The importance of being a role model
Thank Dr. Joe for this very useful tips about be a model, mentor, and monitor. In our case Model as you state, it is one of the first and important aspects we appreciate in our administrators. That visual aspect of us and the first speech at the orientation day it is very important for the confidence you are seeking from the new and current students. What they see and what they hear about us is crucial. Building confidence along with being emotional managers, monitoring their success and their failures at the University, showing them the best way to “move forward” and that we are there to help them approach their studies in the right and best way to be a successful professional. That is our daily mission. We are there for them for hours, days and years until they graduate, so we have to keep equilibrium and be consistent in our attitudes of caring and role model behavior
Mayda,
Thanks for this post. Being friendly without being a friend is the correct approach most of the time.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Some of the must do's are:
1. Always listen, you might learn something from reading.
2. Motivate the students
3. Encourage
4. Be positive with your comments.
5. Watch your own behavior and try to improve yourself.
Some of never do's are:
1. Be overfriendly with students.
2. Get in arguments with students.
3. Have favorite students
4. Do not give praise.
Mayda,
What are some "must do's" and some "never do's" for a teacher who is a role model?
Jeffrey Schillinger
You have to be a role model not only in school but outside of school because you don't know when somebody is watching. To be a role model is not an easy task. You have to be aware of your flaws and try to change them one by one. Eventually you will become a good role model.
Jennifer,
Teachers are role models whether we want to be or not. Thanks for pointing out the importance of this part of our job.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I think that being a good role model includes keeping students motivated/ inspired.
If they are interested in what you are saying/ or want to be like you/ or what you are talking about- I think that it will help keep the students on track to be successful.
Thank you for sharing this, James. It is kind of nice that you can see the immediate impact of what you have done each day you go to the school.
I am serious about my classes that I teach. I have experiances that I try to convey to the students. I tell them that they should find where they can use the knowledge they are gaining in my classes. ( I only see students for 3-6 weeks, due to the format of our training enviroment) I have not had many of the AHA! moments concerning students coming back but the ones I have had are big. As an instructor I find it interesting that 4 former students are now immediate members of staff, 3 are now instructors on the same campus, in a different departments and one is one of my managers. This I find both encouraging and satisfying.
The students are very sensitive to the instructor's attitude and enthusiasm level towards the subject matter. It is imperative for us to enter the classroom each and every day fully prepared and in the proper mindset. Many students are "sponges," and absorb our behaviors - both positive and negative. There is nothing more damaging to a student's spirit then to have an instructor who is negative, bored, tired, etc.
I also agree on this point, I have changed the way I approach students about certain things. Just showing a small sign of caring about the student even just making sure to say good morning to every student every day and ask them how things are going seems to get them more atuned to what your trying to teach them because you do care.
Enthusiasm is a real key to a teacher's success, William. Thanks for putting it so well.
There is a difference being here to realy teach and just being here to teach. It is in your attitude. Any student with any smarts can pickup weather an instructor loves what he does or is just doing it.
I think it is the most challenging task to find the balance between being a role model for students, and at the same time staying at their level without intimidating them by the differences in achievements and experiences.
I find being a role model is the easiest role I play in my position as an instructor. I have already been where my students hope to be. I love being able to offer "real world" advise along with the lessons I teach from a curriculum.
Students, like children are very receptive to what you bring to the table.Whether it be their ability to determine the your knowledge of the subject matter or simply whether or not you care to even be there. There must be mutual respect between instructor and student.
If they don't look up at us, then they may look the wrong way and go down a bad choose
Donald,
You are correct. Students are like children, they can easily pick up on if you truely care or not.
I agree too. If your there just to get a paycheck than you shouldn't be there because they can pick up on that.
Eric,
I agree. Caring is the most important aspect in teaching our students. We are very transparent in their eyes and they know if we truely care.
