What do you do if you want to build connections with students in higher education?

Actively engage with them inside and outside class. Participate in discussions, show enthusiasm, and create an inclusive environment. Be approachable for one-on-one talks about coursework, career, or personal matters. Use online forums, social media, or virtual office hours to stay connected. Attend extracurricular activities and events to interact informally.

In my opinion engaging in activities and events outside of class can definitely provide more opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals. Building connections beyond the classroom setting allows for more diverse interactions and shared interests

This particular action step encompasses all other action steps suggested in this thread. When joining groups, those that are in alignment with your academic and social interests, you are more likely to be consistently engaged, meet like-minded people, be able to help others and receive help when needed, attend events, and most importantly be genuine in what you do. Research shows that such activities impact the academics and motivation positively, which has proven true for me when I was a student. Joining student organizations, as well as leading them, has created a strong network of people, provided me with much needed life and career skills, and will have always been a favorite part of my college journey.

Absolutely, offering assistance to classmates can be incredibly beneficial for building relationships and a supportive community. When you help others with their studies, whether by forming study groups, sharing notes, or explaining concepts, you demonstrate empathy and a willingness to contribute positively to the learning environment.

To maximize the benefit of attending these events, it's important to be proactive. Make an effort to introduce yourself to others and engage in discussions related to the event's theme. By exchanging contact information with individuals you meet, you can continue the conversation beyond the event and potentially develop new friendships or professional relationships.

By creating official WA Groups and taking weekly online sessions through Zoom, MS Teams, WebEx, Google Meet. Also, assist them in using MOOCs and MOODLE.

I make use of WhatsApp, Google Classroom. etc to stay connected with my students outside the physical classroom. I have found it useful to maintain a good rapport with my students to a certain extent.

I'd add "Be genuinely helpful". Be open to using your knowledge and expertise to advance the learning and progress of others. I also have a word of caution here. The notion of authentic sometimes get taken too far. Authentic shouldn't mean un-curated. Not all parts of us are fair game for sharing all the time.

Speak directly to them. I like to start my class with a casual "check-in" with the group, before launching into course material. Reading the room and recognizing if the group seems upbeat or defeated. Then I ask a conversational question without pressure to answer. (You all look as tired as I feel, am I right? Trust me, your faculty is just as burned out. Hang in there, fall break is in 4 days.) After a holiday break, I never assume that everyone's visit at home was full of gifts, love, and celebration. Not everyone celebrates Christmas, not everyone has a loving home, some are financially struggling, grieving a family member, or stressed about falling GPA. Focus on welcoming them back, rallying, and set the stage for a fresh start.

Genuine connections stem from authenticity. When interacting with others, it's vital to be sincere and show genuine interest in their experiences. By being true to yourself and engaging authentically, you cultivate meaningful relationships that can positively impact your journey in higher education.

Above everything else, students of higher education are going through a lot of turmoil in their personal lives which impact their learning. Instead of treating them juniors, we shall treat them with respect, even if you think the "love life" at this stage may be a menial thing, but it is a big deal for them. Heartbreaks, scolding from parents, even something like loosing a pet can make a huge impact on the concentration of a student. Treating their issues as important and giving time for them to heal instead of judging them is beneficial. Understanding them at their level from their POV is important instead of comparing them with your own life. Be a guide not just an orator!!

The biggest way to engage students is a thorough communications strategy. By mapping communications to the student journey, you can ensure students are receiving these messages of engagement and support. Many students don't seek out this information themself - it has to be promoted as an engagement opportunity.

I've found that an ethic of care goes a long way when connecting with my higher-ed students. Without grounding in that, my student relationships remain superficial. The most meaningful connections I've had are due to this ethic of care and my instructional design. I've long embraced andrological practices over pedagogical ones. Doing so has deepened the connections I share with my students.

Esteja presente: Demonstre interesse genuíno pelos alunos participando de eventos, palestras e atividades extracurriculares. Seja acessível: Esteja disponível para ouvir as preocupa??es e ideias dos alunos. Promova a participa??o: Incentive a participa??o dos alunos em sala de aula e em projetos acadêmicos. Valorize suas contribui??es e opini?es. Utilize as redes sociais: Aproveite as plataformas online para se conectar com os alunos e compartilhar informa??es relevantes sobre eventos, oportunidades e recursos disponíveis. Construa relacionamentos de mentorado: Ofere?a orienta??o e apoio personalizado aos alunos, ajudando-os a alcan?ar seus objetivos acadêmicos e profissionais.

I recently had a student in an 8-week class miss a little more than a week wherein 2 presentations were scheduled. My class policy is students can make up one speech for any reason, but not more than that. She came to me after class to discuss her situation. She had a very personal reason for not being in class and missing two speeches. She was in tears. I explained to her my make-up policy and reasons for it. She did not get to make up both speeches. But she told me "thank you" for listening. She said she had other professors who didn't want to hear what she had to say; at least I listened to her. I followed my course policy and she still felt like I cared. That was a 30-minute conversation that was worth my time.