Eye Contact
I find that eye contact not only engages the students, but it also allows you to get a lot of feedback on how the students are doing. You can see things such as:
Do they look confused or confident
Are they looking sleepy or like active participants
Do they have questions they are afraid to ask?
I teach in the online environment. That eye contact is missing. I lose the ability to connect directly with the students, and to see those unspoken queues the students provide.
What do you think is a good alternative to address this particular issue?
April Ragland
Eye contact is extremely importance specially in the class-room. It let the students know you're talking to them not talking to yourself, it also give you a chance to understand your students more. I always make eye contact with all my students, also let they know I checking on them, so they better get ready to answer my questions.
Yes, eye contact is extremely important! As a parent I taught my children that when they shake hands with someone , they should always look them In the eye and smile. I have noticed that a high percentage of students ( adult learners) seem to be struggling with eye contact. I ‘m not sure if this is a cultural issue ( U.S.) or world wide.
I would ask question that they have to answer to make sure that they understand what the convewrsation is about. Have a discussion board
April,
yes the eye contact is a highly effective way to gauge where the students are, are they understanding, etc.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Ryan,
I think that the statement about things generally being confusing for people is a great one.
I already use the "does anyone have any questions, is this making any sense" type of questions. I can see, however, that using something like your example is an easier way for someone to admit their confusion, without feeling like they are stupid for being confused. It's a softer way to offer them more clarification or information without expecting them to just throw themselves out there with "I don't understand".
Thank you so much for the suggestion, and I look forward to trying to implement it. It is often hard to get the students comfortable asking questions in my live chat class sessions and I think this could be a great idea.
Best wishes,
April
I agree as well. Plus, eye contact with them continues to engage them in the conversation. If they are starting to drift off in their thoughts, when you engage them with contact, it helps bring them back into the conversation.
Teaching online, my best option for engaging is to actively ask them individually questions as I go along, or to ask them all a question and for those who don't respond, ask "what about you... so and so...".
In the classroom though, making sure to touch in with each student with eye contact and trying to smile helps keep them involved, lets them know I'm paying attention to them, and also gives me an opportunity to see if they look confused, if the class needs a break, if they look interested or bored etc.
So it's a great tool for acknowledging students, but also for instructors to gauge the effectiveness of the lecture and the temperature in the room.
April
I agree eye contact is necessary in the classroom and it promotes an element of learning with the student. When you make eye contact with the student it acknowledges that you know they are present.
April,
I think this is one of the ongoing challenges I've heard with online education & interactions. Unfortunately I'm not sure there is much that can be done, but perhaps asking questions in the forums, such as: is everyone understanding? etc. Even perhaps throwing out statements like: "this concept (whatever it is) often trips people up, anyone feeling that way?" This can show them it's okay to be confused on this point. Just some ideas.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
