Building rapport with professors was stressed when I was a college student. I developed many professional contacts and became aware of inspirational forces that my professors had as to why they loved their fields of expertise. Now, as an Instructor, rapport building is just as important, if not more important, to academic, career, and personal success. As a young adult, I can see how hard students try to understand me and my thinking, and why I chose the field I did. It is quite endearing, and inspirational to know that I am contributing to shaping someone's mind in an educational setting, preparing them for success.
Without trust and respect I am not confident that a student will truly listen and engage in a classroom setting. They may shut down mentally and emotionally.
Heidi DeMello M.Ed.
I also find that by giving students one on one time and listening to them they build trust. Many students like to discuss their work explain inspiration or motivations. I find by walking around the classroom and giving students time to privately discuss their work is very helpful in addition to overall classroom critiques.
Caryn,
These connections are so important. The more they can connect with their instructor in terms of knowing they have support the greater their investment will be in the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Developing Rapport is so important because it gives the students confidence in you as an instructor. It's the start of building a trusting relationship.
In the field of media it is important for students to trust the instructor. We are grading them on sometimes what seems to be opinionated facts. It is important to have that rapport with students so they respect your criticism and decisions when assisting them in assignments and projects.
If an instructor has a good rapport with the students then thee is respect and in return the student respects the instructor which makes a positive learning setting.
Repport is important so the students understand they can trust the person who will be teaching them. Without trust they will not want to learn and most certainly will not want to return to an instructor who they feel they have no connection to.
I feel that developing Student Rapport is very important because it continues to assist the instructor in course monangement. Student rapport initially helps the instructor to identify the individual students, their learning styles and goals. At the mid course, student rapport helps instructors to refocus. Finally, Student rapport helps the instructor to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of key points in the course to allow the instructor to continue to stay excited about teaching the same course the next time by adding new challenges.
Gwendolyn,
I think this is as essential as the content information you are sharing. They need to see you as a model of the field and a human being with character.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Student will be more successful if the believe you care. In building a rapport you connect with students and they will not be afraid of being judged if they need you to reilerate a lesson point or if they have a question that may seem insignificant. If the student has a connection with the instructor the student is not afraid to admit their uncertainties.
Your students need to know that you are human and that they can trust you with helping them learn. I have noticed that telling appropriate stories about yourself helps them to understand that you do know where they are coming from and have many of the same challenges they do.
It is very important because, if it is not developed they will lack faith in you and their learning for the class. This will lead to struggles for them and also for the instructor. It is very important that you make yourself available and make the students feel comfortable enough to ask you anything.
If you do not have a rapport with your students, first of all, they will not respect you. You want them to feel comfortable in your class so they learn. You want them to ask questions if needed and not be afraid.
I student could fail if they don't feel like they are a part of your class.
I agree you have to have trust or their is nothing to build on.
Having a rapport with your students helps them to helps them feel free to ask questions, give their opinions and offer suggestions without having to wonder about how you will react. If a student doesn't feel comfortable with the instructor, it is unlikely that they will ask for (and in turn recieve) help when they need it.
Robert,
I agree with your comments. Respect and rapport are the two R's of teaching success. Both contribute to success and satisfaction on the part of students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Camille,
This is true and why it is so important to earn their respect and develop rapport with them. They need to see a connection between their instructor and their success.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Rapport with the students is the point where true instruction begins - both for the students and the instructor. Learning is more enjoyable once mutual trust and respect is established.
Hi Dr. Meers,
In my opinion, it's crucial that there is a good rapport between an instructor and his students because it facilitates effective learning. In order to maximize the students' abilities to obtain and apply the course material, an environment of mutual respect must be established. If students do not feel comfortable being open and honest with the instructor, true education is difficult to achieve.
Thanks,
Robert
