Attendance and Professionalism
Although students are in a teaching environment - it is important for them to also treat their education as a "job". Employers want employees who are professional and reliable. I feel strongly about enocuraging and guiding students in this regard - so they will be viewed as a candidate for a position they may apply for and not overlooked.
I use something that I call my PEARL Rubric to award points each class hour--one point for each of its five components, which will count for a percentage of their class grade in the attendance/ professionalism section. The five components of the PEARL Rubric are:
Punctuality (on time for class, assignments done on time), Effort (characteristics of work ethic, completes tasks/ assignments when due), Attitude (respectful and possessing positive professional and personal character traits), Readiness (prepared for class/learning), and Listening Skills (avoids inappropriate distractive behavior- sidetalk, use of cell phone- and listens to others in class). I give each student a copy of this PEARL Rubric on the first day of the class and discuss the components with them, while showing that it can also be applied to the worksite. I then tell them that many consider a Pearl to be a precious gem and that if they develop the PEARL traits then they ,too, will be a precious and in-demand candidate in their career field or work-force.
AS new instructor in a vocational school, I believ in teh structure in having an professional environment for our students. It does and will demonstrate the importantance or being committed to the profession of their choice.
I agree that professionalism in the learning environment is a direct representation of what is to be expected of students whenever future employment is concerned. If Instructors model professional behavior; it will give students an example of what is to be expected of them in their particular field of expertise.
Hi Kari,
This is the "soft skills" part of career preparation. Your point is a good one. If they don't get this part of their career development down they are not going to be successful in their careers. Appearance, attendance and social interaction all contribute to career success as we know and would think they know but sadly often they don't or don't want to develop such skills.
Gary
They should also take into consideration the basics of what their job will entail: like being prepared for class, being on time, and looking professional (not showing up just looking like they rolled out of bed!).
Hi Mark,
Right you are. The soft skills are as important as the technical skills if a person is going to enjoy a forward focused career. The more you can help them to acquire these skills the greater service you are going to be to these students.
Gary
Even as a new instructor in a vocational school, I can appreciate the importance of developing good professional habits such as being on time and ready to participate right away. When they finish their studies, they will need to demonstrate professionalism before even beginning their career. I'm refering to their jobs interviews, where their professional presentation will be evaluated along with their technical knowledge.
Hi DeAnn,
This is a very common situation with students. They get worn down about half way to three fourths through the course. You are right this is when they really need boosting and encouragement to stick it out. Good for you in that you are reading the signs and providing them with the support at the time it is needed the most.
Gary
I found the comments on "soft" or "transferrable" skills most interesting in this module. I do agree with your approach about the class as their job. Employers may hire for soft skills (communication, team, initiative, etc.) and train for the subject matter.
I wonder if anyone is able to share their best practices or teaching techniques for reinforcing the importance of attendance and timeliness?
I am very careful to present each class as their job. Students need to start off feeling that their class commitment is no different than their job commitment. I also remind them throughout the course to maintain a professional approach to their class schedules. Often around Week 7 students can become disconnected - the novelty has worn off. I find myself building them up more in Weeks 6 and 7 than I do in Weeks 2 and 3 or at the end of the course.
Good point. Students should understand that how they prepare, act and perform in a classroom setting directly relates to how they'll perform in the work force.
I concur with this assessment. When you have the knowledge of what employers are looking for, it is invaluable to share this information with our students. I have stressed this with students in my class such as arriving on time, taking their writing assignments seriously so they get used to it when it matters and other issues as they arise. Instructors are also mentors to our students and rely on us to not only get an education but to also get guidance.
