Maintaining a professional image
It is very important to maintain a professional image in class. As an instructor you need to institute the guide lines for student instructor relationship but not friendship. Students need to recognize you as a knowledgeable professional but still be caring about their needs as a student. Never fall into the trap of teaching to the students so they will like me. This idea is very destructive not only to you but also to your class.
Hi All,
I agree that it is important to be liked, but more important to be respected. Not feared, but respected. Also, if you are well liked, beware of the students who want to try to manipulate you into extensions on deadlines or other things.
They must know that if you treat them with respect and kindness, it doesn't mean that you'll be showing preference with them.
Hi Sandra,
I agree whole heartedly! Great response! I always tell my new/inexperienced instructors we are not in this business to win a popularity contest. It is nice if the students like you, but most important of all they need to respect you.
Patricia
It is not as important for students to like you as it is for them to respect you. Business is business type of attitude must be displayed for many students. This lack of formality is killing professionalism. Being considerate and fair should not be mistaken for being liked or nice. Students need to know how to present themselves in a professional manner.
Hi Bradley,
I feel the perfect mixture is to be liked and respected, but what matters most is that they respect me, and they learn from me. I do not get caught up in the liking part any more, simply because I am in the business to educate my students and sometimes they are not going to like me. I am fortunate because I am well loved by my students.
Patricia
I disagree with that, it is important for the student to like you and respect you as a Instructor, if not the student sits in class hating every minute they are there and does not learn anything. The Instructor has to set a standard at the beginning of each new class, in return the sudent start respecting the Instructor the students are looking for this. When the students (like you) they leave your class learning and remembering everything you said, when they dislike you all they remember was how boring and stupid the class was, and they are glad to get out of there.
I once worked with an instructor who would bribe his students at the end of the class. He was a great instructor, students learned a great deal from him, but he was a tough grader. At the end of the session, they would take a field trip and he would take them all out to eat. While at the restaurant, he would give them the student evaluation to complete. He always got good evals because of the methods he used to solicit that response. A full happy student will almost always give a good eval.
I couldn't agree more! In the past, I have had colleagues that felt they needed to share their personal troubles with their class (with administration or personal relationships). This always made me feel incredibly uncomfortable and sometimes pressured by students (who were in both classes) to do the same. As mentioned in the course, I don't mind sharing an occasional personal "joy", but I'm certainly not going to "slander" my own environment in an attempt to build rapport with students.
Hi James,
Great response! It does not matter if the students like you are not. We are in the business to educate in order to change lives for the better, it is not a popularity contest.
Patricia
