stress
i believe between the instructors and councilors most students have avenues in which to deal with stress I think having an open door policy where a student can come in and discuss most anything is a benefit to the student I also believe that most students are capable of making the right decision once they talk it out
I think stress should be addressed by more than the instructor and the councilors. Stress is something that is everywhere but many do not understand how to manage it or reduce it. Stress relief can be minimized by laughter or exercise , but many schools don't bother with programs that would support these things.
Environment has a lot to do with it. A lab can be good. An administrator's office can be very intimidating, so I do my best to catch students in lab, or walk outside rather than making them feel trapped in an office.
Students have a lot of stresses in school and outside of school. Being young adults many don’t have the problem solving skills that lifes experiences and maturity bring. Presenting yourself as being approachable is so important when most times instructors can be perceived as simply authority figures. Being sympathetic to their problems, and helping them may be as simple as introducing them to the correct person who can help them. Many times our students don’t understand infrastructure of our organization and have no idea who to turn to, so consequently the stress continues to grow. Just taking that moment to ask if all is o.k. and then follow through to help them ask the right questions of the right people will help defuse many stressors our students have.
I have an excellent relationship with our students and they know that they can always come to me with problems. Always make sure that you can point them in the right direction or you will do more harm than good.
One of the worst things an instructor can do is to make up an answer instead of saying I don't know but I will find out. Before they finish school they will learn that you just made up an answer. Then they will start to doubt everything else they have learned. They put a lot of time and money into going to school.
Being honest with your students will win thier trust and also reduce stress in the classroom.
If I sense a student is stressed I'll make a point to start a conversation with them while we're in lab. It seems to be less formal and students will normally open up.
It's great that your students are willing to come to you with problems, Victoria. Do you have any thoughts on why they are so open?
Here, on our campus, we take pride that our students are willing to come to us when they feel they have a problem. It may be academic or personal. They know we will point them in the right direction or simply listen to what they have to say. I always make sure my students are not getting "burned out" and try to keep my classes manageable for them.
