Connecting with instructors

Download: How to connect with instructors on campus  |  En français : Comment établir des liens avec les enseignants sur le campus

Communicating and building connections with your instructors may help you achieve desired levels of academic achievement and a stronger understanding of course content.

Tips for connecting with instructors during on-campus learning:

Find your seat

• Think intentionally about where you would like to sit in class. If you sit in the first few rows of the class, this makes it easier for your instructor to see you.
• If your class doesn’t have rows, try to find a space that allows you to participate to the extent you are comfortable. Sitting in a similar place for each class can help the instructor recognize you, especially in large classrooms.

Give a short greeting

• When you enter class, greet your instructor with a quick ‘Hi, how are you?'. Small talk is a great way for you to interact with your instructor in a more informal context.

Attend office hours

• Office hours provide you with an opportunity to speak with your instructor individually.

You can use office hours to do the following:

• Discuss an assignment
• Ask for clarification on a concept or idea discussed in lecture
• Express gratitude by thanking the instructor for their time and discussing what you appreciated in the course

If you and a classmate have similar questions, consider going to office hours together

Participation

• If your instructor encourages in-class interaction, try to participate at least once every class. If you ask for a reference letter later on, participating in class will give your instructor a stronger understanding of your skills, interests, and academic potential.

Download: How to connect with instructors online  |  En français : Comment établir des liens avec les enseignants dans le cadre de cours en ligne

Build relationships with your instructors to develop a strong professional network and a sense of community, belonging, and trust.

Tips for connecting with instructors during online learning

• Be present and engaged

  • If your classes are occurring through a virtual platform like Zoom, consider turning your camera on. Many instructors appreciate it when students show their engagement and presence in class by opening their camera.
  • If you don’t feel comfortable turning your camera on, or don’t have the bandwidth, personalize your Zoom profile by adding a picture. This will help your instructor remember who you are!

• Participate in class

  • Check with your instructor to understand their expectations for classroom participation and follow their guidelines on when to ask questions during class, when to share ideas, and how often to use the chat
  • If you don’t feel comfortable participating verbally, and if the chat is enabled, start by sharing your thoughts in the chat when your instructor asks a question. Remember, your instructors are there to support your learning; don’t feel intimidated!
  • Public speaking is a critical life skill and participating in a lower-stakes environment will help you develop the confidence to speak in front of larger audiences.

• Attend office hours

  • Office hours provide you with an opportunity to connect with your instructor. Go with a purpose such as discussing an assignment, feedback from a recent assessment, or to ask specific questions about the course. You can also attend with a classmate!

• Express gratitude

  • Email your instructor a thank you note at the end of the semester or consider submitting to Thank a Prof, a form that you can fill out to express your appreciation and gratitude to your instructors. Access the Thank a Prof form here. Remember, small acts of kindness go a long way!

Download: How to maintain connections with instructors  |  En français : Comment maintenir des liens avec vos enseignants

Entering the professional world in your discipline of study for the first time can be intimidating. Maintaining connections with your instructors after graduation can help you navigate the job market and your instructors can be critical references for job applications.

Tips for staying in touch with your instructors after you graduate:

• Use professional networking platforms. 

  • Connect with your instructors on LinkedIn. You can comment on their posts and communicate on any professional matters. You don’t have to do this with all of your instructors.
  • Maintaining online connections on career networking platforms with instructors who have significant experience in your field will help you develop a strong support system that you can turn to in moments of difficulty or confusion.

• Follow on ResearchGate and Google Scholar. 

  • If your instructor is not on LinkedIn, try to follow their work on ResearchGate or Google Scholar. This is a great way to stay up to date with their research. Plus, connecting with past instructors about articles they have written may help you find a research project that aligns with your interests.

• Connect regularly

  • Email your instructors a quick message at a major holiday or at regular intervals throughout the year. Watch this video on tips for writing emails to instructors.
  • Many students only communicate with their instructors after graduation when they need a favour like a reference or some form of assistance with a job application. It is good to connect with your instructors to show that you appreciate their support and think of them even when you do not need their help

• Catch-up!

  • Try to connect with your instructor in-person or over Zoom every so often. You can ask for advice on your professional endeavours and meet to have a quick catch up.