Hi David,
I concur! Keep the distance, and only have a good instrutor/student relationship.
Patricia Scales
Hi Deepika,
You are definitely on point! Continue to be the professional that you want your students to become. Lead by example!
Patricia Scales
Hi Brian,
I agree! Lead by example and demonstrate to students what professionalism is all about.
Patricia Scales
An instructor should always be just that.It is not your job to be there mother or father or there best friend. You are there to teach a skill and help to promote these studets on there careers. When you become a buddy you lose all credability as an instructor.
As a professor, I have to maintain a professional image because I am there role model and may be a mentor one day. I have to maintain professionalism because I am here to educate them not to be with friends. I want to preapre for out comes after college. Get tehm ready for the real Corporate America.
We must set ourselves apart from the students because we are the teacher! This is not a "peer to peer" environment or cocktail party. Maintaining distance establishes the required hierarchy necessary to teaching effectively and learning. However, presenting oneself as human and interacting as humans is helpful in avoiding any negative attitudes that may form from "superior-subordinate" dynamics.
Hi Brian,
I agree! Treat all students the same! Showing favoritism creates way too many problems.
Patricia Scales
Hi Mike,
Students frown upon favoritism! Treat every student the same so that no problems will come about.
Patricia Scales
I love this! As a nursing instructor, this is a great acronym to use. Thank you for this post.
I agree you can be friendly while being a mentor. However, be careful. I learn as Squadron Superintendent in Air Force it becomes extremely difficult to maintain a professional image if a preception develops where your students feel you are giving preferetial treatment towards others. You lose all creditabilty when you try enforce rules and grade tests. Instead of being seen as objective instructor, you will be seen as subjective instructor with personal favoritism toward certain student which is not good.
that way it doesn't seem like have have favorites
Hi Charlene,
You are definitely on point! Nicely stated! I totally agree with your perspective.
Patricia Scales
If you get too personal with students, they loose respect for you and may try to take advantage of your friendship by expecting preferential treatment.
I think it has more to do with your attitude. In a crowd of people, leaders can be easily identified by their demeanor and how they carry themselves with confidence. It is like they are making it known, albeit in a non-verbal way, that respect and deferrment are expected.
There is a thin, many times, blurred line, between familiarity and professional empathy.
An instructor's credibility and objectivity will be tested many times by students who expect to get special "priveleges" and concessions because of their personal relationships with each other.
BECAUSE I FEEL THE STUDENTS OF TODAY GET TOO ATTACHED LINESGETBLURREDAND THEY NEEDTOKNOWUCARE BUT ARENTON THE SAME LEVEL THEY ARE... IAM THER TEACHER AND INSTRUCTOR
While we all desire to be liked, my job is to prepare the student for their future. I have to maintain a level of objectivity and fairness to all students. I tend to view it in the context of the manager/employee relationship. In order to maintain a level of control/authority I have to be able to distance myself from the student as a friend, but still be approachable when assistance is needed.
Hi Timothy,
You are definitely on point! Boundaries must be established so that students know who is in control.
Patricia Scales
Hi Brendon,
Nicely stated! We must lead by example and produce an environment that is conducive for learning to take place.
Patricia Scales
Hi Carol,
I am sure you act as role model in every way.
Patricia Scales
