Chloe,
I agree about listening. When you are listening you are learning. When students know they have an instructor that listens they are much more engaged in the course and the effort to be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You must be able to relate to your students to really reach and teach them. I believe sometimes you have to extend yourself beyond what is comfortable to learn your students and build rapport. I think having that connection and relateability provides the instructor with an different line of communication.
I think one of the most important ways to build rapport with students is to truly listen to their comments and questions during class, and to always respond thoughtfully. This shows students that you care about what they have to say, their own experiences, and that their questions are important. I believe this really helps to build trust and understanding between teacher and student.
Jenny,
I think one of the big rewards of teaching is the development of rapport with students but yes, it can be difficult. We need to show our human side as educators, be supportive, be consistent and earn student respect. Once all of this is done the groundwork has been laid for the development of rapport and personal growth of the student.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
James,
This is an important understanding for students to have. Knowing they have a caring instructor that will listen goes a long way in keeping a student moving forward in a class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think the most difficult part of teaching is in developing a rapport. It is necessary to connect the students with the subject being taught, to each other, and to the instructor.
I want to allow students to see me the person as well as me the teacher. Rapport is established when the students trust the knowledge in the room, the direction and objective of the instructor as well as the course content. The instructor must also gain trust in the students. It requires trust in every direction. All the while, maintaining professional boundaries.
students need to know that they can go to their instructor for any reason. Instructors must support their students and help them succeed.
Sandra,
Great points about developing rapport with students. I have a format that I follow in all of my classes. "Courtesy is owed." I will extend courtesy to you as a result of you enrolling in my class and I expect the same from you. "Respect is earned." I will work to earn your respect just as you need to work to earn mine. "Rapport is developed." Together we will work on developing rapport with each other so we all can benefit and grow from our experiences in this class. These three statements really helps students to focus on how to be successful in my class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe developing a rapport with the students is extrememly important in the sense that it not only sets up the atmosphere for respect, but it also opens up the trust windows. It allows for openness with students who do not possess the best self confidence in themselves and makes the teaching area much easier and much more comfortable for everyone. By having that rapport, the students learn to trust and gain each others respect as well. They learn that they can not only turn to the instructor for help but can also rely on each other. It has worked well for me for several years now.
Developing student rapport is important because it builds the foundation of your professional relationship. The students will see value in your knowledge and participate in class. More importantly, they will want to attend class because they are learning and finding benefits of being in your class.
I think it makes learning more enjoyable for the students, and teaching more enjoyable for the instructor. In my experience, having a good rapport with the students makes them want do do well in the class.
Annamarie,
It is a bit of a slow process in getting students settled into a new course. They need some help through introductions and ice breakers to feel a part of the class and get focused on the up coming class sessions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
At the begining students so tend to feel intimidated, we have discussions. everyone little be little start opening up, start feels comfortable with one another not being afraid to ask questions. Also making the atmosphere comfortable for everyone. Other students might have already gone through what one particular student is dealing with at the time and that might just help.
I consistanly able to push questions into discussions where soon more and more students are participating - due largly inpart to the fact I can make them comfortable in starting discussion.
Maryna,
Rapport with students helps them to feel that they can ask any question of you, both related to the class and outside the domain of the class topic. This is a comfort level that involves the human aspect of teaching and it also demonstrates the respect they have for you as their learning leader.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe the student should feel like they can reach out to me and ask any type of question, even if it isn't what we are studying about. Obviously, that type of question would be for before or after class, but if they can feel okay asking questions that aren't part of class, they definitely will feel comfortable with asking questions about classroom material.
Scott,
Great saying and one we need to remember each time we enter the classroom. We need to bring the human factor along with our technical expertise into our teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Developing rapport is important because students are much more willing to listen to and learn from an instructor when they feel they can trust that instructor and know an instructor has their best interests at heart. There is a saying I learned many years ago that helps me to remember how important it is to build this rapport. The saying is "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care!" and I have found it to be quite true and valuable as an instructor.
Stacy,
Right you are. Respect is earned as the students start the class. You earn their respect while they are earning yours. Then you can help them to develop rapport with you and the other students. This then transfers over to the patients and everyone benefits.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
James,
I really like your supportive and engaging style of teaching. You are respectful of the students and are showing them how if they will put forth the effort to be successful. This is what rapport development is about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
