Role modeling seems to be the best manner to "teach"; students see examples of what is being taught and know that it can be done! There is nothing better than to practice what is being taught!
Maria,
Thank you for the kind words about the course content as well as the story you shared. Your experience is what keeps us educators coming back to our classes year after year. We do impact the lives of our students. Your display of the human factor the very first class meeting was powerful for your students as evidenced by the statement made by the student at the end of the class. You are bringing your personality to the class and sharing it with your students and this is a gift that they will appreciate for years to come. I wish you continued success with your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am so glad I decided to take this course. It has shown me a lot about myself as an instructor, confirmed many of my good practices, and it has given me insight to areas of improvements. I find myself excited and ready to put into practice some of the suggestions in this course. As I went through the course I remembered the first day of a course in the wheel I currently teach. I prepared all of the first day required material in advanced. Additionally I had a class activity planned, an intro to or overview of the course with handouts, engrade.com prepared for their registration, my board was prepared, I was meeting the students at the door and welcoming them to the class, etc, etc. But I had never stopped to consider how this affected the students. I simply thought this is me, I like being prepared and organized. That day towards the end of the period a student stood and shared her thoughts and feelings with the class. She said, "If she can be here on time for us and be this prepared for us then I can come to class on time, pay attention and be ready to learn, and turn in my assignments when due. This touched my heart deeply and changed my point of view, since then my motivation for prepping and organization has been about the student.
Rachel,
Thank you for these comments. This is something that is a constant battle with many of my colleagues as well. We are models to and for our students and thus we need to dress, act and conduct ourselves as role models of our field and our profession.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Dress code! I see some collegues wearing some of the most unprofessional attire. "Dress the part", always appear in professional attire! Make up doesn't matter but your attire does. We can not enforce dress code and teach professionalism if we are not fitting the picture of a professional. Dressing professional should be sending students a message that I am serious, it is non verbal communication. Verbally do not use slang or street language. Always speak clearly and concisely.
Anthony,
Like the modeling you are doing for your students. I agree that a learning leader can make a difference through conduct, dress and professional actions as the students develop their own identity with the field. This is a very important role for us to play and we need to always remember the importance of it both within the classroom and the total school environment.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Some ways you can model behaviors that will help your students to succeed in their career field is to lead by example. I have seen some of my students dress code change as a result of the professional image that I deliver. This is valuable not only for the appropriate dress code at work but, also as an upcoming working professional. In all my students not only learned the material that was covered but, they also learned a great deal about their appearance.
Regards,
Anthony Allen.
Therese,
You have laid out a very well developed guide for instructors to follow as they fulfill the role of models for students. They need to, as the saying goes "walk the walk and not just talk the walk".
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
There are many behaviors that an instructor can model in the class room to promote success for their students in their career field. I agree that we should look the part as instructors including coming to work clean, neat, and wearing appropriate uniform. I think we should follow the rules our students are expected to keep such as using cell phones only in approved areas on breaks. I think instructors should always avoid gossip or talking about private matters in front of students as they may get into trouble out in the field for causing turmoil amongst co-workers. I think we should show respect to students, other peers, and management. I think we should be on time and present showing dependability in the work place. I think we should show enthusiasm for teaching so our students might model that in the work place showing interest for learning in their new job.
I dress every day as if I'm going to a job interview. I'm always on time and always prepared. I enforce the school dress code, class attendance, and class start times. At first my students grumbled but now my job is easy. They follow the rules. Also, I teach nursing so at the clinical sites. Again we have very strict dress codes, attendance, and time.
Amazingly, my students give me higher evaluations than other faculty. I act like a professional and I expect them to act like professionals.
This has definitely established mutual respect. My students also know if they act like professionals, I will do anything to help them academically.
Thank you, its nice to know I'm moving in the best direction for my students and myself.
Laquenta,
Like your style a lot This is how it should be for instructors since they are role models for their field. We do need to reflect our professionalism both in and out of the classroom or lab. Someone is always observing how we conduct ourselves and we do not want to disappoint our students nor reflect badly on our field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
First and foremost I will say always be professional in and out of the class room. Being a professional does not stop just because you are off the clock and for students just because you are out of class. When i am in public in uniform with my name tag on the public can see who i am, where i teach, and how I'm conducting myself. Professionalism is something i constantly reminding my students to exercise. Language and the way they speak is another huge behavior that is a MUST when going into their career field, therefore i actually do a lot of simulations as if my students were speaking to a patient so i can assure they have the proper speaking techniques.Those are 2 of my major model behaviors i know for a fact will help my students succeed in their career fields.
Vickie,
This is something that I believe in strongly since I am seeing many students in my classes that do not care about any of the things related to professionalism. They have for the most part a sense of entitlement thus do not need to earn the respect of their employers or anyone else. I strive to get them to see the value of presenting a professional image as it will result in career growth which they are striving to have.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Gary, i strongly agree with your response to how we as instructors should conduct ourselves before the student with our conduct, dressing, behaviors, and language as well as our relationship....it does reflect us and keep us accountable and responsible on a professional level.
Vickie Hill
Stephan,
They are brief and to the point so we can remember them as we play each role at different times in our classes.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree I really liked reading about the three Ms and how they apply to me and my class room.
Stacey,
You are right about the human factor. It is essential in terms of being a part of the instructional process. Without the human factor teaching does not have the enjoyment that we get as instructors. So we need to bring this element to our classes each time we meet because we are impacting lives in many different ways.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Hello,
In addition to what has already been shared, I see that kindness, validation, and authentic interest are also tremendous models for students.
I often observe professionals pratice their professional skill set that is knowledge and behavioral based, yet the relational piece may be missing.
I think tending to the human being in front of you while practicing professionalism is a wonderful model of emotional intelligence.
Thank you.
Humbly,
Stacey Annand
Mariann,
Like the list of professional actions that you proposed in terms of being a model for your students. These are the items that help them to see their learning leader preforming in a leadership manner so they can feel comfortable modeling their own behavior after their instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
