Instructors can make mistakes
There are times when an instructor can be asked a question that he/she does not know the answer to. Instead of admitting to this fact, they try to avoid embarrassment by making up an answer that may be invalid. We must understand that teaching is an evolving profession and it is fine to make mistakes and admit inconsistencies in knowledge in a particular field. The best response should be: "I have no clue; however, I will be happy to check on that for you after class."
Willie,
This is a common sense way to respond to a question you don't know the answer to. Students do respect a learning leader that will go to the effort of finding the answer and then responding to students. Shows that individual is supportive and is listening to students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I, however, would not say that I have no clue. For some reason, that seems to me to make matter even worse (LOL). Instead, I say "I do not know the answer; however, I will find out and let you know in our next class." I have actually had to say that a few times (just last week to be exact). Students appreciate it when I get back with them with an answer in the next class. It is important to let students know that we do not have all the answers, that we have not thought of all the situations. :-)
If we as instructors don't try and show the student that we are Smarter than they are they would have respect for our mistakes.
Marjorie,
This is such a good way to keep the class moving forward, getting the answer to the question and helping the students to see the value of doing some of the research on their own. This is a very teachable moment if handled in this manner and everyone benefits.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Tralanda,
Your comments reflect a clear understanding that we instructors don't always know the answers and that we do make mistakes. Your advice is good in that we need to admit the mistake or say we will find the answer or even better we as a class will find the answer and then move on. We can't stay fixed on the present but need to push to the future for which we are preparing our students to enter.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
So true Lance...I had one like that myself.
I always tell my students the truth. If I don't know the answer I point them to someone who doe's
or I research it and provide the answer in a timely manner. You then have a student that believes you care
I teach a few different schools and their approach to this question is quite different. One school agrees with the statement that an instructor should not make a mistake with their subject matter and the other one is more relaxed and says, 'make it a learning experience.' I find that I have to make sure that what I say can be searchable. Most often people get on their phones and look up what I have said anyway. When they do they agree or add to the "fun fact" we discussed. I will have that student that questions everything that is not in the book. So I show them where I found the material to help them learn more. If they want to know more and want to "know-it-all" then I will help with that. I show them harder and more complex sites to read so they feel challenged and they get more out of the class that way.
I have a very hard time with this statement. Because you know when we were in school the instructor was always right and I have to relize that instructors do make mistakes and the one thing that I learned is to study the material and if you do not know the answer to a student's question, say I will get back to you or let's look up the answer together.
Lance,
Thank you for reinforcing this critical point. Without follow up an instructor will quickly lose the respect of the students and be discounted as the learning leader. Follow up must occur!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Lissa,
What you have done is to turn a challenge (this knowledgeable student) into a resource. With your management style you are able to maintain control of the class while enabling her and the rest of the class to progress in their learning. This is a win win situation for all those involved.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is important, but you must follow with that answer. Otherwise, it devalues the time the student took to ask the question. I had an instructor in my past that never followed up which became really frustrating and made class time really tedious.
I completely agree with you. I have a student who tends to study the book with tenacity and when class lectures present information that is not in exact alignment with the book, she is quick to respond. I find that other instructors aer put off by this behavior and respond as such. However, I enjoy the challenges and she has instigated some very stimulating conversations about the material. I often allow my students to get their cell phones out and search for the topic. More often than not, both sides are present and the class discusses it with enthusiasm.
Instructors must be very well prepared for the material corresponding to the course. Instructors are not expected to make mistakes in the fundamental concepts related to the course.
However, it possible for the inctructor to make a mistake just because of loss of focus for a moment.This type of mistake must be corrected immediately. If a student points out the mistake, he/she must be commended and praised for finding out the mistake. The correction must be repeated boldly with an apology and with the credit to the student who pointed out the mistake.
Instructors must be very well prepared for the material corresponding to the course. Instructors are not expected to make mistakes in the fundamental concepts related to the course.
However, it possible for the inctructor to make a mistake just because of loss of focus for a moment.This type of mistake must be corrected immediately. If a student points out the mistake, he/she must be commended and praised for finding out the mistake. The correction must be repeated boldly with an apology and with the credit to the student who pointed out the mistake.
Elanor,
Thank you for sharing this strategy with us. I am sure it is a lot of fun for the students to research plus a valuable learning tool. You are right about admitting not knowing the answer and then working together to come up with the answer. This is what collective learning is about and everyone benefits.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I completely agree. I have seen so many instructors who will make up something because it sounds good, yet they don't know what the real answer is. One of the things that I use in my classroom what I call discovery education. If they ask a question that I may not know the answer to, I will pose the question to the class and challenge them to look it up on their break and we discuss it when they come off of break. This way they discover the answer, and bring it back to the class. This way not only does the class learn, but they have discovered the answer for themselves and they don't feel they have to rely on my for all the answers.
Jose,
Good response to questions you don't know. We all get them and in fact it is fun to research the answers to such questions because the effort helps to make the class and large learning community.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
