Class Room Communication

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ClassroomCommunication

Professor. P. IBRAHIMProfessor. P. IBRAHIM

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Main Topics

The Importance of Classroom Communication The Importance of Classroom Communication

Strategies to Prepare for Classroom Strategies to Prepare for Classroom Communication Communication

Strategies for Responding to Classroom Strategies for Responding to Classroom Communication Communication

Strategies to Specific Communication SituationsStrategies to Specific Communication Situations

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The Importance of Classroom Communication

How effective we are asHow effective we are as

teachers is directly related teachers is directly related

to how effectively we to how effectively we

communicate.communicate.

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Instruction depends upon communicationCommunicating effectively can help instructors have a “presence” in the classroom that motivates students and facilitates learning

Instruction depends upon communication We may send unintentional messages if we We may send unintentional messages if we

are unaware of our body languageare unaware of our body language

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Instruction depends upon communication New technologies present new New technologies present new

opportunities for communicating with opportunities for communicating with students.students.

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Students value learning with their communication strengths

While technology can make communication While technology can make communication easier and more convenient, students generally easier and more convenient, students generally value the opportunity for personal contact and value the opportunity for personal contact and conversation with the instructor as well.conversation with the instructor as well.

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When Communication is Effective…

Learning is easierLearning is easier Goals are more likely to be metGoals are more likely to be met Opportunities emerge for expanded learningOpportunities emerge for expanded learning Students and faculty connect betterStudents and faculty connect better More positive perceptions influence the More positive perceptions influence the

overall school/college experienceoverall school/college experience

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The Challenge To create a classroom environment where To create a classroom environment where

communication issues are openly communication issues are openly recognized and managed in a way that recognized and managed in a way that promotes learning.promotes learning.

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Strategies to Prepare for Classroom Communication

Tips for Effective Presentations Tips for Effective Presentations Plan ahead. Be well organized & prepared Plan ahead. Be well organized & prepared Observe the teachers you admire.Observe the teachers you admire. Know your audience.Know your audience. Express ideas clearly & explicitlyExpress ideas clearly & explicitly Gain & keep attention.Gain & keep attention. Remember messages are verbal, visual and Remember messages are verbal, visual and

vocalvocal

Plan mini lectures rather than full length of a period or an hour. First 5 min.First 5 min. ________ ________ ________ Conclusion Conclusion

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Strategy 1: Assess and develop your own communication skills and knowledge Plan ahead. To convey ideas or concepts Plan ahead. To convey ideas or concepts

effectively to your students, you need to have a effectively to your students, you need to have a clear goal for each class and a plan for how to clear goal for each class and a plan for how to reach that goal. Rehearse it well in advance.reach that goal. Rehearse it well in advance.

Spoken language proficiencySpoken language proficiency Ability to adapt written language to promote Ability to adapt written language to promote

student learningstudent learning Knowledge of audio visual teaching aids and latest Knowledge of audio visual teaching aids and latest

technologytechnology

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Strategy 2: Practice. Practice. Practice. You may feel awkward talking to yourself You may feel awkward talking to yourself

in front of the mirror or reciting your in front of the mirror or reciting your lecture in the shower. Yet the best lecture in the shower. Yet the best presentations are the result of disciplined presentations are the result of disciplined practice. Professors who have been teaching practice. Professors who have been teaching for 30 years still set aside two hours just for 30 years still set aside two hours just before class to practice their lecture, before class to practice their lecture, mastering the ideas and the gestures before mastering the ideas and the gestures before they enter the classroom.they enter the classroom.

Strategy 3: Observe and Talk with teachers you respect. Typically, we learn to teach by watching Typically, we learn to teach by watching

those around us. Watch carefully the those around us. Watch carefully the instructors you regard as exemplary. What instructors you regard as exemplary. What do they do that makes them so good? Seek do they do that makes them so good? Seek them out and speak with them about how them out and speak with them about how they prepare and the techniques that work they prepare and the techniques that work best for them.best for them.

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Strategy 4: Be observed or Get yourself recorded on video.• Feedback is essential to continuous Feedback is essential to continuous

improvement; evenimprovement; even seasoned teachers seasoned teachers benefit from having a colleague watch them benefit from having a colleague watch them teach and offer feed back. Particularly if you teach and offer feed back. Particularly if you are new, it can be helpful to practice your are new, it can be helpful to practice your presentation ahead of time with a trusted presentation ahead of time with a trusted friend and get feedback from him or her. As friend and get feedback from him or her. As you progress, have them come to your class, you progress, have them come to your class, or tape yourself and analyze the results later.or tape yourself and analyze the results later.

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Strategies for Responding to Classroom Communication

Engaging your AudienceEngaging your Audience Plan mini-lectures rather than lecturing for the full Plan mini-lectures rather than lecturing for the full

class.class. Use multiple presentation techniques.Use multiple presentation techniques. You should know your students’ capabilities.You should know your students’ capabilities. Frequently check the understanding of your Frequently check the understanding of your

audience.audience. Avoid reading your presentation.Avoid reading your presentation. Ask your students to frame questions.Ask your students to frame questions. Moving around the class room can convey energy Moving around the class room can convey energy

and enthusiasm on your part.and enthusiasm on your part. Use your sense of humour.Use your sense of humour.

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Strategy 1: Begin each course with a preliminary plan for communication success

Base the plan on your preliminary knowledge Base the plan on your preliminary knowledge of students’ communication skills and needsof students’ communication skills and needs

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Strategy 2: Informally evaluate classroom communication dynamics

Look for communication similarities and diversity among studentsDetermine if your preliminary understandings of students were accurateDetermine if student patterns appear to be assets and/or challenges

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Strategy 3: Evaluate writing samples

Collect academic writing and informal Collect academic writing and informal writing (e-mail.)writing (e-mail.)

Compare written communication clarity Compare written communication clarity with other communication modeswith other communication modes

Determine if writing tutoring or other Determine if writing tutoring or other support is neededsupport is needed

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Strategy 4: Ask the students to describe communication

Use questionnaires for self-description of Use questionnaires for self-description of communication strengths and needscommunication strengths and needs

Ask students what they are seeing in the Ask students what they are seeing in the classroom dynamicsclassroom dynamics

Ask students what they would like to do to Ask students what they would like to do to make communication more effectivemake communication more effective

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Strategy 5: Adjust the classroom environment as needed Adjust lighting, seating, acoustics, etc.Adjust lighting, seating, acoustics, etc. Adapt visual presentation.Adapt visual presentation.

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Strategy 6: Establish communication rules and guidelines Remind everyone that communication is highly Remind everyone that communication is highly

valued in the classroomvalued in the classroom Explain how rules can help students learn togetherExplain how rules can help students learn together Use group discussion to develop communication Use group discussion to develop communication

guidelinesguidelines Set limits on rules and accommodations as neededSet limits on rules and accommodations as needed Periodically ask students to assess communication Periodically ask students to assess communication

and adapt guidelines as neededand adapt guidelines as needed

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Strategy 7: Use technology to support communication In-class mediaIn-class media E-mail and other computerized interaction (student-E-mail and other computerized interaction (student-

student and student-faculty)student and student-faculty)

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Strategy 8: Make other special accommodations

Allow more time on taskAllow more time on task Meet with students individuallyMeet with students individually Refer students to tutoring and other support Refer students to tutoring and other support

activitiesactivities

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Applying Strategies to Specific Communication Situations

Using Technology to CommunicateUsing Technology to Communicate E-mails.E-mails. Group SMS.Group SMS. Electronic Bulletin Boards.Electronic Bulletin Boards. Discussion Groups.Discussion Groups.

Electronic Bulletin Boards & Discussion Groups.

You and the students are able to follow You and the students are able to follow discussions on various topics more easily discussions on various topics more easily because the conversations are organized by because the conversations are organized by theme.theme.

Students may be encouraged to participate Students may be encouraged to participate in discussions on-line because they can in discussions on-line because they can choose those areas that are most interesting choose those areas that are most interesting to them or most helpful to their learning.to them or most helpful to their learning.

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Using Technology to CommunicateUse e-mail to interact with students. E-mail is among Use e-mail to interact with students. E-mail is among

the most basic of technologies used to communicate the most basic of technologies used to communicate with students, and it has at least two benefits.with students, and it has at least two benefits.

Students may find it helpful to write carefully and Students may find it helpful to write carefully and think-through a question rather than ask you directly think-through a question rather than ask you directly in class or office hours – and they can do so at any in class or office hours – and they can do so at any time of day or night.time of day or night.

Written communications with students provide you Written communications with students provide you with a record of interactions, something that can be with a record of interactions, something that can be useful if you are having problems with students.useful if you are having problems with students.

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Limitations

Of course, technology does not address all Of course, technology does not address all communication needs. Students value communication needs. Students value opportunities to have personal interactions opportunities to have personal interactions with their teachers. And to be an effective with their teachers. And to be an effective teacher, you must be skilled at communicating teacher, you must be skilled at communicating in many different ways. However, when used in many different ways. However, when used properly, technology can augment what you properly, technology can augment what you do in the classroom to enhance do in the classroom to enhance communication.communication.

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Final Project You can go for frequent self assessmentsYou can go for frequent self assessments

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Project Item 1 List 4 ways in which communication can be List 4 ways in which communication can be

improved in classrooms. Describe how this improved in classrooms. Describe how this can be both a value and a challenge.can be both a value and a challenge. 1_______ Value? Challenge?1_______ Value? Challenge? 22 33 44

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Project Item 2

Describe 2 things you would like to do Describe 2 things you would like to do differently in the management of differently in the management of communication in your courses.communication in your courses. 11 22

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Project Item 3

Develop a personal plan for improving your Develop a personal plan for improving your communication management in one of your communication management in one of your courses. You may use the outline (handout) courses. You may use the outline (handout) as an optional guide.as an optional guide.

Exchange your project report with your Exchange your project report with your trusted colleagues for mutual evaluation. trusted colleagues for mutual evaluation.

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Guide to Developing a Communication Management Plan

What do I need to do differently?What do I need to do differently? How will these changes benefit:How will these changes benefit:

My students?My students? My school/college/program/department?My school/college/program/department? Me?Me?

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Guide to Developing a Communication Management Plan (2)

To make these changes, what do I need to learn:To make these changes, what do I need to learn:From students?From students?From the literature?From the literature?From other faculty?From other faculty?From my administration?From my administration?Other?Other?

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Guide to Developing a Communication Management Plan (3)

To make these changes, what resources will I To make these changes, what resources will I need?need?

BudgetBudgetMaterialsMaterialsOthers’ expertiseOthers’ expertiseAny OtherAny Other

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Guide to Developing a Communication Management Plan (4)

What steps will I take to implement the What steps will I take to implement the changes?changes?

When will I implement the changes?When will I implement the changes? How will I evaluate the effectiveness of the How will I evaluate the effectiveness of the

changes?changes?

I wish you great success in your future classroom communication.

Thank you for learning Thank you for learning with me in this workshop.with me in this workshop.

P. IbrahimP. [email protected]

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