A key to your post-secondary success is knowing your instructors and what they identify as important in each of your courses. Developing good relationships with instructors involves good communication in and outside of class times. They are available to meet, communicate, and talk with you, but you must plan how to connect with them during their available times. It is part of an instructor’s job to talk to learners outside class, and most successful learners take advantage of that option. It is your right to visit instructors during office hours and discuss any problems or concerns that you have in their course. Show
In-Class Communication To build your relationship with your instructor in-class, consider ways that you can show your interest in the course material. Some ways to do this are:
Communicating in Office Hours Instructors hold office hours outside of class. Whenever possible, try to meet your instructor during these times. You can use office hours to ask questions about the course material, to get clarification about the requirements for an assignment, or to learn more about a topic from the class that you find particularly interesting. Some tips for using office hours effectively:
Communicating By Email Instructors often receive many e-mails from students. To write an effective e-mail, consider the following:
By showing an interest, taking time to communicate with your instructor throughout the course, and using e-mail effectively, you will be well on your way to building a good relationship that will support your communication and learning. [1] Try It!If you have already reviewed your course presentation, you will know when and where you can contact your instructor during office hours. Plan to drop by your instructor’s office hours this week. If you don’t yet have a question to ask, consider having a brief conversation with your instructor about one of the following topics:
Download a printable version of this activity. One repays a teacher badly if one always remains nothing but a pupil. —Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this section, you will be able to:
Communicating with Instructors Of all the teachers you've had in your life, which one do you remember most fondly? If you're lucky, you've got someone in mind—a teacher who encouraged and inspired you and perhaps played a role in shaping the person you are today. Methods of Communicating with Instructors College students are sometimes surprised to discover that instructors enjoy getting to know students. The human dimension of college really matters, and as a student you are an important part of your instructor’s world. Most instructors are happy to work with you during their office
hours, or talk a few minutes after class, respond to digital messages, talk on the phone, or engage in online discussion forums or perhaps course wikis or personal journals. These are some of the many methods of communication you and your instructors can use. Benefits of Communicating with Instructors One of the many benefits of communicating with instructors is that it can help you feel more comfortable in college and more connected to the college culture. Students who communicate with their instructors are less likely to become dispirited and drop out. Guidelines for Communicating with InstructorsGetting along with instructors and communicating well begins with attitude. As experts in their field, instructors deserve respect. Remember that a college education is a collaborative process that works best when students and instructors communicate freely in an exchange of ideas, information, and perspectives. So while it pays to respect your instructors, there is no need to fear them. As you get to know them better, you’ll learn their personalities and find appropriate ways to talk to them. Below are some guidelines for getting along with and communicating with your instructors:
The following infographic gives you a visual way to remember key concepts about
communicating with your instructors. Effective Email Communication with Instructors Just as digital messaging has become a primary form of communication in business and society, it has a growing role in education and has become an important and valuable means of communicating with instructors. Most college students are familiar with digital messaging, such as email, texting, and messages via the online-course learning-management system. Using digital messaging respects other people’s time, allowing them to answer at a time of their choosing.
Conflict-Resolution Strategies The most common "conflict" that students experience with instructors is feeling that they've received a lower grade than they deserve. This may be especially true for new students not yet used to the higher standards of college. It can be disappointing to get a low grade, but try not to be too hard on yourself or on the instructor. Take a good look at what happened on the test or paper and
make sure you know what to do better next time.
Working with Instructors: Key Points[2]
The following video from the University of Toronto Scarborough is a good summary of the ideas and guidelines shared in this section on working with instructors: Activity: Interacting with Your InstructorsObjective
Directions:
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What are 3 ways in which you could take advantage of communicating with your instructor to help build and construct a powerful learning experience?Guidelines for Communicating with Instructors. Prepare before meeting with the instructor. ... . Be sure to introduce yourself. ... . Respect the instructor's time. ... . Understand that the instructor will recognize you from class. ... . Don't try to fool an instructor. ... . Try to see things from the instructor's point of view.. What are some traits of a good subject line in an email to an instructor quizlet?What are some traits of a good subject line in an email to an instructor? Be specific, clear, and concise. Make the subject line only one or two words long. Follow any rules the instructor has for what should be in a subject line.
Which of the following is an example of a proper salutation in an email to an instructor?Always start out your email with a polite “Dear” or “Hello” followed by your professor's name/title (Dr. XYZ, Professor XYZ, etc.). If you're not sure what their proper title is, using “Professor” followed by their last name is almost always a safe bet.
When used in an essay question the words compare and contrast mean exactly the same thing?Comparing means examining how things are similar, while contrasting means looking at the ways things differ. For instance, if you wanted to choose which of two schools to attend, you would need to compare the similarities and contrast the differences of the two educational institutions.
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