Learning is best accomplished when there is a free exchange of ideas. It is also my opportunity to learn as well.
My students are more receptive if they feel that their ideas, comments and opinions have value.
Students need to know that the instructor cares about them to connect with the instructor and the material. Building rapport, even with the simple act of learning their names, lets them know they're more than a body sitting in a chair. I'm always amazed when my feedback comes in to see that someone comments, "Sherrie knew all of our names in the first couple of days." It makes them feel valued, respected and helps with the "buy-in" for the class.
Hi Francis,
Thank you for sharing this personal experience with us. You made an excellent point that we need to be aware of when we are starting a class. We need to connect with our students and let them know we care about them and their success. This will result in the development of rapport with the students and everyone involved with have a positive experience as a result.
Gary
I am a huge believer in building rapport with my students. I don't think there is any way for me to be successful as an instructor if my students think I don't care about them or their success. I was teaching an online class once and one of my students said they couldn't give any feedback about me because they didn't know me. Their exact words were that they were "ambivalent" towards me. It should come as no great surprise that my class scores were very low. I learned a great lesson from that class. Even though it was in an online environment, I need to show my students that I care and that I want to be involved.
Agreed. I think that it also helps them get accustomed to a fast paced environment. In some cases, students are not accustomed to how quickly school and the "real world" operates. If there is rapport and they feel comfortable, they are open and more accepting of the various issues that they will be facing or learning.
i feel a good rapport in class helps set up a positive atmosphere for the rest of the teaching cycle
Rapport helps to keep students motivated and aids in retention.
Hi Debi,
This approach also encourages students to contribute to the class discussions. By knowing that they will be respected for their input does a lot to keep them engaged in the discussions.
Gary
One element of developing student rapport that can be very important is being tolerant of other viewpoints. It is a big world out there and we all come from different experiences. When a student makes a comment that doesn't seem to fit with the class material, it is important to not discredit the comment. Explore it as to the situation it would apply and then clarify why it would not be valid for the situations the class material is covering. I guess what I am saying is, every answer is correct if we can pinpoint the question it is answering, instead of the other way around.
Debi
Student Rapport is critical, because it will effect the effort the student will bring to the class. I recall in my graduate work one professor who I did not have agood rapport. I was unotivated to do the work in his class, because I did not feel like I could trust him to evaluate my work fairly. In that class I did just enough to get by and rarely participated. In my other classes I excelled and was active in the class discussions. We must remind ourselves of how we wanted our instructors to treat us when we were students, so we can give our students our best in developing a rapport.
Rapport is critical as education must be seen as a conversation betweeen intstructor and student. Student led discussions often lead to new ideas based on their experience and knowledge. All knowledge in the class room does not flow only from the instructor.
Hi Michelle,
Well said. Rapport is an essential part of being successful with such students. They are in need of a being able to see a positive role model in their instructor while having some success in the class. Once this happens they will start to build a success trail for themselves.
Gary
Developing a rapport with students makes them feel safe in the classroom enviroment. When a student feels safe they will begin to truly learn the information being presented to them. It is important to not get rapport confused with being easy or their friend.
So many students at the career college level have had discouraging previous educational experiences. Many of them have few, if any, positive associations with education, especially teachers. I've noticed that because of their backgrounds, many of my students are positive I will be the meanest, ugliest, most unfair instructor in the world. This attitude can cause them to "fail" a class before they even begin.
As an instructor, I am a representative of the knowledge base I teach. If I develop a rapport with the students, they are more likely to develop a positive feeling about the material. They are more likely to have positive associations with the subject and use it in the future. In a way, my personality and my professional relationship with them is another learning tool that helps them retain the information and use it in other classes
Students who have trouble connecting with knowledge might need to connect with a person first, which is why rapport is invaluable in helping students learn.
Rapport will allow us to develop the relationship of learner and guide. It is essential for max learning to occur. While communicating that I will be fair, that I care that they are successful, I want them to know that I am a professional educator with professional experiences that may simulate their own experiences. Respect is key to their comfort in the class -- my respect of them and their respect of me. I facilitate online courses, have done so for about 7 years. I used to use an audio file and tons of emails, however, I have been guided to make use of discussion rooms/boards. This seems to create more confidence in the students -- that makes me really happy.
Some of the other items in the course have me questioning how I can help them put change on the back burner and new and exciting things on the front burner.
I agree.I am a culinary instructorand I have a new group of students every 3 weeks. Sometimes I have the same group for 6 but not much more. I always try to explain my way of teaching up front. I tell the class that I am a hands on instructor. If they ask for help I sometimes need to physically show them how to ice the cake or roll the dough. I will do it on a one to one if needed and that I want them to know that I wish them know disrespect but that is how I do things. Once that is said they all are very happy to ask for help knowing I will give them my undevided attention for that.
Rapport is important for students because they have to trust you to some degree to be able to accept your instruction and training. In many cases, such as with a manager, if one does not trust the manager - they do not work well with said manager. In some cases people may even become surreptitious and attempt to undermine the manager. Students sometimes function in much the same way. If the instructor is not trusted, students may attempt to work against the instructor (and themselves) in order to ameliorate their perceived scenario. Rapport building attempts to stave off those negative attempts as well as prepare the student to accept the instruction and its format.
Students have an intrinsic need to feel that they are respected and recognized as individuals. By creating a rapport with your students this can be enhanced. Additionally, students need to feel that the instructor is approachable. If they do not feel comfortable approaching an instructor with a problem it could potentially lead to poor student performance
Hi Jennifer,
These are very good points about how to work with older more experienced students. They are valuable to the class if we will let them share their experiences in a way that benefits the class as well as building their self confidence leading to successful course completion.
Gary
Students also must feel he or she can share an opinion without being criticized or disregarded. This can cause a student to withdraw or hold back from a discussion.
