Hi Galen,
Good point about respect. That is what being an instructor is all about. Earning the respect of students will result in enhanced learning and stronger engagement within the class.
Gary
For most students, instructors are viewed as authoritative figures in their subject. However, this can be quickly erroded by poor speech, unorganized lectures and most important not bringing the material to level the students can understand. No matter how well you know the material, if you can not communicate it thoughly you loose respect. You no longer are a role model for the student.
I also believe integrity is important. If you say, do and act the way a professional should you gain respect and the role model follows. I have always tried to follow the thought of promise a little and deliver a lot. People respect this and will respect you. Thus you become the role model.
Thanks
Galen
Instructors should always present themselves as professionals in regards to physical appearance and interaction with others. Being knowledgeable and conveying knowledge about the field is also important.
The way you as an instructor present yourself by dressing professionaly.
Hi Cathleen,
Great way to make a positive out of how TV is portraying your field. This way the students can see how the culinary arts field is gaining in popularity but not fall into the trap of being an unpleasant and difficult chef.
Gary
I too work at a culinary school. I agree that television has mis-represented the real-life version of positive and professional chefs. We have to remember that this is television for ratings. Unfortunately, there are many people who believe that these shows are real. But I take a different approach/resonse in reference to how the media has sensationalized and glamorized our field when my students ask me about this. My attitude is that if the media had not exposed all the possibilities in this field (true or false), we would not be as sucessful in our culinary field and as successful as a school. It has given us a great boost in popularity and awareness to many many people around the world.
Hi Michael,
Right you are about how TV does not do justice to your field. TV produces think that conflict and demeaning behavior makes for good television. Thus, some of the shows we now have available for viewing.
I commend you for your effort to make sure your students see how a positive role model can run a kitchen that is supportive and positive for everyone. To me this is what a kitchen should be like.
Gary
Start class on time
End class on time
Professional appearance
Hygiene
Promptly grading assignments
Being respectful towards students and others
I work at a culinary school. I constantly tell students that those shows on television that glamorize autocratic, authoritarian chefs are harmful to our profession. We, as instructrs should model ourselves after those chefs and managers that we worked for in the indistry that earned our respect, not the ones who had us cowering in fear.
Instructors play a vital role in the development of students to succeed in their career field. Students are impressionalbe and successful Instructors are able to mold the students to do their best and be the best at what they do. Gaining trust and respect from students is the key. Once established, they are opened to new ideas and ways in establishing successful Behaviors and Attitudes. On a daily basis, Instructors need to encourage the students and remind them of their ultimate goals. This in turns helps to counter balance the negativity they face from non-supportive family, friends, and peers.
Starting and ending class on time is a great to way to show students immediately at the beginning of the course that their punctuality is important. I also set a rule for myself that any assignment they turn in will be graded by the next class period and the grade will be posted on Blackboard within 72 hours. If I set a deadline for them that I expect to be followed, I believe there should be one for myself as an instructor as well. Being able to compelte tasks by a given deadline is essential to any career field.
All instructors are models and we need to be mindful of our actions. I like to discuss my errors and how they outcome affected me and my career. What I learned and choices I make now!
Hi Arlene,
Well said. Your last sentence is so true and we educators need to always remember it. As leaders in classroom, boardrooms or kitchens we need to be leaders that can instruct so we help others to achieve their career goals.
Gary
As a chef one way that may not seem so intuitive is to teach. Often after a demo a student puts up a plate and they don't know why something went wrong and if they don't know why sometimes they are chastised for it. Teaching isn't just demo. In the "real" world those who lead actually must teach.
Some of the ways I model behaviors to help my student succeed in their field is by my demonstration of patient care in the clinical setting. My hope is that by seeing the care and concern I have for my patients will inspire them to do the same thing. I also model effective communication with the staff we encounter in clinicals.
It’s important to model good behavior by being professional, punctual, respectful and courteous at all time. You must also stress the importance of good work ethics.
show up on time, be prepared, be respectful, be firm but fair. We all make mistakes in life and in our careers so taking responsibility and learning from those mistakes. Finally, your appearance and the way that you communicate verbally and in writing shows the students what is expected of them in their career field.
I am reading “Show Don’t Tell” by William Noble. It deals with writing, but the idea conveyed by the title is applicable to the classroom. I am an adjunct instructor and teach evening classes. Here are some modeling activities I use.
I start class on time and end on time. This means when 10:00PM rolls around and the class ends at 10:20PM the class ends at 10:20PM. If my day work permits, I make it a point to be in the classroom 30 minutes prior to the start of class. I do this to take care of last minute details and be available to students for questions. I usually stay an extra 15 – 30 minutes to finish administrative work and to help students. In the work world you are expected to start at the beginning of your shift, not show up at shift time and then take 15 – 20 minutes to be productive.
I think professional attire and decorum are important. Some of the younger students just have no concept of what an impact their personal image has on job opportunities. An instructor can provide a role model. I wear shirt and tie even when casual attire is seasonally allowed. I am dressing for my next position. I also understand that each career has its own professional attire. Scrubs and lab coats are considered appropriate for medical careers and I definitely would not wear a tie or wedding ring, safety concerns, if I was teaching an HVAC class; however, I would wear the best professional example of dress possible for what I taught.
The timely grading and returning of work is also important. It demonstrates consistency, discipline and sets an example for meeting assignment deadlines. Why bother to turn something in on time if it takes several weeks to get back. I am covering over a week’s worth of material in one night. It takes commitment to absorb such a mass of information at once and students need to know the instructor is putting in the effort to keep up with the class.
Continuing your education is another example of showing rather than telling. Whether it is a course to enhance teaching abilities or broaden career skills, the updating of skills is necessary to stay employed in today’s job market. We live in the same uncertain times as our students. If we do not find success we can not show them what it takes to be successful.
You need to be the epitome of professionalism, and lead by example. Carry yourself the way you expect your students to carry themselves. Look back at the definition of a model, “a person or object as a standard of excellence to be imitated.” Imitation IS the highest form of flattery but more to the point, in imitating someone, you are reinforcing their attributes into ones self. Project yourself as the standard of excellence, as the role model. The students will perceive you in that manner and will learn by following your example.
Leading by example is very important, be on time, organized and ask questions.Encourage students, not just when the student is having a bad day.Praise each student as often as possible.
Terri
