Fairness to all
I find it hard to be all things to all people. It always bothers me when I get the feeling that a student isn't to keen on my style, but I am who I am and they too need to meet you in the middle. It is part of working in a professional environment and I feel the teachers part needs to be met...if that is happening I am very comfortable with a disapproving student.
Scott
Hi Gregory,
One suggestion I would make is to make your legal background and training a part of how you question and respond to student questions. When a students gives a wrong answer I like to redirect their comments into a situation of having them think about their response in a different way. With your expertise in the legal field you have seen many different approaches to getting responses from individuals that better fit the situation or more directly answers the question. Use these same techniques with your students. You will be able to keep them engaged and focused while getting them to consider and discuss other options to the questions that have been asked.
Gary
I agree it is necessary to be fair and respectfully, and I am ever mindful of that when working with my students. I think this can (like most things) be taken to an extreme. I don't see this as much at the college level as in high school, but at times it looks like instruction is intentionally "dumbed" down so that even the least able student is able to keep up. As a result, the bar is set so low the more able students can trip over it. While students need to be treated "fairly" in class, there does need to be some recognition that in the workplace, as in life, there are people who operate at different levels of competence. My problem has always been (and continues to be) how do you get the point across that an answer, etc, is not right or well thought out without seeming to play favorites? What is the best way to say "wrong", but say it in a way that makes them want to try again, perhaps after first being better prepared.
Good point ,when teaching try to be impartial and treat everyone with courtesy and respect.
Hi Jason,
Right you are. Good point about the need for us to make sure we are including everyone in the learning process that is what being a good educator is all about.
Gary
it's easy to get caught up in teaching that great student who enjoys learning but we as teachers need to look to those other students and try our best to empower them to want to learn
