Using first names with students?
Hello! As professors teaching adult students, how harmful is it to have students address you as the professor by your first name? Do any instructors out there do this? When teaching adults this can be tricky, but I know a lot of professors prefer for their adult students to address them by their first name.
Benjamin,
This is a good point because you have maintained the professional distance required while the course was being taken and then if they so chose they can become more of a colleague once they are out of the course, thus the use of the first name.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I used to do this because I thought I would be more approachable by students. Over time, it created hassles when students would lose the instructor/teacher viewpoint, so now I let students have fun with it. They can call me Mr. Bunting, Mr. B, Dr. B, or any variation. However, if they call me by my first name after they have finished my classes, I'm not going to correct them, as I personally am not offended.
Laura,
You make a good point. Respect needs to be two way and must be earned. Once respect is earned then the foundation has been laid for the development of rapport and this leads to enhanced learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe it really depends on the class. I believe there needs to be a mutual respect. Just because your students put Ms/Mr infront of your name does not mean that the respect is there.
DAVID E,
Good point and one that every instructor needs to consider in relation to how they extend and earn respect in the classroom.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In my classroom as in all surroundings I always use Ms./Mr. to everyone. I believe this to be professional in every way. A title is important, but more important is a mutual respect for everyone! Referring to my students as Ms./Mr. always makes them feel that they are acknowledged as a person who deserves and merits respect! This has assisted me in maintaining excellent rapport with my students!
LaTisha,
I agree with Dr. Meers as we have to establish boundaries and obtain respect from our students. In my case, I'm about the same age as some students and I focus on making sure respectful relationships are maintained throughout the term.
Paulette,
How you prefer to be addressed should be clarified right up front as you have done. This really is a service to students because then they know how to address you and are comfortable from there forward with your title.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As stated elsewhere, this probably becomes a personal preference.
I taught for many years in the secondary, high school, level, where students always referred to me as Mrs. Bxxxxx but sometimes shortened it to just Mrs. B, which was fine. I always called them by their first name, of course.
When I started teaching in college, many students would call me by my first name, others by "Professor" and others Mrs. Bxxx.
Later I decided I did not like students using my first name and specifically would give them direction on how to address me. I like the Mrs. B the most, but many still use Professor.
Paulette B
Luanna,
You raise a very good question that generates a lot of discussion. I prefer the last names and a more formal greeting with my beginning students. I want to establish the boundaries for how my classes will operate. With my advanced students, such as my doctoral candidates I use and the address me by first name because we ate at a different level of rapport.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have been working as an a new school that prefers we use first names with Ms/Mr in lieu of a title. my best guess is to be a bit friendlier with the student population. I am looking forward to any feedback. I am used to a different set of criteria at the last college. Do you believe the classroom setting differs based on this?
Shawn,
Thank you for sharing your perspective on this topic. You make a number of very good points through your examples. This is an area each individual instructor has to find balance in because there are no hard and fast rules on this especially when teaching older adult students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is a great topic that I hadn't fully considered. As far as I'm concerned, I have no personal issue with adult students using my first name. From the first day of class, I make sure that they feel comfortable speaking to me/getting my attention however is necessary. :-)
Interestingly enough, I cannot think of a time that a student referred to me by my first name during class--they usually say, "professor" or "teacher". Although, outside of class, say, in the halls, they almost always use my first name.
But I think there is a good point made in this thread: I have never referred to any of my instructors by their first name, unless they give me personal, one-on-one, permission.
Well, I would just reverse this question and ask yourself how many times you personally have addressed one of your professors/instructors by his/her first name. In my experience, it is never. Not once. For you, it might be different.
It is an interesting question, because I too am a beginning instructor and wondered how I should be addressed. I think it has something to do with my own confidence level (which may or may not be the same case for you).
I feel like who am I or what authority do I have to be addressed by my last name? Then I just remember my credentials, years of experience in my field, and the collective whole of everything that I bring to the table and remember that I might deserve some extra formality and recognition beyond being addressed by just my first name. ;)
LaTisha,
You are welcome. Insight gets better after many years of teaching and situations that require some adaptation to support students success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Thank you Dr. Meers for sharing your insight! I like the fact that you are initially setting boundaries, but also willing to adjust as needed with your advanced degree students.
LaTisha,
Very good question and I am sure you are going to get very different answers about what professors prefer. With my new students I make it clear that I am to be addressed by my title. I do this first to establish boundaries with the students and to help them develop their professional behavior around individuals in their selected field. For my advanced students (upper level masters and doctoral candidates) I let them know that they may feel free to use my first name or use my title which ever they are most comfortable with. I do this with the upper level students as they soon will be joining me in the profession and they will be colleagues.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
