This is so important in the classroom and will distinguish you as a professional teacher. Students want a mentor, guidance counselor, teacher to have someone to lead them.
This keeps the instructor the instructor and the student the student. When I arrived here a couple years ago students were calling instructors by their first names. I didn't like that. I had a dear friend years ago tell me that I needed to have my son's friends call me Mr. Rick. It established boundaries. Though there are still a few that say "hey Rick" or the every irritating "hey Dude", most call me Mr. Rick or Mr. Barclay. Shoot, some have even called me "Professor" (how's that for an ego trip?)
Hello Laquita,
Absolutely! Lead by example.
Patricia
Hello Donald,
As an instructor we are constantly being scrutinized even when we are not at work. When we see out students outside of work, remember they still look at us as professionals.
Patricia
Instructors are tasked with the highest level of professionalism at all times. Students constantly watch us to see if we are going to mess up and clean up their act if the see immature actions are not tolerated. And there are those times a side bar with the student is needed to help them focus and why they are in the class.
You must always be in charge or control of your class. Also you are traing young men and women to start their journey on a new career and you want to pass on professionalism to them.
The teacher loses objectivity and sees the student in a different light. May give the student certain priviledges that are not afforded to other students based on the personal knowledge that the instructor has. Instructors struggle naturally with finding students they like and ones they do not, we certainly do not need to add to this! It is very hard at times to maintain a professional distance but in the long run it is so very important for you and more so for your students!
As an instructor you can not be seen to be getting too close to any student. Some other students will see this as favoritism. The students usually click up and someone will always feel left out. As an instructor, by keeping a professional distance, (1) You are the leader of the class (2) You are speaking and teaching to all and (3) You are reachable by all.
Hi Amy,
Absolutely! It should be a very distinct difference between the professional relationship and friendship. Boundaries must be established.
Patrici
Hello William,
You have it! Short sweet and to the point!
Patricia
Hi Jack,
When tough calls have to be made, and you have befriended the student that becomes a bad situation. Students should know that you are the instructor, and they don't get any special favors.
Patrici
Not to long ago I managed a course that the manufacturer had placed a extremely high benchmark upon the Staff and the Student in regards to acadmeics and professionalism and rightfully so becuase of the quality of the product the Student was learning about.
We had these gifted Students for 27 weeks and 8 plus hours a day and it was very difficult not to become friends with them. It was important to keep that professional distance from the Students as the Staff was a extension of the manufacturer and the Staff new what the manufacturer expected from the graduates once they were in the field. By keeping that distance we had the respect of the Student when the tough calls had to be made.
Look the part,act the part,be the part,lead by example
Maintaining a professional distance helps students know that you are in charge. It sets clear roles and boundries between students and instructors. It also helps students be more prepared for work because they see a difference between professional relationships and friendships.
Hi Stephen,
How do you go about maintaining a professional image?
Patricia
Hi Steven,
What a great way to encourage good attendance and professionlism. I bet the students really get into it.
Patricia
My school has a program to reward 1 class each course period. The class is chosen first on their attendance and then on their professionalism (they must be current on their labs and tests and demonstrate good behavior).
They get a pizza party on the last day of class.
If you dont they can mistake this for something else and expect you to give them a grade they dont deserve.
Hi Jeremy,
You are certainly handling yourself in a very professional manner. Continue to be your students instructor and not their friend.
Patricia
Hello B. A.,
A professional distance must be established between the instructor and his or her students. A line has to be drawn.
Patricia
