The students are looking to you for guidance and leadership. You are leading them on the path to their future. When you take away that professionalism, you take yourself out of that role and leave them without the leadership they need. Baiscally letting them jump without the safety net.
I have to be careful of falling into creating a report with students that is too casual. I want to identify with them but need to be careful not to use contemporary vernacular that can be offensive or inappropriate in a professional setting. I may find there are times to use more contemporary gestures or terms where appropriate to create a light, yet pertinent to the instruction of the day.
I believe this is an important part of class, not because you are better than the students, but to show them that "Professionalism" must be used and learned. This would include language, dress, etc. Sometimes your actions can speak louder than words itself.
It is important for you to stay professional with your students. Identifying with them is one thing but to become their "buddy" is an other. Maintaining your authority in the classroom is important to keep the students on task and to keep them from taking advantage.
if you do this with all students there will neve be a question regarding favortism there are always some students that you like more than others the thing is to never show it
Hi Marie-Christine,
It should be in your actions that you are the authoritative figure. Students watch unspoken gestures as well as spoken words to determine if you are in full control.
Patricia
Hi Shawn,
I concur! Treat all students the same so that nothing can be said about one student being treated better than another.
Patricia
By keeping an equal distance from all students, no one can claim 'you spend more time with X because you like them more' or 'Y gets more personal time while the rest of us are ignored.'
Students don't get mixed signals about what the relationship is between you the instructor and them the student. They don't have to wonder why their beer drinking buddy gave them a low score on a test. They know that they can come to their instructor and be treated fairly and professionally. I share my personal work related experiences with the class only if it is pertinent to the situation.
It is important to maintain authority of your class. With out authority you can't control the class or guide the class you the desired goal which is learning.
Hi Kathryn,
We as professionals must hold ourselves to very high standards because students really do look up to us.
Patricia
It is important to keep a professional distance from students for several reasons. The classroom is the work environment and friendships are personal. Work life and personal life should be kept seperate. Additionally, there is a lack of equality when some students are treated like a friend and others with a student-teacher relationship. Professionalism is necessary in the classroom if respect is desired from the entire group of students. I have a rule that I do not mix my professional life with my private life.
students need to see you as the professional, the one that is going has the background and knowledge to teach them the information that they will need for their future.
Hi Deborah,
Students really do emulate instructors. We must strive to be excellent role models.
Patricia
Students learn by examples, if you are, a positive instructor, you will teach your students to be positive about there career.
The instructor needs to convey that a professional image is very important in employment arena. The instructor needs to be a very good example of professionalism. This will help the students understand what they need to do to also present that image when they get employed. The professional image will also help the student understand how they need to act in class and in the work environment.
I think that you are correct. I think back to the instructors that I looked up to and still do, are those that always remained professional in their attire, their command of the subject, and their overall professional command of the classroom with fairness, consistancy, etc.
I believe that maintaining a professional distance from students is extremely important. As a professional you are not their bar buddy or any other kind of buddy. You are their instructional peer and should remain so. To sway from professional boundaries is to open yourself to criticism and behavior unbecoming of a professional. Not to mention that respect form you will be lost.
Hi Robert,
Do not let students cross the line, and you do not cross the line either. Students and instructors have their own unique roles. Instructors you be the professional and maintain high standards of professionalism in all areas.
Patricia
It is very important because when you cross that line the student might think they deserve special treatment or even a better grade.
