Communication in the Classroom Jane Patton, Ed. D. Communication Studies Faculty

Your typical class... First 5 min. ____ Conclusion

Instruction depends upon communication Your communication Students’ communication --- with you & classmates Class climate

Help Hurt

Kinds of classroom communication Presentations, lectures Group work Interpersonal Intercultural

Tips for Effective Presentations Know your audience Express ideas clearly & explicitly Check audience’s listening skills Gain & keep attention Be well organized & prepared Use visual aids effectively Remember messages are verbal, visual and vocal

Effective visual aids Can be understood in 6 seconds Anchor listeners to the key concepts Do not put audience in reading mode Enhance (aid) your verbal & vocal messages C. Hamilton

Benefits of visual aids Improves memory Speeds comprehension Decreases presentation time Adds to speaker’s credibility Decreases nervousness Adds interest C. HAMILTON

Audience Recall 70% 10% 72% 20% 85% 65% After 3 hours After 3 days Verbal only Visual only Verbal and Visual

Don McMillan eaction=vids.individual&videoID= Or google: Life after Death by PowerPoint

Group Communication Skills (students need to learn them) Speak clearly & succinctly Encourage others to speak Don’t monopolize Listen well; paraphrase Stick to topic/task Human relations skills

Interpersonal Communication Listen; give attention Paraphrase & summarize Define terms Build rapport; trust Show empathy; respect Remember messages are verbal, visual, vocal

Class Climates (Gibb categories) DEFENSIVE 1. Evaluation 2. Control 3. Strategy 4. Neutrality 5. Superiority 6. Certainty SUPPORTIVE 1. Description 2. Problem Orientation 3. Spontaneity 4. Empathy 5. Equality 6. Provisionalism

Intercultural Principles Successful comm. depends upon shared meanings. Cultural patterns: the group’s collective beliefs, values, norms One’s culture & language affects one’s cognition & learning Native language affects one’s world view, beliefs, etc. Different cultural practices in education Differences continuum: minor to major.

Self Reflection Activity

Our Challenge: To model and teach effective communication in our classrooms