I facilitated a f2f workshop today.
One participant had me working SO hard - seemed stone faced, I didn't think I had buy in, etc, comments seemed OK but body language said "No way".
He thanked me greatly at the end, told me how much he enjoyed it and how much he got out of it.
It turns out he was dog tired from some strenuous activity yesterday.
Now, in an online situation, his comments would have come across OK and I wouldn't have been SIDETRACKED by his physical signs.
A situation where lacking those signs can occasionally help?
(Boy, did I work super hard on him with no real reason!)
Kathi
Posted by Kathi Eland at October 15, 2003 04:37 PMHi Kathi, I find this fascinating as with online courses you loose the body language and therefore often miss some valuable hints about what a person really means. I usually think that body language is very valuable in f2f communications but you have given a clear example of the negative side of it.
Val
Posted by: val at October 16, 2003 08:44 AMHi Kathi
Fascinating insight! I am trying to recall if I have experienced any similar situations....I suppose the closest was having one student who fell asleep during my 8am lecture. I approached him and he explained that he worked as a bouncer and just came off duty. I felt so sorry for him. Given that lecture attendance was not compulsory, I suppose I should be glad he still made an attempt to attend my lecture :-)
Jenny