Blog #189 – MINIMIZING THE TIME SPENT TURNING YOUR BACK IN THE CLASSROOM
During lectures in a traditional classroom (teacher in the front of a group of students), teachers should minimize the time spent turning their back on the students. Eye contact is very important. Students will remain more focused when you make eye contact with them. When facing the class, the teacher should make an effort to scan the entire classroom to be aware of what is happening. By scanning the classroom, teachers are more likely to know of any situations where students may not be focused on the lesson or may be able to prevent any type of discipline problems from developing. Students are more likely to be attentive in a classroom where their teacher minimizes time turning their back on them. Some students take advantage of teachers when they are aware that the teacher is not looking. Some students might be doing such things as passing around notes, throwing objects or doing other things that will be distracting to their classmates. When I used to write on a chalkboard or white board, I usually stood at an angle and tried to look at the class as I wrote. I would alternate looking at various sections of the classroom. I seldom had discipline problems. My students were engaged most of the time. I felt that the students appreciated that I kept control of the class. I was able to be a more effective teacher by having a key ear and keen eye. As technology has filtered into the classroom, opportunities for traditional classroom lectures have been minimized. Yet, every teacher needs to be aware of how important it is to have eye contact with students during any type of situation when they are lecturing. This is also true when anyone is doing a presentation in front of a group of people.