Seminar X

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• Seminar X
• Non-Verbal Communications

Jim OBrien
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• What is the most important prop that you have in
  the classroom?

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One Answer

• The most important props in most classrooms are
  the blackboard and overhead projector. Though
  commonplace and easily taken for granted, both
  need to be used effectively.
• -Wankat Oreovicz

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Another Answer

• The most important props in most classrooms are
  the teachers body and voice. Though commonplace
  and easily taken for granted, both need to be
  used effectively.
• -Janet Sanders

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The Dilemma of Exemplary Teachers

• They dont not know it if you dont show it,

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The Dilemma of Exemplary Teachers

• They dont not know it if you dont show it, but
  they will know what you do show.

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The Dilemma of Exemplary Teachers

• They dont not know it if you dont show it, but
  they will know what you do show (whether you like
  it or not).

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An overview of Non-Verbal Communication

• Context
• Clusters
• Congruence
• Consistency
• Culture

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Context

• Meanings change as context changes
• Nonverbal behaviors must be appropriate to
  context.

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Clusters

• Corroborating gestures (count to three!!)

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Congruence

• Does all your communication match up?

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Total Impact of Any Message

• Verbal7 (words used)
• Vocal38 (tone, inflection, etc)
• Non-verbal cues55
• If a stranger, up to 90 of messages impact can
  be from non-verbal cues.
• SourceAlbert Mehrabian

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Consistency

• What is normal?

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Culture

• Well talk about North American Non-verbal
  communication
• International faculty may have great feedback for
  us

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Origins of Non-verbal cues

• Cultural base (well talk US-based)
• Cues learned from society
• Meanings learned from society
• Most do not realize that they are sending cues or
  are evaluating others cues....but they are!!

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First Reaction is Emotional

• Usually not conscious of receiving cues or
  reaction to cues.
• Decision made to
• Like or dislike
• Believe or disbelieve
• Open up or close down
• Non-verbal cues register in 1/40th of a second.

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For any message that you send to the students

• They perceive a composite message based on
• Their preconceptions
• Your Total-Message consisting of
• The words you use
• Your vocal tone, inflections, pace, volume, etc
• Non-verbal cues
• Their perception is their reality.

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For any message that you send to the students

• They perceive a composite message based on
• Their preconceptions
• Your Total-Message consisting of
• The words you use
• Your vocal tone, inflections, pace, volume, etc
• Non-verbal cues
• Their perception is their reality.

Are you under control?
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Non-verbal cues communicate about YOU and your
message

• Credibility integrity
• Expertise
• Enthusiasm
• Respect
• Rapport

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The Exemplary Teacher Shows

• Competence
• Knows something worth knowing
• Shows BALANCE in stance
• Confidence
• Comfortable in role relationship
• Shows RELAXATION
• Energy
• Commitment cares about subject students
• Shows by MOVEMENT

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Your stance cues competence

• Good posture
• When at rest
• Feet under shoulders
• Weight balance
• When moving
• Not constantly on the go
• Going somewhere not pacing
• Maintains appropriate distance

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Appropriate Distance

• Intimate 6-18
• Personal 18-4
• Social 4-12
• Public 12
• From Edward T. Hall

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Table Seating Positions
B2
A
B1
B3
B4
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Your Upper Body cues Confidence Energy

• Shoulders point to attention target
• Open arms
• Strong, natural gestures
• At least one relaxed hand at the belt level or
  above
• Appropriate hands fingers
• Relaxed
• The finger
• The Palm
• No weak cues

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Face is the critical focal point

• Facial expressions matches with words
• If not, non-verbal cues win
• 80 eye contact while speaking 1 on 1
• Almost constant eye contact while listening
• Scan when speaking to a group dont bore holes
  in crowd
• What to do about challenges?

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Appropriate Voice Volume

• Gestures help prevent monotone.
• PRO-JECT voice to back wall
• Keeps all engaged
• Optimizes voice
• Slows rate of speech
• Lowers voice pitch
• Adds richness timber

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Be Attentive to Your Students Cues

• Cluster
• Other circumstances
• Im Listening Cluster
• Im Engaged Cluster
• Deception/guilt Cluster

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Im Listening Cluster

• I am not on mental holiday
• Shoulders aligned with speaker
• In almost constant eye contact
• Body still
• Appropriate head facial response

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Im Engaged Cluster

• Listening cluster plus
• Body angled toward speaker
• May lean forward/off back of chair
• Symbolic touch at face/head

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Deception/guilt cluster

• Change in
• Rate of speech
• Body movement
• Increased
• Blinking
• Preening
• Side-to-side glances
• Mouth/nose/tie area touching

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The Non-verbal Exemplar Teacher

• Competence demonstrated with positive power
• Weight balanced
• Appropriate eye contact
• Vocal Projection
• Confidence demonstrated by
• Relaxed body hands
• Comfortable in using space
• Enthusiasm demonstrated by energy in
• Strong gestures at or above the belt-line
• Purposeful full body movement
• Vocal variety, emphasis, and expression

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Closing Thoughts

• Smile
• You are in charge
• Being nervous vs. being confident
• Practice, practice, practice
• Video
• Mirror
• Peer
• Be yourself
• Smile

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• QUESTIONS?