Mark,
You are right it is simple but many instructors seem to have problems with doing the things you list. When they don't then they wonder why their classes don't go well. Never ceases to amaze me.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is a simple one. Show up on time. Start on time. Stay on topic. Be prepared. Follow the syllabus or outline.
Gerald,
What are some way you do this in your courses? Thanks for your input on this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Model professionalism, attitude, and respect, while teaching in the classroom and lab setting.
Travis,
These are characteristics we must model if we expect to earn the respect of our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Keyonta,
This is a must if we are going to be able to earn the respect of our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Lisa,
So true and so important for a teacher to model. Students observe how we approach the classroom and lab and if we are not organized they will be quick to think that we do no care about our content nor our profession.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is important to always be on time. Follow through on what you tell your students you will do. If you fall short, take responsibility for your failures and have a plan to ensure it does not have again.
This is very true practice what you preach.
One way we can serve as models is to be organized. We can't expect the students to be prepared and organized, if we are not ourselves.
Another way is to set specific expectations in the class, being prepared and following through on lesson plans.
Julie,
Great list and what we should be about as instructors.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Carrie,
I arrive early as well so I am available to the students as well as interact with them on a more informal basis. I really enjoy these times and it helps to set the stage for the upcoming course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Laurie,
For many students using professional and appropriate language is an acquired skill. To help reinforce that I give examples at the beginning of my course in order to send a signal to my students that I want them to model not only dress and conduct but language as well. Then I make a game of it by pausing when something inappropriate is said along with giving the student a smile. The student realizes that he or she has said something inappropriate and can reflect on it and I haven't disrupted the flow of the class. These ongoing reminders help the students to acquire professional language. I also have talks with them about professionalism at different times throughout the course where I talk about use of language. These ongoing reminders help them to make progress as well as learn that they are going to need to be able to not only do the skill work but also communicate appropriately if they are going to have a successful career.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Dress appropriately, show genuine interest in your students, greet them individually on a daily basis, show interest in the subject matter
I do agree about being ontime. I am always in the classroom thirty minutes before class and have noticed that some of the students are starting to show up ten minutes early. They can then ask questions they were unsure of and have my undivided attention.
I am new to teaching and thoroughly enjoying the process. I have worked 15 years "in the trenches" so it is refreshing to see eager learners excited about entering the field. So far I have learned that using appropriate language while having frank and honest discussions makes me a better model and helps the student learn to be appropriate in their future/current employment setting. However, some of the subjects that I teach are rather controversial at times and evoke passionate responses. Some of these responses I receive from my students are peppered with inappropriate language. What is a tactful way to discourage this inappropriate language usage without discouraging active participation? Your opinion is much appreciated. Thank you.
Karen,
Thank you for this very good discussion on setting boundaries with students. You are right by modeling the right boundaries you are showing them how they need to set and maintain boundaries in their field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In my field (massage therapy), it is important to model good boundaries. For example, being friendly vs. being friends--you need to be able to be warm and caring toward the student while maintaining a certain amount of distance. Moving too close to the student, or allowing them to come too close emotionally, not only invites classroom disruptions and worse, it gives the impression that it is okay to be overly friendly with clients--something that can be problematic for massage therapists ethically and can lead to complaints and loss of reputation.
Misty,
Good discussion about the difference between jokes and humor. I use humor a lot in my classes because of the reasons you list. As for telling jokes I can't seem to remember a joke for any length of time so I don't tell them. I try to use humor in an ongoing way as it fits into our discussions and class activities.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Misty,
Good self analysis. You are ahead of the game in terms of developing your classroom management skills. You are right on when you say you can be too soft and as a result standards are lowered. We instructors have to maintain the standards of our class and field or we will be short changing our students in terms of their preparation and that will create a negative effect on their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
