Hi Carrie,
Absolutely! We must not befriend the student, but we can let the students know that we want them to succeed by actions.
Patricia
Hi Rebecca,
Always keep the relationship strictly professional. Your respect will come based on your professionalism.
Patricia
Hi Mazzy,
Excellent response! We are some of our students only role model. We need to act as a professional at all times.
Patricia
The level of respect has to be high, even the way I dress when I am in a classroom adds up to that. A step up from students, because they look up to me as a professional.
Respect, I believe, is earned and cannot and should never be demanded. Students rate your level of professionalism by a variety of ways- it may be based on your interaction with them, interaction with your peers or on whether or not you can keep your cool despite stressful moments in class. Students look up to us and therefore, we must try to be at our best behavior at all times.
I want my students to respect me. If I have a "buddy-type" relationship with them, then it will be more difficult for them to follow the requirements of the classroom and distinguish the personal versus professional relationship.
Hi Patricia,
I think that maintaining a professional distance from students creates a positive learning environment. I think it is good to have a good open relationship with students, but to also remember that as an instructor we are there to ultimately give the students an education.
As an instructor you must maintain a professional image with your students, if not you lose their respect as an instructor. They may treat you as if you were another student.
Hi Seth,
Absolutely! A line has to be drawn, and the student should not be allowed to cross the line. The relationship between the instructor and student should always be only professional in nature.
Patricia
The respect we show our students is the respect that will be returned. Watch your professionalism.
Professional distance is so important to the instructor/student relationship. It is very hard for the instuctor to present information and impart knowledge if personal information and actions cloud the student's view of the instructor. Trust is difficult to secure if a professional distance is not maintained.
Wait until you get to the Generation Zero, our youngest generation who are a product of our rapidly deteriorating society. Just think about it - our current politicians are from the Hippi/Yuppi generations and have not done much to improve our educational system which continues to become worse and worse.
It is important to maintain a professional image as a mentor to students entering into the professional arena.
I feel that maintaining a wall between the instructor and students works well for me. It doesn't have to be a very high wall, but it is tall enough to let the students know that they can not cross the student - teacher barrier. I will listen to students' issues and advise professionally but it is not my responsibility to ask them why they "look" depressed, or sad, or whatever. We are here to have a professional relationship which does not involve revealing your personal life with them.
I like how you have described this as professionl distance because it is important to keep a structure. You can still be an effective teacher without becoming a buddy or friend.
You can be respectfull of students and communicate with them while still maintaining a professional distance.
It allows the instructor to maintain control.
The distance reinforces both the role of the instructor and the role of the student; profesional, frindly and respectful.
I had a guy that would make his tie of the day the lead-in to whatever the main discussion topic was. A nice technique...something to look forward to each session. He frequently would receive a new tie from students following the course.
But we are participating in an on-line discussion...how does professional image get communiacted in that environment?
It is important to maintain a professional distance because it is fair across the board with all students. You also show that you control the classroom and not the students.
It is good to understand the students and their different degrees of social structure (Baby Boomers, Gen-X, Gen-Y, Millennials, etc.) and show that you are empathetic to their learning needs but it is even more important to maintain the professor/instructor status.
~Louis
Students will often see if you are too close to a student or groups of students and use this to cause trouble with the instructor.
It is import to have a rapport and maintain professional boundries.
