'm a very strong believer in actions speak louder then words.
I am always enthusiastic and excited about what I teach,I use a lot of humor and animation,like being in a show,which keeps the students focused,involved,always engaged and learning.
Tracey,
and we need to make sure that our nonverbal & verbal communication are in alignment.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Verbal communication is the most important with all students.
Michael,
this is a great technique & helps remind them that you are there & available to help them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I really like using the floater technique in teaching. This allows me to make contact with each student multiple times during the class.
Maggie,
gaining their interest is so important, especially early in the course & early in the hour. This will encourage them to stay engaged throughout the time.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
All communication skills are important. You must be able to verbally teach for the audio learners, for the visual learners having some power point or handout is important. If you have a kinesetic learner demonstrating and then letting students try themselves is important.
I feel that the most important communication skill to have in a diverse learning environment is to engage the students; by eye contact, giving examples, and overall gaining interest of the students.
Mossetta,
this is an excellent point & helps us learn to appreciate the different ideas & opinions of others.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The communication skills I believe are most important in a diverse learning environment are critical thinking and soft approaches, being an active listener and learning your audience, which will help you communicate better with them altogether. In a diverse learning environment, you tend to have more kinesthetic learners than you do auditory learners so the more proactive you are at being interactive, the better chance you'll stand at engaging your audience to make them want to learn what you have to teach.
Virginia,
the more you can integrate your own experiences & real life stories, the more the information will come alive & have practicality for them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
This was a great learning module because as a new educator I want and strive to be a great communicator with my students. I want to share with them what my experiences/knowledge on what is being presented on and intergrade both in lecture and clinic. Using the information from road mapping, being clear, concise and presenting it was really informative. Thanks!!
