Have you ever heard the phrase “85% of communication is non-verbal?” You might have muttered these statistics yourself but it is also important to know their origin. Psychologist Albert Mehrabian is responsible for these numbers from his study in 1972. He explained that in everyday social interactions communication percentages are broken down as follows:
According to Mehrahbian’s (1972) studies, non-verbal communication actually accounts for a whopping 93% of any social communication, not the 85% we’ve always assumed. How do we capitalize on this data if our conversations are happening digitally? For faculty who are new to the unfamiliar territory of online teaching, they may struggle adapting to new circumstances and some of the restrictions of digital instruction. Many of the questions we get as faculty training specialists are about how to keep students engaged while teaching online. To start, addressing the non-verbal aspect of communication and making it more deliberate in how we deliver instruction, will help with student engagement.
A consultant for Ted Talk by the name of Vanessa Van Edwards (2020) found some interesting nonverbal characteristics linked to three categories of charisma, credibility and intelligence. After rating different TedTalkers, Van Edwards found common behavioral patterns between the ratings and the level of successes those ted talks had. For example, Van Edwards found that there were ted talkers smiling and the length of your smiles and higher vocal variety had higher credibility ratings by viewers. The amount of hand gestures and vocal variety also rated higher on charisma. Smiling also affected intelligence scores, with 14 seconds being the tipping point. (Van Edwards, 2020).
Non-verbal communication is more subconscious than verbal communication, meaning that when you use words to communicate, there is a lot more thought and intent behind the interaction. Whereas communication through smiles, laughs, and face or hand gestures can be largely unplanned. As an educator, modeling good non-verbal behaviors can assist with student engagement, make classes more collaborative, and help students feel they are being heard. In this article, we are going to explore some tips and tricks on how to expand your video presence in the classroom and to engage your students non-verbally.
Camera - Where Do I Point This Thing?
The easiest way to improve your online presence is to move your camera to be at an optimal angle for your audience. Make sure the camera is above your head and slightly pointing down. You also do not want your camera to be zoomed in too close. Leave enough room for your students to see your hand gestures as you talk throughout the class. The lighting is also crucial for optimal Zoom presence. If you are not able to improve your lighting situation in your work area, use the option in the “Video Settings” of your Zoom application, where you can select the “Adjust for Low Light” option to help brighten up your video profile.
Pro Tip: If you are primarily using a laptop to do most of your teaching, try using a thick book to raise your laptop up for a more optimal angle. Oftentimes laptops on desks do not have an optimal angle for engagement and a thick book or two should help you unlock better camera placement.
Hands - What Do I Do With Them?
McGregor and Tan (2015) highlighted the work of Vanessa Van Edwards, a TED talk consultant, who analyzed popular presentations for common behavioral patterns. Van Edwards found that the least-watched TED talks had an average of 124,000 views and used an average of 272 hand gestures. The top-ranked talks had an average of 7.4 million views and 465 hand gestures during the same length of time. Van Edwards explained that we build trust non-verbally and we have an easier time trusting someone when we see their hands. Comprehension is also easier when someone is using hand gestures while talking because that person is communicating both verbally and nonverbally at the same time.
Pro Tip: Include hand gestures while speaking on Zoom. If you make a conscious effort, it will become more habitual and help you capture student attention. There is no shame in hopping into an empty Zoom room and practicing your presentations and live session plans.
(Almost) Always Maintain Eye Contact
Eye contact is especially hard for faculty who are teaching using two screens, but it is important to use it as a tool to make sure your audience and students know you are engaged and listening to what they say. Try to look at the screen containing the camera in order to stay engaged with your audience.
Pro Tip: When using dual monitors, put the item you are sharing on the second monitor keeping your students on your main monitor. That way when you are sharing you are looking to the side and when you are not, you are looking directly at your students and not the other way around.
Nod and Smile
When communicating in the digital classroom, you are working with a lot less non-verbal cues than in an on-ground classroom. Visibly nodding your head and smiling as your students talk may keep them engaged as you show that you are actively listening to what they are saying.
Pro Tip: Try to exaggerate a lot of the cues you would otherwise tone down in a regular classroom. It will be easier for students to respond if they can clearly see how you are communicating. Also, if you have the ability to stand while teaching, those gestures will be easier to project.
Body Posture
Try to maintain a steady and open posture when presenting yourself on Zoom. Do not be afraid to lean into the camera if a topic or what a student or colleague is saying intrigues you. But, avoid hunching over your laptop/work space. This will give off a tired and tense look to your audience.
Pro Tip: Consider investing in a standing desk or ergonomic chair. Having the ability to stand or using a solid chair with lumbar support will definitely help your lower back! If you are feeling more adventurous, substitute a large yoga ball for a chair to help improve your posture.
Conclusion
Non-verbal communication in on-ground classrooms is important, but we should not overlook its importance in the digital classroom as well. Even though our communication is limited in the way we deliver nonverbal cues online, their implementation can be deliberate and strategic to foster more engaging discussions and to model good behaviors to your students. Working on easily fixable aspects for your Zoom classrooms such as camera angles, lightings, hand gestures, and body posture can give you that extra advantage when trying to connect with your students. However you go about improving your digital presence, just try to adapt it to how you like to teach instead of trying to alter your way of teaching all together.
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Mehrabian, A. (1972). Nonverbal Communication. New Brunswick: Aldine Transaction
Hyder, S. (2020, March 19). Digital Body Language: Why How You Say It Matters More Than Ever Before. Inc.com.
Jena McGregor, S. T. (2019, April 7). What to do with your hands when speaking in public. The Washington Post.
Navarro, J. (2020, March 31). Tips for Improving Communication During Video Conferencing. Psychology Today.
Van Edwards, V., & Vaughn, B. (2020, April 20). 5 Secrets of a Successful TED Talk. Science of People.
Yuan, K. (2020, August 7). Zoom tips: 7 ways to improve on-screen body language. The Enterprisers Project.
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