It is important to respect the students as human and care of their opinions.
When you connect with students on a more personal level they become more open to instruction and more relaxed about asking questions.
Hi Mark,
Rapport is so important for student success. We need to strive to develop it with each and every student. It makes teaching so much easier and learning so much more enjoyable.
Gary
The students really thrive off of the rapport with the instructor. When you make that connection with them it seems to give them that extra push they need. Some of the students dont have anyone who cares about how they are doing so if you are that person it makes a huge difference in their education.
Rapport allows the student the freedom to express their views and opinions. This critical exchange of thoughts when properly guided toward the acheivement of your classroom objectives is a powerful tool in improving retention on a personal level.
I believe that if you can build rapport with the student they will be more likely to be open to learning from you because of mutual trust and respect.
Hi Steve,
Right you are. It is a building thing. Rapport comes in steps and each step builds on the last experience you have with the students.
Gary
the more rapport i have with the students, the more questions they ask and the better they listen when i speek. it's a respect thing.
it opens up trust and allows you a inroad to be able to teach them.
If the student feels comfortable with you as a person, they are more able to accept what you are teaching them, and also less afraid of asking for help when they need it.
It is very important do develop rapport with your students. You need to make them feel comfortable in your class so class time can become more interesting with all different opinions going on. If you don't get your students to trust you in the beginning it will be hard to get students to participate and join in on activities.
I feel the need for connection with your student is imperative. It can create such a better learning enviorment.
Rapport is about trust and understanding. If students don't trust or understand you, they are more likely not learn as much as the ones you have established a good rapport with.
Hi Arlene,
Good comments about respect, rapport and trust. We need to have all three incorporated into our classes. Without trust there is nothing to build on and as a result it is going to be a very long course for both the instructor and the students.
Gary
developing student rapport is absolutely important and effective in build up a positive atmosphere with our students
Rapport is when learning can start. Before we have rapport, we have lecturer and note taker. The student has to trust you as the instructor. You are grading them. One prof when I was a college student was so predictable that, given which performing group you were in, you could identify your grade in his 400 level class. Students in his performing group were the only ones who would have a chance at an A. There was little trust in that class, either between the students or the students to the professr.
By developing proper Rapport with the students, an instructor can make them involved in the class and in the discussions. The students will feel secured and will participate in the learning process with much more motivation and commitment.
If your stuents don't have confidence that you know and understand the material then they are not going to trust the information you provide to them.
Hi Kelly,
Little thing like the posting a picture has value added benefits for students. This helps you and them to get to know each other better plus it helps to personalize all of you. This is a good way to help create the learning community you are after.
Gary
Developing rapport is so important not just so students can start feeling comfortable with the instructor, but also so instructors can start feeling comfortable with students! Some instructors get "stage fright" with teaching and need to spend a little time breaking the ice so they can feel like it's not just them performing in the spotlight at all times.
