Instructors Not On The Same Page With One Another
I have had students approach me with a question and then go to another instructor with the same question and get a totally different answer. Not sure how to handle this situation.
Keri,
I like the way your faculty is sharing and learning from each other. This helps to set a positive climate for learning and professional growth.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
This has happened many times where I currently teach. We, as the instructors, have found if we all have in-services together and learn each other's teaching styles, we tend to be prepared for the fact that we do all do things slightly differently. We then remind the students to learn the basics and the standards, then develop thier skills the way that works best for them, following the standards of course. We have found that if we all are on the same page as instructors, we are more successful at demonstrating professionalism as a whole, as well as individually.
Scott,
Good advice because there are many different approaches to a task and as long as it is safe and follows procedure and students need to be able to adapt and adjust their approaches as dictated by their employers. By doing so they will be flexible and can work in many different settings making them more valuable as employees.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I teach students preparing for careers in health care, and I always make a point of telling them that, in the course of their careers, they will see many different but equally valid ways of performing a given task. My advice to them is to learn the protocols used by their employer and follow them, regardless of how they may have learned it in school.
Bridgette,
Good information for instructors to consider as they approach the classroom. We each get to bring our personalities to teaching and share our content and expertise in our own unique way.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I feel it is important to be professional in the situation. When this has happened to me, I have often complimented the other teacher by saying "I never looked at it from that pov before; thank you making me aware of it from a different angle; I then tell the students, that just like no job position is ever the same, nor is every boss the same, the true is the same for instructors. Everyone has their own style, but all instructors, just like bosses, share the same goals of educating you as a student. Hope this helps
Steven,
Good advice for instructors to follow. We need to be open to other ways of doing things and supportive of showing our students how they can be successful rather than tearing other professionals down.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have found an even worse situation is one between two or more lab instructors. One instructor who assumes a class in a following semester will discredit everything the previous instructor(s) have taught the students. There are sometimes many ways of getting to do a procedure, with no one absolute method. So rather than the new instructor stating that everyone else is wrong, let the students know that she is simply showing them a different technique. Unless of course the school has a stated preferred method for doing said procedure, in which case all instructors should be teaching the same method.
Michelle,
This will frequently happen in areas where there is not a definitive answer. I would qualify my answer to say that "to the best of my knowledge and experience is the answer. Different responses may be given by other professionals due to our varied backgrounds and experiences." This lets them know that you are aware that others may respond differently. If they are going to other instructors just to get different answers just to cause strife then talk with the other instructors and make sure none of you get caught up in this childish game.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
