It shows you are setting a professional rapportas well as being an instructor interested in each student and avoids letting students feel she/he is showing favoritism.
Hi Susan,
Nicely stated! As instructors we are under a microscope at all times. We have to watch our actions.
Patricia Scales
I like this definition of CPR! I try to be courteous to my students and teach them to be courteous in their interactions with each other. It's also important to be respectful - both to yourself and to your students. You disrespect both your students and yourself if you are not prepared and act in an unprofessional manner. I agree that an instructor must act and speak like a professional at all times. This does not mean that you have to be boring or uncaring, but you have to consider the impact of your words, your actions, and how you dress.
It isimportant because students will repsect you and then do what you say.
Hi Michelle,
Students do not need another friend, but they need as many role models as possible. Let's be role models to our students.
Patricia Scales
Your CPR motto is great! Teachers need to remain the director of the course, rather than the students' friend. Many times the teacher tries to befriend the students and they tend to take advantage of their relaxed atmoshphere.
being professional is very important for instructures to show respect and commitment and responsiblity for and towards their students.
I think that professional distance helps to create and maintain an example of what is required in the career field. To be seen as a professional shows your students that you care about them and their success. That you are there to help them to succeed.
When you cross the line of instructor and attempt to be their "buddy", you have already lost their respect on some level. I remember instructors when I was in college that "partied" with their students. They definitely did not have my respect.
Undue familiarity will likely result in a loss of respect toward the teacher.
This seems to be an easy line to cross. Students are often sharing very personal information about their lives and dont always have a clear understanding of what is an appropriate and inappropriate relationship to have with an instructor. Its important to make this clear to maintain authority in the class room. If I am a students friend, how can I objectively grade them, and how is this fair to my other students?
They come to us for obtaining knowledge and depend on us to guide them. We are not their buddies, but their teachers and we must maintain the professionalism so that they know what a professional is.
Professionalism is important in class because A) it sets the tone and indicates that you are in charge and B) it demonstrates the kind of behavior you expect from your students. Having good rapport with students is important, but without the proper amount of professional distance you lose their respect and your ability to effectively lead the class. It’s especially important for younger teachers like myself who are not too many years older than their students, or are in some cases (such as with returning career students) younger than them. In those circumstances, authority is all about the tone you set and how professional you are in your interactions and self-presentation.
Maintaining a professional image will define and give clarity to the role of the instructor which will indirectly define the roles and expectations towards the learner, as well. Doing such will result in a healthy, more productive and goal-directed learning environment.
Its important to maintain a professional distance so you can stay as objective and fair as possible. It's easy to develop favorites and "non favorites".
It helps you be accountable for what you say and it helps with consistency.
It helps you maintain control of the classroom. As much as they may want to be your friend you are not their friend you are their to teach and they to learn. Not maintaining professional distance will impact on your role as the teacher and inhibit their growth as students.
Hi Bridget,
I concur! We are human, it is natural to like some more than others, but you are exactly right never let others know it. Favoritism is frowned upon.
Patricia
Hi Emily,
I agree! The instructor should always stay in the role of an instructor. Students need role models to look up to.
Patricia
Hi Cyndi,
I concur! We must not only tell students how to be professional, but we need to show them as well by leading by example.
Patricia
Hi Yvonne,
Great response! As educators we should certainly lead by example. Our studens need as many role models as possible.
Patricia
