Discipline versus motivation
Why do instructors feel the need to discipline a student at the drop of a hat?
It seems instructors are eager to punish but late to coach and mentor. Too many instructors do not know how to treat students and take everything they do wrong as a personal attack on the instructor.
I have found it is best to be friendly, but not their friend, talk not shout, discuss in private not in public.If this does not produce the results you are looking for, maybe it is time to look inward and find out more about yourself.
Dan, I think all too often we use discipline to try to control classroom outcomes. If one isn't comfortable with any number of areas in the classroom, technically or as a manager, one will use disciple to try to control the situation.
As far as I see, we are instructors and not the police,etc. I have always tried to be just calm and let the students know they are going to be treated as adults and I expect the same courtesy as I give to them. "Your late", let them know what influence that has on the whole world if no one was on time. Give examples of being late i.e
if the coffee shop opener wasn't there, you have to go somewhere else and would probably make you late which would make someone who was waiting for you possibly late.......
I have had the same thoughts as to putting the blame on myself. But I have learned that putting the blame on a problem was no answer at all. The answer lies in what is creating the issue in the first place. Most of the time the student has something else going on that is the cuase. And if asked in a professional manner to correct the problem, they will do so.
I am much younger than most of my students so I used to feel a little shy to take action when they did not submit their papers in time. It took me one paper to realize that I need to remind them of the rules in advance focusing on the fact that if they do not meet the deadline I am going to have to take out some points and that I don't like doing this "so please just turn in your papers in time"; at the same time try to motivate them by providing them with resources, supporting them, and being available to guide them through it and give them feedback so they can do well. I believe that made a lot of difference
When I first started instructing, I found myself taking every problem to heart. I felt like I was at fault when I had a student misbehaving. It really stressed me out. I finally learned when I don't take the problem personally and calmly address the student about the situation that I am in more in control. Instead of jumping on a student for some failure to comply, I ask them to take care of whatever the problem is "for me". They realize that I am trying to keep them out of trouble and promptly rectify the error.
I also see this much to frequently. When I first started this profession I found myself doing this as well. I also found I wasn't happy teaching any longer. I realized I had taken on habits of a former instructor trainer. What I did was take ownership of my situation and start treating the students with more respect and giving more encouragement. Basically as I would want to be treated as a student. The results have been great. First off, I enjoy my job much more but I have also found the students have been doing much better. Defonetly some benefits there.
My interaction with the students has been much better. The students are much more willing to approuch me when having problems. I tell them if they have a problem to let me know. Tell, write me a note and drop it off, have someone else tell me I don't care. This enables me to cover again or take aside for some tutoring to help the student.
many times my students ask why I am so calm. first I tell them that I have ten children so I had to be calm or die buut then I tell them a story I heard in church. A man was running to catch a bus on a wet morning and just as he was about to catch the bus some one put out a stick and triped the man. he fell got all wet and missed his bus. then I ask my students what they would do if that happened to them. everyone wants to beat the person with the stick. I ask is there anything that would change their minds. no nothing they say. then I say what about if the end of the stick was red. soon the light comes on the man with the stick is blind he did not try to trip you he was just tring to find the edge of the side walk. so that is why when something happens in class I step back be calm and make sure I know what the best response is and I hope that my students think about this story before they react.
