Monday July 4, 2011
I am convinced that during any given class, no more than one-third of the class is listening to the Prof at any given time. Now understand I do not mean that the same one-third listens the whole period.No rather the class as a whole drifts in and out of the environment in no particular order. Their thoughts wander they look at the laptop, they check a cell phone, they think about where they are headed after class, all these are distractions.
Check out this site about learning through listening.
Here are ten quick steps to improve your listening skills.
Ten Steps to Effective Listening
- Face the speaker and maintain eye contact.
- Be attentive.
- Keep an open mind to what you are hearing.
- Try to picture what the speaker is saying.
- Don't interrupt or impose your "solutions" on the speaker.
- Wait for the speaker to pause to ask clarifying questions.
- Ask clarifying questions, not challenging questions. Wait until discussion time to raise your point of view.
- Try to feel and understand what the speaker is feeling.
- Demonstrate you are paying attention to what is being said by providing feedback through nodding your head or saying "Uh huh."
- Pay attention to what isn't said—to feelings, facial expressions, gestures, posture and other nonverbal cues.
Professor Elam 
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