Role model
Presentations should always begin with being a role model.
Basically, it boils down to "practice what you preach" If you step outside of your own set standards, you risk losing the respect of the students and it's very hard to gain back that trust, respect, and motivation
Alisa,
Age can be a challenge for some learners. To gain the earn the respect of older students make sure to always dress and model the role of an educator. Move with a level of assurance and self confidence that sends the message that you know what you are doing as the instructor of the course. Ask your older students to share some of their life experiences at appropriate times in the course. This will help them to see that you respect them for their life experiences and that you value their input. This will help them to become invested in the course to the point they will not be totally focused on your age and what they perceive as lack of experience.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
As a younger instructor, I strive to project a professional role model that my students can look to for a proper example of the requirements of our profession. Yet, I find myself struggling to gather some respect from some of my adult students, as there are more than a few that seem to view me as being too young to have the knowledge and experience to be teaching the subjects that I do. Are there any other aspects which I may include that would help to bolster my current level of professional appearance to these students?
Ayelet,
I agree as well. Appearance is so important in presenting the total picture of a professional to students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I believe strongly in consistency on our dress code
to be a role model conservative, clean and crisp clothing also makes the image of a role model.
Kimberly,
I think the "why" aspect of the policy is so important because you are helping them with their future career. The policy is based upon the standards of the field rather than just one person's opinion on something.
Gary
I teach medical assisting students, and we have a very strict policy about tatoos and peircings. I have found that it helps if they can related as to "why" we have these policies, and give them an example of how this could effect they ability to get hired in our feild.
Yvonne,
It is tough to come back from something like this so we need to remember that we are always being observed by our students and conduct ourselves as professionals.
Gary
I agree completely. There is a loss of respect and therefore trust from students if they witness an instructor breaking their own rules.
David,
Good point about model development on the part of the instructor.
Gary
To some extent I believe this is true; however, I believe the role model develops as does your class. If the material, material and the presentaion of the materials is accepted and respected by the class, then you will become enveloped as part of the class and thus 'automatically' become a role model
Tom,
If an instructor does this then he/she is done in terms of enforcing any of the course policies because the students know that the polices will not be carried out.
Gary
I agree this also goes for the dreaded cellphone! If the instructor can't turn their phone off or takes a call during class, students will see that as an example.
I agree. The same goes with professional attire and body language.
Matthew,
I like your approach. This way your students know that you are serious about their education and you are giving them a model to follow as a result of how you conduct yourself.
Gary
This is true, I would not ask anyone to do something that I would not do myself. It should be about leading by example. I do not agree with the "do as I say, not as I do" mentality.
Yes I think thats true; at start of my class, besides pass out syllbus and the Policies of the class, the orientation of myself and my qualification are given. My presentation is given in a strong and powerful demeanor to help paint a picture in the students head. This picture normally gets interputed as a strong, well knoweledged instructor and someone who requires of them the same.
The instructor has to set standards as a role model. You cannot stop student's from eating, drinking or chewing gum in the class, if you do not follow it yourself as an Instructor.
