Get Your Students Hired
The information on not being drug into students personal baggage could be very beneficial to young instructors. However, this important topic was only a single paragraph. Do any discussion members have a favored method of advising instructors so as not to "enable" students with issues - but at the same time acting in an ethicla and empathetic manner?
since we, instructors, are teaching a subject for which the sudent is to preform in a lab setting, i see no room for personal issues coming up in the class room enviroment.
You have to take a lot of the information with a stride, if you get caught up with one student it will detract from the others, inform him that we all have some different struggles in order to succedd and if it helps the school has set up "this person" for you to talk to, in order to get some assistance if you need it.
Hi Eric,
You make a number of excellent points about the role instructors should play in the development of their students. A key one is to know when to bring others into the picture for help that is beyond the scope of what an instructor knows or is capable of providing, such as some assistance with addiction or other such personal problems.
Gary
I found as well that it helps a lot to make very clear that class time should not be used up to try to take care of the students personal problems. Office hours would be a much better forum for those issues. As teachers we are also mentors of sorts and sometimes, you build a good rapport with students and they will come to you for personal advice. What also helped me is to be able to rely on other ressources when the student's problem are so complex or serious, that I cannot be of much help: our student services put together a list of ressources for most common questions: transportation issues, health insurance difficulties, counseling, etc...
Hi Marcelo,
Thanks for sharing this strategy for providing student support without babysitting. I am sure it will be of help to other instructors.
Gary
Hello
I found a very interesting way to stop or avoid the "babysitter class mode" by writing on my sylabus my class office hours. My class starts at 6pm and I offer from 5 pm to 6 pm a time for students with concerns or private issues, which needed to be discussed in private. By this means, I am avoiding any unnecessary interuption during class and at the same time every student has the equal opportunity to counseling.
As an instructor, part of our duty to the students is to coach them in the right direction for personal and professional success. I don't believe that we should purposefully get in their personal business, but just to guide the student when an issue has been brought to your attention, using possible solutions or refering them to the appropriate office or faculty member. This would include student services, employment services, student counciling, etc.
Hi Kevin,
I think you have shared a good balance with your concern for the personal needs of your students but also keeping them focused on the course. A few minutes of listening to a student can do wonders in terms of developing rapport with that individual. It shows that you are concerned with their success.
A key point that you made is turning a big problem or issue over to the school counselor. Instructors are not able to handle all of the issues that students bring to class but they can do referrals that will get students to the right places.
Well said.
Gary
I also feel that steering the student in the right direction ideal. It can be challenging to do sometimes, without leaving the student with the feeling they have been blown off.
To help, I start off a class by letting the students know that I am free to ask questions anytime, however, my time is limited durring/after class and needs to be related to the subject matter and specific so I can meet all needs.
I do give students a few minutes to talk about a personal problem. If it is not too complicated, I will offer a solution. If they bring it up again or bring up other issues, I encourage them to talk to a student counselor who is more qualified and has the resources to help. This has worked for me. Otherwise I'm not sure how to deal with it.
Does this seem insincere?
If so, any suggestions?
You can not not listen to a student who is having problems. I have had the experence of listening to students and have been able to keep them in school. Your job as an instructor is to listen and then direct them to people who can realy help them. And some times it just take an ear that will listen to turn things aroud. It dose not always work but it dose enough time to make it worth whiled.
Most new instructors have the tendency to treat their students as "buddies" and can easily find themselves in moral and even ethical situations they don't want to be in. My advice to them is to treat students with courtesy and respect, but avoid discussing the student's personal life or problems.
Hi Randy,
One of the key things is to set limits on how much time will be spent on personal student issues. Strive to keep the students focused on the class and the learning that is occurring within the class. As personal issues come up an instructor can spend a few minutes listening before or after class and then redirect the student back to the class. When you have rapport with students you will quickly pick up on when those students need someone to listen and then help them to refocus back on the class.
Instructors have to be careful as role models not to let the students turn the class into a therapy session for their personal issues.
Gary