Nonverbal Communication In The Classroom

As children we are raised to always have respect for authority figures, no matter what positon they’re in. An example of this would be the way students respect their teachers in the classroom because of the teachers’ expert power (McCroskey, Richmond 1983). In this case expert power is the student’s perception that the teacher is competent and knowledgeable in all areas of study (McCroskey, Richmond 1983). But when you think about it, how much of this urge to respect our teachers comes from what we have been told to do our whole lives or the subconscious effect of nonverbal communication? After everything we have learned this semester, it’s easier to begin to think critically about the ways in which people use nonverbal communication on a daily …show more content…
When focusing on reward power, teachers may use statements that involve encouraging their students to succeed by indicating a reward, like offering extra credit or other incentives. Highlighting the possibility for potential rewards and success for the group of students as a whole, will allow for a positive learning environment. However, oral communication is not the only way students learn. Silence is a powerful form of communication in the classroom (Guerrero, Hecht 2008). Many teachers are familiar to the action of asking a question and receiving silence from the students in return. Although during that silence teachers hear nothing from the students, it can quite possibly be the loudest part of the day. This silence from the students can mean multiple things. It can mean that the students do not know the answer or are confused on the question being asked. This means that silence can act as an activating function, meaning it shows mental inactivity in response to the question asked (Guerrero, Hecht 2008). Also, it can mean that they are too shy to answer correctly in fear of failing or looking stupid in front of their peers (Guerrero, Hecht 2008). Keeping quiet about this silence can lead to more problems that students may run into later in life. The students who are especially quiet from day-to-day may never feel comfortable verbally communicating their opinions. This may lead to potential job loss, or poor relationships within their adult lives. We can study this form of nonverbal communication to better improve performance in the classroom. Attempting to make students feel safe by creating a warm and inviting classroom by using different artifacts(Shahnazi lecture, 2014) and using encouraging language can help stop the silence we hear all too often in the classroom. All of these strategies I have stated, subconsciously indicate the power level of the teacher;