Students need to feel that you are a mentor, supporter and role model. It's important that the ideal of success is modeled by you. Bridging that gap creates a peer relationship that is hard to recover from.
A instructor is in the classroom to teach the student the course work of the class and help the students to communicate with other students and succeed in the classroom
You don't want to be a students friend but want to help the students to succeed in what they are attempting to achieve
it is important to gain respect and have the students look up to you in a positive way. Students will then be willing to ask for advice and help when they need too.
Distance allows the relationship of the Professor and the Student to remain cordial, respectful, and primarily educational in nature....Becoming too friendly with your students can cause perceived Bias etc....
Maintaining a professional image
by: Floyd Mitchell Raines
There is something to be said about distance. It is a fine line and one that can work for or against an instructor. It is normal to find some students easier to communicate with than others, but the line must never be crossed, between student and teacher. Respect is something that is earned but in a weak moment it is easily given away.
Hi Robert,
Yes, treat all students the same and let them know that you are all about business. Students need to know that we are serious about helping them become successful.
Patricia Scales
Your students are not your friends. While they are your students, you must treat them with respect and professionalism while they are in your care as students. Befriending them and treating them as buddies only muddles the relationship as the class progresses and can certainly taint your objectiveness when it comes to grading.
Maintaining a professional distance from students is an important part of class management because an instructor can lose the respect of their students if they cross the line and try to be friends with their students. The instructor should be seen as an authoritative figure. Once the instructor becomes friends with a student, the student sees the instructor as their equal and not a figure of authority. This can cause problems in the classroom because the student will usually expect special favors, such as exemptions from assignments or extensions on due dates of assignments from the instructor they now consider a friend. By maintaining a professional distance, the instructor will be able to maintain the respect of the students and have better overall control of their classroom.
It is being professional and one cannot say they received a good grade just because they are friends. It is better to keep it professional so nothing can resolve from it
Hi Robert,
When it comes to being an instructor credibiility and respect are everything. Students need role models to look up to. They do not need another buddy so to speak.
Patricia Scales
Students need to understand that you are in control of the classroom and that the "air" is one of professional respect and academic endeavor. This in no way means that there cannot be a climate of comfortable rapport. The business at hand must be the central focus and must be handled with integrity for all persons involved!
It is important to be seen as a credible instructor and not just a fun friend who the students can bulldoze.
That said, I think it is vital to build a great rapport with the class.
Hi Russell,
Yes, befriending students is not a good thing. The instructor should only have a professional student/teacher relationship with all students.
Patricia Scales
Getting too personal with students may signal to those students that it's acceptable for them to treat you as a friend as opposed to treating you as a professional. They may find it easier to get away with slacking off.
When we as instructors cross lines to become buddies with our students it makes it hard to make unemotional and fair decisions on what is best for the learning environment. Fairness and equality in the class room is important. Students will respect our position more as an instructor then a friend. I am a better instructor then i am a friend. My friends don't want me always teaching and grading them.
Befriending students allows them to see you as their equal, their pal, and therefore they test the limits they may have with you about how they conduct themselves in class. This can break down the professional perception of the classroom environment, and be a personal distraction for the learning environment.
I think that distance sets you as the person who runs the class. A good example is if a student needs to be disciplined, there would be no hurt feelings as he or she would know you are just doing your job and it is understandable to the student. Being a friend to this student would put you on a whole different level.
I maintain a professional distance as I want to be seen as a professional instructor once you get involved with personal lives you will run the risk of lossing their respect. You may also be accused of favoritism.
In the field of study that I teach much of this is applied to the industry. Customer venting and upset. Yes let them vent and release the tension. Then try to resolve the issue with both parties satisfied. In a classroom environment the students are there to bring a better life for themselves and the ones they care for. This must be valued. You try and at times must present yourself as a professional to be taken seriously. The students do see this and also look for it. If professional appearance and instruction is not given then they could feel it is not needed as they go into the work field.
