Listening
It is very important to be a good listener and focus on the student while they are asking questions.
Hi David,
Great points made! Our students need to be listened to and responded to genuinely.
Patricia Scales
How often will a student NOT ask a question because he thinks he might ask a stupid question? We need to reassure our students they are the reason we are here.Many of them don't know what question to ask and we need to listen to those who do so we can gauge the level of digestion of the information. Listening is a skill that must be developed.
Hi Paul,
This is typical! Force your students to participate by implementing a participation grade. Call on students so that they give input.
Patricia Scales
I find that sometimes, I'm the only one talking in class. Other than side discussions that aren't related to course matterial. I also find myself having to ask them questions to verify weather or not they understand the matteral we are studing. Do you think this is normal or am I doning something wrong?
Hi Troy,
I can tell based on your response that you fully and genuinely listen to your students. We have to make our students feel very important and listening is one way of doing that. Sometimes the student simply just need to be heard.
Patricia Scales
It is very important to be a good listener and focus on the student while they are asking questions.
A true statement. My experience is a lot of the escalated student issue stem from one of the front line staff regardless of the department boils down to poor listening. I always say we are experts at frustrated students because many of the staff just don’t take the few minutes needed to listen. Listen to the student and understand. Many are in a hurry to push them through the system and not really understand what they are trying to say. In many cases the student just wants to be heard and are not asking for anything other than that. Since many folks fail to listen the student gets frustrated that he is not being heard or understood.
Hi Susan,
I concur! Listening is paramount! An instructor needs to have great listening skills!
Patricia Scales
I agree- making sure you have direct eye contact and referring back to what they were talking about lets them know you were listening as well. I have co workers that this is an issue- they are hearing me but not listening. (guess they need to take this course!) A lot of times students will send me an email saying " thanks for just listening to me- I feel so much better!" so it does mean a lot to students.
Hi Kimberly,
There is nothing more frustrating to students than to not have their questions answered.
Patricia Scales
It is also very important that while listening to the student's questions that we answer the question that they are asking. Many times a student will ask a question but not receive an answer to the question that was asked. I will often times ask the student if I answered the question because some explanantions may lose the students in my attempt to clarify a particular topic.
Hi Lisa,
Even adult students want to be respected! Listen fully without interruptions!
Patricia Scales
Hi Mitchell,
Listening is key! You learn more about a student when you listen fully to them without interruptions.
Patricia Scales
I find listening in most cases is very beneficial to students. Doing this allows critical thinking to develope and in many intances the student will figure the problem out by themselves. At the very least it may open doors to other questions and throuigh thoughtful reasoning, they will understand the sunject matter more so, but will also give you, the facilitator, a good idea of just exactly what they are understanding and what they are not understanding. Mitch
I could not agree with this more. When I teach, only 1 person is allowed to speak at a time and there are not interruptions allowed. Students, especially the adult learners- appreciate the respect
Hi Melissa,
I agree! No question is stupid! We certainly need to make every student feel that they matter because in essence they do! Without students we do not have jobs.
Patricia Scales
I believe that some students feel unheard which can lead to poor grades or even dropping classes. It is important that we give our time and attention to each student so that they feel heard and feel comfortable with asking questions. I strongly feel there is no such thing as a stupid question.
Hi Mark,
I agree! I have learned that listening without interruption is key! Students want to and need to be listened to. Students feel that you genuinely are concerned when you listen to what they have to say.
Patricia Scales
Hi Albert,
You are right when students know that they are on the right track they are much more motivated to participate.
Patricia Scales
Over the years, I have found that if I "actively" listen to my students, they truly feel as though they are being heard, and not just tokenly acknowledged. Nonverbal communication is so key to transmitting the message, "you have my complete attention and I am invested in this moment with you". Much of this style of listening I incorporate in the classroom, I pulled from my 25 years of individual/group counseling...and it's very effective!
