This promotes a clear understanding of boundaries between student and instructor. It will promote the most conducive learning environment becasue it will focus on the content, and not a personal relationship. I often tell my students that I am not here to be your friend, but that I am hear to be their support system and usually upon completion of the program they realize the logic in this method and ultimately respect this.
And the only way to regain it is to consistently do what you should have done in the first place...how ironic.
Hi Rene,
I agree 100%! Leady by example! Practice what you preach! At all times, keep your composure. Once people lose respect for you, it is hard to regain it.
Patricia
Hi Jacqueline,
I agree! We need to showcase the professionalism that we are instilling in our students. Lead by example.
Patricia
Hi Evelyn,
I concur! Instructors should make it a point not to befriend students. It is fine to be friendly with them, but know where to draw the line.
Patricia
It is important to maintain a professional distance from students so that they are aware of who is in charge of the class. It is ok to be friendly with students but to go as far as becoming "friends" with students could disrupt your class management. You should earn the students' respect by being professional and maintaining a clear instructor/student relationship.
If a professional distance is not maintained from students you are opening yourself up to accusations of favoritism. It also makes it more difficult to enforce policies when you create an unprofessional bond with students. The instructor diminishes their authority and respect from the class. It's our job to model professionalism to our students, maintaining that professional distance is our responsibility.
The manner in which you express yourself verbally, and the topics you discuss, but more importantly, are not willing to discuss can help set up bounderies for professionalism, and make it easier for the students to maintain the barrier as well. Manner of dress is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg, but also important. Finally, leading by example is the most effective form of maintaining a professional image (I have seen many managers/leaders use profanity or lose their tempers/demeaning lower tier employees), and this is the fastest way of losing respect and having others view you as not professional.
Hi Rene,
I concur! Students look at you differently when they regard you as being a role model and a professional. A sense of respect is granted to you when students see you as their leader.
Patricia
Hi Cheryl,
The instructor definitely sets the tone for the class. Students will emulate us as instructors either professional or nonprofessional behavior.
Patricia
I find that if you keep the class at a level of instructor and student at all times you will have a continuous respect level in your class. It’s sometimes can be okay if you talk to the students about real life experiences but personal things should be left out of the classroom. Being professional also changes the way a student learns it makes the student be professional as well in the classroom setting.
It helps to establish your credibility. Students in your class are expecting to walk in the door and meet an instructor who is organized, prepared, and capable of providing the instruction they need. When they see you as a professional, in dress and manner, there is no question as to who is the leader and how the class will progress. Maintaining a professional distance allows the instructor to focus entirely on his/her job and how to do it well. It also allows the students to see professionalism in the workplace modeled for them.
People tend to "take advantage of friends" or even someone they feel is not serious or is weaker than they are. Maintaining that distance allows you to more objectively manage the class, and help avoid or minimize any impropiety with any particular or group of student(s).
It has always been my view as a student that if the individual leading the class doesn't have any experience or training in the field of study then it is a question in my mind as a student "What am I going to get out of this?" So I want to make sure that the students realize what experience I have or at least I have the education to lead them through the course we are in. Being prepared to lead presupposes that you know something about what you are teaching. I look at it from a perspective of being a new recruit in the military. I would not begin to follow the officer into battle if he/she did not at least have some knowledge or experience of combat. I might as well be on my own. I will never lead students into an area that I am not aware of the pit falls in that subject.
MAINTAINING A PROFESSIONAL DISTANCE FROM STUDENTS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SETS RELATIONSHIP FROM AN INSTRUCTOR TO A STUDENT. THIS WILL KEEP STUDENT IN CHECK AND HELPS THEM REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONALISM...
Hi Matthew,
Awesome response! I agree 100%. I have seen where some instructors became so consumed with their students' issues they really did burn out quickly and ended up leaving the profession. You have to know where to draw the line. Life happens with us all.
Patricia
Hi Susan,
That's right! Students have to know who is in control and where the separation lies.
Patricia
People of authority should be judged more harshly therefore their standards will be higher.
If the students feel that you are "one of them" they will not take you as serious and may even become disrespectful towards you in the classroom.
