I know that Eye Contact is definitely something that I could improve during workshops.. Sometimes I get so preoccupied with advancing the PowerPoint slides.. and pointing at the images on the screen, and I forget to establish eye contact with the students.
This article gives some tricks to improve this skill. click here.
GOA9: Progress Report
2 days ago
3 comments:
Interesting article. I tend to 'scan' the room at times, making sure that everyone is keeping up and can catch questions if someone looks confused. It also helps me project my voice when I'm talking. I do walk up and down the aisle once in a while, if only to check and make sure that everyone is on the right screen and keeping up (can catch and help people who are having logging on difficulties right away in the beginning).
The article gave good suggestions. I think I'm pretty good at scanning the room, but I am sure I do not hold the eye contact for longer than expected. It creeps me out when a speaker does that.
I definately appreciate many of the suggestions made in the article. I think I do a pretty good job of making eye contact, and I definately am aware of it when students are NOT meeting my eyes, esp. when they're looking at a computer screen instead. I agree with Chandra that the one technique (holding eye contact for longer than expected) is kind of a creepy. I always hated it when speakers did that to me, especially since my eyes were usually on them anyway.
Also, as Sara mentioned, walking up and down the aisles is usually pretty helpful for establishing contact, holding interest, and ensuring that students are on the same page. On the other hand, I'm always left wondering what to do if I do see a student looking at something non-library related. Do you call them out on it in front of the entire class? I usually just let it go - at least for the time being. Typically I will come back to them later in the session to make sure that they're feeling comfortable with the material.
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