I agree with you. But the earliest interactions with the student should not be so much what we say but rather what we do. Many of the best lessons never come from a text book. Our critical first encounters should be about those elusive soft skills that many students lack. While we are guiding the students through a syllabus and class expectations we, the instructors must display a professional demeanor. Our language skills, mode of dress, overall general appearance, appropriateness of tone and word choices says far more about the instructor and the expectations we have for our students.
Soft skills are so important. I make sure that i am modeling as many as possible. As instructors i think that sometimes we forget that we are medical professionals also. Displaying good soft skills with the students as if we would be to a patient, is great practice for us as well as giving the students a model for good soft skills.
I think one of the best ways to be a good role model is to respect your students in the same manner as you want them to respect you.
Hi Julia,
Great idea! This helps the students to see both application and relevancy to what you are teaching and what they are learning in the course.
Gary
Hello, I take my Students with me to my job were they are able to see that I actually do what I teach. This has spread through out the school and many Students request my class.
Julia
Hi Galina,
Yes, they do measure their instructors against the role models of the field. This is why we must always reflect that model.
Gary
Instructors must realize that they are role models. It is impossible to overestimate role of the instructor in developing professionalism in students; further more - students take their instructors as a standard against which they "measure" all other people they meet in the real field of their study.
ith my students, I put my best foot forward everyday and am encouraging when they fail and the first to applaude when they succeed
Hi May,
Thank you for the clear and concise review of what a professional in the nursing field should be like. It is important for our students to see professionals in their field and then work to model those same characteristics.
Gary
As a nurse it is important to be a role model for the new nurses who are entering the field of nursing, because we are dealing with human life. In order to be a good role model the instructor will need to be able to bring real life experience in to the classroom setting. The instructor also needs to be able to show certain qualities of a nurse leader (being on time, compassion toward the patient and co worker, good communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with other members of the healthcare team. Although these are qualities that should be instilled into a persons character as a leader in the classroom we have to model these behaviors for our students.
Starting class on time and with enthusiasm towards the subject helps. The enthusiasm should help the students feel that what they are learning will be relevant in their future endeavors in their careers.
Hi Katrina,
Right you are. This is one of the challenges we face with our students. They need to understand the concept of respect for each other and authority. It is missing in the lives of many students so we need to model respect and help them to earn from each other.
Gary
Hi Anneke,
I really like your style and classroom approach. We are educating students for a career and as a result we need to model what a professional in the field should be like. We are a reflection of what they want to become so we need to make sure that reflection is a professional one.
Gary
I have found that today's generation can be very offensive to that of past generations and not even be aware of what they have done or sais to be offensive. Good Manners and respect are not popular in current society.
Walk the walk. I would like the students to see what to expect from the industry as a worker and as a professional. I show up to class early and make time for them to ask questions and get answers pertaining to what they are learning. I wear clean and pressed clothes and uniforms. I want them to do the same and follow the rules of the dress code here at the school. I make sure that we are on schedule for the lesson plan that is made for the term and make no corrections or delays. For that I would like them to turn in their work on time or before and care about what they are doing and how it looks. I take the time to make sure that it is clean and typed well for reading and identification.
by always being professional, well informed, detail-oriented,and connecting the class to real world experiences that the instructor has obtained
Hi Randall,
Good point. Compassion and empathy are two elements needed by instructors as well. Providing support to the learners in relation to their learning preference is a great way to get the students engaged in the learning process.
Gary
I come from a medical background and the best way to improve success on ones journey in the medical profession at any level is to "master" the art of medicine - bringing out your compassion and empathy. As the instructor a reenforce this concept and have discussions on how someone who displays empathy and compassion can deal with any scenario to the benefit of the patient and ones own satisfaction with the profession.
Hi Yaneidis,
Respect is earned from both directions--students and teacher. When you have earned the respect of your students and they from you then you can develop a level of rapport that enables students to move forward with their education.
Gary
Hi Yaneidis,
So true. We can never forget we are the model against which our students measure both teaching and their field. We need to reflect the best of both.
Gary
