Students want the instructor to be professional. It may be difficult to be objective or be perceived as objective in grading and treatment of all students if you chose to become "friends" with members of the class.
It reminds me of parenting! Our children need parents, not friends!
A teacher must show "presence" in a classroom. A strong intellegent voice and professional attire is at the heart of management and respect.
I think this is a gret topic and i can think of so mnay times this happens in our school. I am the clinic cordinator and i am constantly having to tell my instructors to keep a professional distance form our students. This is agreat topic and I will be reitrating this info with my isntructors.
Thanks
This is a hard topic when you have a small class size, but is very necessary. The students get to know me quite well and vice versa. They want to know my personal issues and it could be very easy to share with them with having such a small class, but it can't happen in the classroom. It separates the issues verses the professionalism. This is probably one of the most important/hardest issues I have had on an instructor level.
Hi Christopher,
Perception is everything. Students look up to us in more ways than one. We must be positive role models.
Patricia
Hi Helen,
Amen! We must lead by example, and certainly practice what we preach!
Patricia
Hi Ann,
Professionalism is a must! Students truly give you the utmost respect when you are regarded by them as a professional.
Patricia
For starters, the professionalism of the instructor can reflect the personality, organization, and overall quality of them; as perceived by the students. Also, it often acts as a representation of what the student might expect in the industry field they are studying for.
This is particularly important for younger students because the example set by their first instructors impacts their image of future instructors. Professional distance lends objectivity and prevents the perception of favoritism and reduces opportunities for student manipulation. Professional distance creates a sense of trust in students for the instructor as they learn that how and what they learn is as important as personality.
I agree, instructors should appear well groomed and clean in appearance
It creates respect and it models professionalism for students.
Professionalism is very important. If the instructor is not acting professional.. How can he/she expect the students to act professional?
Hi Amanda,
In the classroom and the relationships need to be kept strictly about business.
Patricia
YOu need to maintain a professional distance from your students so they respect you and your professional opinion and knowledge for the subject you are teaching and the class does not get overtaken with personal information the students don't need to know.
Hi Patricia,
Maintaining a professional distance is important to gain the respect of students. Students do not want to be your friend. They have come to your class to learn something. You are the expert. This doesn't mean you should not be friendly and interactive.
Hi Patricia,
Maintaining a professional distance is important to gain the respect of students. Students do not want to be your friend. They have come to your class to learn something. You are the expert. This doesn't mean you should not be friendly and interactive.
While you want to build a rapport with your students, you have to be very careful not to become their friend. Friends have different expectations of you then students do. You also treat friends differently than students. I make it a policy for instance, not to become "friends" with students on Facebook. It may seem like a small thing but I feel that if students feel too comfortable with you then it undermines your authority. After all, my friend Lyana won't count my assignment late but teacher Lyana will. I try to be someone my students feel comfortable talking to but I'm not their friend.
Hi James,
You are right! Your colleagues will begin to inquire as well.
Patricia
Hi Ryan,
You want to lead by example, and your appearance says a lot about you professionally. I really like the idea of "no facebook" policy.
Patricia
