Student In Same Apartment Building
I have a student who lives in my same apartment building. There are times when we will be working out in the fitness room at the same time. She will ask me questions about what she needs to study for the exams and quizzes. I constantly tell her the same things. Basically I tell her that she needs to review the class review I gave her and that she needs to start studying sooner rather then later so she can really absorb the materials. I remind her that I treat all my students equally and that I want her to succeed and that is why it is so important that she develops good studying habbits and works on her classes. Is there anything else I need to be doing when she asks me these questions?
Hi Dr. Meers,
You wrote: "The key is to make sure that the information you share with her in the workout room is the same as what you share with other students in the classroom setting."
I agree completely, because I face a similar situation at my current job. I'm teaching in the classroom, and also outside of class in the hospital setting when the students are practicing their clinical skills. I see a variety of students from each level of the program, from Freshman all the way to Senior. (I teach at the Sophomore level.)
Whenever I have to see any of my students in the clinical setting, they're always trying to gain an upper-hand advantage and will ask for specific details for upcoming exams. I have to be very careful of not giving them too many extra details that could be easily misconstrued by their peers as unfairly advantageous.
Thank you for your reply!
Hi Stephanie,
You are doing the right things with this student. The key is to make sure that the information you share with her in the workout room is the same as what you share with the other students in the classroom setting. She is attempting to gain an inside track in access to her instructor and by giving the same information to her as the rest of the class receives she will soon start to see that she has your support but she has no access to any information that the other students don't have. This way your professional integrity remains intact.
Gary
