Teacher with Students Relationship, Engagement, and Better Teaching Environment
Originally published at Teacher with Students
Have you ever thought that a strong relationship of the teacher with students is a key factor in the effective teaching process and good results?
For a moment, think about your favorite teacher from school. For instance, I used to adore my English teacher and that was a motivation for me to learn the language the best way possible and meet her expectations. But what makes a teacher so special? Maybe they were the first person who helped the subject “make sense” to you, or maybe they let you borrow books from their classroom library. The wisdom and mentorship that teachers provide can be life-changing, especially for younger students.
One of the best ways to encourage learners is through building strong and meaningful teacher-student relationships. In the present article, we are going to discuss the importance of teacher-student relationships together and learn how to make the process easier in your online school. You will also learn about the challenges facing teacher-student interaction. Accordingly, you will also consider how positive relationships can improve your teaching environment, and promote student engagement.
Why are these Teacher with Students Relationships so important?
In your teaching environment, you are much more than just what you teach.
This is a profession that takes not only brains but also hearts. People who have good teacher qualities know that although it is crucial to fully define ideas or points and have a comprehensive knowledge of the teaching content material, there is something not less important and which truly makes a difference. I speak about having good relationships with your students.
Starting teaching, especially, online, a teacher is more likely to focus on procedures, rules, lesson plans, scheduling, and routines. All of these points are very essential. And, any good teacher knows that when you have strong classroom routines, and expectations are made clear to students, your lessons become more effective than in the case you don’t take the time to build those routines, teaching procedures, and clarify expectations. However, during this process education providers can and should focus on building a relationship with their active and potential students. Any teacher needs to build one-on-one relationships with every student and manage the learning process on a firm basis.
I won’t open a secret if I tell that especially these days, teachers share not only theoretical academic knowledge. Every education provider, first of all, acts as a mentor — a guide who leads the beginners in the right direction. Many students need good mentors in their lives. Learners are different, their goals and expectation differ, but they have something in common. All of them need a trainer, who will be a friend they may rely on and learn from. When students feel safe and loved, they can learn much more than they could in an environment where there is a lack of similar relationships. But how are you going to build such relationships?
Teacher VS Students; How to Build Strong Relationship?
One of the best ways is by sharing with your student. People trust each other when they know each other well. In your courses or lessons, you may share some previous experience, maybe some humorous situations in working life, and even personal life vs work-life balance, etc. Now, let’s go on and discuss a few points that will help you in building relationships with learners.
#1 Know Your Active and Potential Students
Every teacher, regardless of their specialty and experience, should clearly imagine their target students. For instance, if you have decided to teach yoga online and earn a living from it, you should know the preferences and expectations of people who are interested in yoga. At least, you have much in common.
If you are a business coach, your target market may be wide and cover different industries. Regardless of the wide variety, you should still be able to classify the audience groups and specify each of the groups, creating your buyer personas (learners).
Learning the students’ needs and preferences, you provide personalized content whether it is about engaging training or educational blog articles. Accordingly, you are more likely to earn their trust and build strong relationships.
#2 Believe in the Student Success
Every person can learn and every learner has the potential to succeed.
Your belief in the students has a subconscious effect on the way you treat each of them. This is a valid reason, why you should believe that every person has the ability to achieving success. When creating online courses or conducting lessons, you should obviously show your belief and trust. Show that the topics are easy to understand for them and that you expect good results, effort, and improvement from every single participant.
Motivate them and prompt them forward to achieve more than they have always thought is possible. Of course, students differ and some of them may need more support than others. Provide the topic in an easy-to-understand way and support them along the way. Divide your lessons, according to the level of the learners, offer helpful resources, and teach, according to your students’ learning styles. Provide extra help as needed.
#3 Be Vulnerable
Let your students see your humanity. Even if you talk from the other side of the screen, do not act like a robot. Be vulnerable because, in this way, it becomes much easier for the learners to connect with you.
Brene Brown — a researcher, and college professor states that “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”
So, being vulnerable, and encouraging vulnerability in your students, you are more likely to build deep relationships with them.
#4 Provide Support through Every Possible Way
People who decide on learning something new, going deeper in their profession, or improving their skills, need support and guidance. A good teacher provides it.
I remember, when I was a beginner in the digital industry, I attended several pieces of training as well as passed online courses. At that time, I needed guidance probably every day as I was new in the field with no practical experience but only theoretical knowledge. It was the support and guidance of my trainers that helped me overcome the difficulties, and integrate into the new environment.
As an education provider, you are also highly recommended to provide support to your learners. Be available both for online as well as the offline world. Meet the students through online channels, live chats, social media profiles, and similar resources. Offer contact forms and details, such as email address, mobile number, etc. whatever you find proper. Make it easier for the students to get in touch with you and share their concerns, points of view, or appreciation.
#5 Share the Best and Most of Possible
When learners buy an online course, book a live lesson, or decide to take part in any training, they expect to get a lot of knowledge, shared experience, tips, tricks, and a professional approach. As a good teacher, you should do your best to make their expectations come true. Share every single point that you think will be useful for the target market. Be honest and do not keep secrets. Even if you do not have the answer to any question, try to keep the honesty. All of us are humans and every day of ours is a new opportunity of learning something new. You also may miss some points for some moments, but make sure to analyze similar topics and come back later with a researched answer.
When presenting the educational content do it fully, in detail, and trustworthy. Share everything you know and do not let the learners a doubt to think you do not present every detail.
#6 Show the Students that You Care
Students need to feel that their teachers do care about them. You should do the best to communicate such feelings in a way that gets through to your students. We know that connecting with students is even more challenging when we deal with e-learning remotely. It can be difficult to convey authentic feelings through online courses, conferences, webinars, channels like email, or instant messaging.
Here are a few strategies to focus on to share your care when building and improving your relationships with students:
- Ask questions and listen carefully to identify learners’ needs and concerns.
- Show that you are interested in the students’ opinions, ask them to share points of view on the comments section of the course, etc.
- Be careful about the way you talk to students.
- Provide marks for your students, share feedback about their promotion or weaknesses. Encourage, motivate, and guide them if there is a need to do more.
- Share useful content in the form of blog articles, educational videos, books, bonus tips, etc.
Always let the students think they are special for you and you do care for them. This way you will build a strong relationship which, in its turn, will improve the quality of the learning process. The more learners become satisfied with your content, the better authoritative specialist you will become. And accordingly, the number of your students will gradually increase.
Keep in your mind, efficiency in everything depends on good and trustworthy relationships. Earn trust in your target market, and you will definitely achieve your success. As for the digital era we live in, the preferences are for eLearning. There are better ways to share knowledge, reach a wider market and why not save your time, efforts, and budget through automation tools. E-learning automation is possible regardless of the industry. You may also try and optimize your time. Book a free demo and learn how to start.
