Listening to your students
More times than not, listening to my students is one of the most important things to me. Discussions present themselves in the classroom more often than not, the key i think is being able to keep it relavant to the material being covered. Larger classes are sometimes better for this approach. I have been surprised at how many will get involved that otherwise would not. boring classes seem (at times) to erase themselves.
Something that helps me to connect with students is to engage a student in lab while they are waiting to use a machine.A simple question like how can use use this learning on your future personal projects.I try to get them to think outside the box.They seem to open up.
I have found that if I take the time to really listen to my students, they will open up and be more willing to discuss issues. I find some students are not used to having someone really listen to them and when they resalize that you care and are willing to listen to them, they actually loosen up and are more willing to comply with what you are trying to accomplish in the class room
