I agree with the earlier posts and engage all students regularly, however, I would add that while detailed interaction is best, at times, simply making eye contact with each student throughout the course of the lecture can help you remain connected.
It is important to interact with every student for many reasons. It helps you to know the student and their strengths and weaknesses. It helps the student to feel more comfortable with you thus a better relationship to ask for help or questions. It also makes them feel part of the class and an equal to all the other students. No Favoritism!
You want every student feel included and that they are part of the group. Furthermore having interaction creates a bonding with each students and signals to them that you care about them. This builds report between you and your students. Not having report will inadvertently take away from your class and can be viewed as a negative to your students. Another aspect is that by interacting with your students you can determine if they are learning the material you are delivering.
Each student needs to feel that you care about them and their success not only in your class but in the career field that they have chosen.
If each students feels that you are interacting with them personally it helps to keep them engaged and to keep them motivated. Italso gives you an inside track for communication with that student if there is ever an issue.
To show your student that you care about each one of their education.
Interaction with each student will help the instructor to accomplish several things. First, it allows for an informal assessment of the students learning and communication style. Second, it allows the instructor to identify possible areas of weakness the student has, which allows the instructor to address learning needs. Thirdly, it shows the student that the instructor is interested in the student's success in the class and opens the door for providing teaching assistance if necessary.
Hi Khalda,
We need to make a point to interact with all students at every meeting. Interacting with students is how you build a rapport with them.
Patricia Scales
It's important to have an interaction with each student because it makes them realize that they are being observed and that thier actions and participation is counted towards their academic period.
To keep students engaged. Interacting with every student helps keep the class moving forward, but also helps the students feel a part of the learning process.
Students want to feel important just like everyone does, and involving them all in class discussion, activities, etc. makes them feel a part of everything going on in the classroom.
I like to interact with my students to let them know that I do care about them, that I am interested in them as a person and not just a student. I like to get to know my students on a personal level as well as an educational level. I think it not only helps them with the way they learn, but it also helps me with the way that I teach.
Bev McClure
Hi Marnie,
Students need to feel their input matters. By interacting with students, you begin the rapport building process. Having a good relationship with your students is very important.
Patricia Scales
Students need to feel that they are part of "the club" and their input has value. If the student does not feel they have anything to contribute they can then begin to feel the class is not relevant and not worthwhile in continuing.
Interacting with students let them know you as their instuctor are there to help and guide them through their career goals. Also to let the students get a hands on approach in the course with different research, projects and discussions.
Interacting with students is important because it allows students to feel linked to their education and to feel that their contributions are valued. Without proper interaction, students can lose morale and become disconnected from the course, lessons, and instructor.
For example, I have responded to every forum, yet I keep receiving emails to participate in another discussion topic. As a student, this makes me feel as though my original posts were insignificant and/or were dismissed. This weakens my desire to contribute any further, and I question the reason I put effort into my responses. As I move forward, this will affect how I view and respond to the course and my studies.
It is important to interact with every student for several reasons, the two I feel are most beneficial are; building a good rapport with each student helps to maintain a positive energy in the classroom, (you don't have sour apples pulling others into a negative attitude). It also helps instructors recognize those who are struggling, but do not call attention to themselves (the loudest bird in the nest gets the most food). I try to identify the quiet students and watch for signs that they need extra attention, before I see poor performance on an assessment. Providing extra instruction before a student is overwhelmed can improve student retention.
This affords a deeper understanding of the individual and a means for one-on-one communication.
Students usually do not want to reveal any type of shortcomings before the class, especially if clarification is needed on a point that is already spoke on, for fear that they will be looked upon as not being up to par with the rest of the class. It allows the student to see you as a real person, who can be sympathetic towards their various situations, and not solely from the "pedestal" of the Instructor.
by doing so, you make the student want to be a part of the class wich in term will motivate the student to learn.
Interacting with every student shows the class that I include each of them IN the class. I usually do this from the first hour by using the roster to go over classroom expectations with them. "Patricia," I'll read to my new student with a grin, "you WILL conduct yourself in a PROFESSIONAL manner at all times...." "William, I can tell by the guilty look on your face that this next one is obviously for you. 'Please turn off your cell phones or place them on vibrate.'" (Of course, having too much fun may signal that the rules are not all that important, so I do stop and talk about them much more seriously.)
Good rapport is important no matter what the age group of your student. I have heard my daughter comment many times about how she wants to work harder and do better in class because her teacher is someone she connects with. So I try to keep that in mind as an instructor.
by Penelope Stauffer Wednesday, 29 December 2011.
If you don't make contact with each student you will eventually loose them. Each person likes to be included and feel a part of the class. Some are too shy or insecure to reach out so you must be the instigator.
I like to have small group work during class. This gives everyone a better chance at contributing and feeling a part of things. This was I can walk around the room and listen to tell if people are interacting and I can pause and interact with each group. That way I can get to know the students better and they can become more comfortable with me.
