Nonverbal Communication

Within the field of communication studies "nonverbal communication" is considered to include everything except your actual words. Posture, hand movements, facial expressions, pitch, volume and pacing of your speech, dress and proximity are all part of nonverbal communication. With this definition an average of 60% of your message in a conversation is communicated nonverbally (this obviously varies considerably depending on the message and the setting).

Immediacy - How you show caring and interest through nonverbal actions.

• Have an open body (don't cross your arms, hunch or keep your hands in your pockets)
• Close proximity (walk around the class so you aren't always distant from the back row)
• Direct body orientation (face someone directly when talking to them rather than looking at them over your shoulder)
• Vary your facial expressions and make eye contact
• Keep your posture relaxed but not so relaxed that you look disinterested
• Vary the pitch, tone, volume and pace of your lecture

Studies show that instructors that are more immediate are perceived as more competent and credible by their students. Immediate instructors are more well liked by their students and students are more likely to take another class from the instructor and even another class in the same subject regardless of the instructor (ie. a bad instructor can turn a student off from physics even if the student has an interest in the subject). Students with an immediate instructor report an increase in their perceived learning but when students are tested in various ways the increase in actual learning is marginal.

Misc.

• A possible guideline for dress is to dress one level above your students. The more you dress like your students the more approachable you appear however the less authoritative and competent you appear.
• Females are in general more in tune to nonverbal communication than men.
• Techniques to demonstrate immediacy are the same for small group discussions as for large class lectures. Besides videotaping your class another good way to practice is to give a presentation to a small group. In particular tell a member of the group you are working on nonverbal communication and ask him or her to focus on that aspect of your presentation.
• When talking to students look for "mixed cues" - when a student is shaking his head saying he understands but his facial expressions and tone show he does not understand.
• If you can arrive early to your class. As students arrive walk around and talk to students either about your class or anything else that interests them.

If you would like to learn more about nonverbal communication consider reading, "Essentials of Nonverbal Communication" by retired UT professor Mark L. Knapp.