communication process in the classroom

INTRODUCTION

                        Communication is a process which is very effective for running a effective classroom institution or teaching. The classroom teaching basically consist of a series of activities and sharing of experiences to bring about desirable behavioral changes among students. To achieve the desirable behavioral change, teachers and students interact with each other to co-ordinate their efforts through meaningful communication. The term communication is derived from the Latin word “communis” which means common. That is, the communicator and receiver have a common understanding of thought, ideas, message, feelings etc. Man being social, wishes to exchange information, news, options, experiences, and feelings. This act of doing so is called as communication.

DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNICATION

                   According to Berlo, “Communication is a process of interaction of ideas between the communicator and the receiver to arrive at a common understanding for mutual benefit”

                     According to Keyton, “A process of transmitting information and common understanding from one person to another”

                   “Communication is a process of initiating, transmitting and receiving information”

COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION

                   In the process of communication, there are five elements. They are:

1.Sender

            In the process of teaching, teacher is sender. Technically speaking, he is encoder or source, who is intending to send or transmit the information.

2.Message

            Here learning experiences, ideas, thought attitude, feelings are transmitted.

3.Medium

            It is the channel of information, through which decoding, encoding takes place. Feed- back takes place through this channel.

4.Receiver

            Decoder of information. He shares the experiences through sender. Here, students are the recipient of information.

5.Noise

            An obstacle or barrier. It results in the distention or blackout of the information.

KINDS OF COMMUNICATION

                        There are four kinds of communication. They are,

1.      Speaking- listening

                        The sender speaks, the receiver listens.

            Eg:- The Politian addresses the public function while the public listens.

2.      Visualizing- Observing

                      The sender uses visual symbols and the receiver observes.

           Eg:-Use of an illustration or a diagram.

3.      Speaking- listening, visualizing and observing

                      It is combination of both speaking- listening and visualizing- observing. Both actions go hand in hand and simultaneously.

           Eg:-Watching an educational program, episode on TV screen.

   

 4.Writing- reading kind

                                The sender uses written words and symbols while the receiver reads or feels those. Here the receiver is able to enjoy and appreciate the feelings of the author or sender.

                       Eg:-Silent reading text book.

COMMUNICATION CYCLE

                   The sender may design his message to a single person or a group of persons, it may be conveyed by expressions, gestures, speech, written symbols or by hand drawn of motion pictures. Every medium exerts it’s influence and peculiarities on the message and in this sense becomes a part of the message. The receiver accepts or receives the information, interprets or technically decodes it and produces a desired, appropriate responses, which must be received by the sender. This is the feedback component to the sender.

COMMUNICATION IN CLASSROOM

                   Classroom communication exists in three categories: verbal, nonverbal and written. Verbal communication means anything that a teacher or student speaks aloud. Nonverbal communication refers to body language that people express. Written communication is writing directed at a specific audience, such as report card comments or student’s assignments. Classroom communication is not merely single sided presentation of facts or pouring of information, it requires message and counter message, inter communication between the teacher and the learner. There must be a reaction and interaction with a constant reciprocal feedback. The new and improved communication devices such as radio, CD players, tape- recorders should be used in classroom. Teacher and students interact with one another in many different contexts

and use all the types of communication.

       I.            Teacher/ class communication:

                                            Teacher/class communication exists when a teacher communicates with his entire class. Verbal communication exits when a teacher tells students information they need to know. For example, if a teacher asks a student to “stop talking”, this is a direct form of verbal communication.

    II.            Teacher/ student communication:

                                 Teacher/ student communication occurs when a teacher interacts directly with a particular student. Since, a teacher interact with her students, mostly in front of the whole class, it can be difficult to distinguish teacher/ student communication from teacher/ class communication.

 III.            Student/ teacher communication:

                               Student/ teacher communication is also direct communication between a student and the teacher, but this time it is the student who initiates the conversation. Also, this can occur during whole class participation.

  IV.            Student/ student communication:

                              Student/ student communication occurs when two or more students interact with one another. Successful whole class discussion stimulates students/ student communication because students should talk to each other and no just to the teacher. It occurs when students work in groups to complete an assignment.

     V.            Student/ class communication:

                             Student/ class communication exists when a student or group of students direct their message to the entire class. For example, if a student asks the class a question during a discussion, the student’s message is directed at the entire class. In this type of communication the students feel nervous or self-conscious.

BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

                   There are some barriers which make communication ineffective. They are:

        i.            Lack of effective listening is one of the most important barriers.

      ii.            Perception which refers different people receiving and hearing the same message but interpreting it differently.

    iii.            Language can also be a barrier if the teacher and the students don’t speak the same language.

    iv.            Cultural differences can be a barrier if messages are delivered in different way.

      v.            Anxiety is a major barrier, because, if a student is anxious and unsure he/she is less likely to speak up in class.

    vi.            Poor channels can also be a barrier for communication.

  vii.            Jumbled messages such as contradictory messages is a barrier for communication.

viii.            Emotional states such as mood swings, anxiety can also be a barrier to communication.

    ix.            Lack of credibility can also be a barrier to communication.

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CONCLUSION

                   Several communication medias outside the classroom carry constant influences upon the students. Keeping this in mind, teacher should plan his communications and must relate them to the school activities. Communication in classroom can occur only when teacher and the pupils share common meaning and experiences.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Myageri, C.V.(2008). Secondary Education and Teacher Functions. Karnadaka: Vidyanidhi            

               Prakashana.

Suma,S. (2016). Language Across the Curriculum. Trichy: Akshaya Publishers.

Types of communication in the classroom.(2015). Retrieved from,

               http://www.ehow.com