Hi Melanie,
Good strategy for helping your students to connect the dots between their education and their future. You are showing them each day in the classroom what a professional in their career area looks, dresses and acts like. Be the end of their training they will have that embedded in their minds as they go out into their careers.
Gary
Hi Frances,
Well said. You are impacting many lives as a result of your professional approach and attitude. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Well, I think an issue here is that many instructors don't feel comfortable portraying themselves as role models. I think an understanding that in order for students to achieve even a modicum of model behavior, we as faculty need to assume a persona of professionalism well above industry norms.
As a game designer and game instructor, it's essential that my students understand how to comport themselves in a manner that indicates they understand fun and creativity without slipping over the line into being disrespectful. In the classroom, I allow a great degree of student freedom in discussions, and ask pointed questions when the discussion veers too far off the mark. This prepares the students to understand that while creativity is essential, it must be focused toward a worthwhile purpose rather than diffused.
I do the same. I base my entire classroom on respect. It seems to work very well. The "old" actions speak louder than words works! Ihad a lovely Thank you from a student that stated I led by example. Very nice compliment when it is unconsciously performed.
I come to class prepared and looking professional, I also make sure they know that I expect the same from them. I remind them that they aren't just in school, the education that they are getting is as if they are in the work environment.
I remember who I am and what it is I am doing. That is touching someones' life in a positive manner - maybe for the first time, and how important it is. To remember to model the soft skills as well as the hard skills and to alway do it to the BEST of our ability at any given time. To remember it is not JUST a job, but a way of life.
Schools will generally have a good set of policies regarding instructor expectations so there should not be a problem forming your own practices in the classroom that send a good message to the students.
Kurt
Hi Courtney,
You make a number of very good points about networking, community involvement, etc. All of these things help to build a vita as well as the knowledge base of students. As for the question you raise I am not exactly clear on what you are asking concerning the "assess student knowledge" part. If you can give me some additional information on this I will be glad to get back to you.
Gary
Hi Kurt,
You are in a great position to share real life with your students. With your outside consulting you bring the latest information into the classroom plus serve a model for your students of where they can go with their careers. This has to be inspiring to them.
Gary
Hi Marsa,
This is always a challenge when it comes to comparing other instructors and how they handle their classes. Some are always late, other meet for only a short time, others let the students go early every class meeting, etc. My policy on attendance and class time is made clear to my students and I tell them I don't want to hear about how Instructor Jones does her class. I tell them my policy is based upon business/industry standards and that is how I am going to conduct the class, period and I do. It didn't take long for that message to get around the school so now the students don't even raise the attendance question.
Gary
Discuss your involvement with the community through volunteering in order to meet new people and develop new relationships, that are not only gratifying, but tend to return the benefit to you professionally as well. This is particularly successful during our current economic conditions for a Senior "professional interaction" course when they're starting to look for jobs in their industry. This also plays a major part in the instructor's Personal Compentency developing an undying rapport with the students. If this were implemented into a Professional Development Plan, how could an instructor "assess student knowledge" of this being implemented into a class? Thoughts...
I think that you can model your professionalism, speech, preparedness, timeliness and even what you wear to class. Showing what is expected of students when they get to the workplace (while in the classroom) is essential.
I teach a lot of software engineering classes as well as game system programming. The students in these classes are very interested in what I do professionally. My consulting work is generally with high profile companies and clients, and the students see my work as a view into their potential future. I take their view of me quite seriously, and I aspire in the classroom to show them a path toward the kind of future they want.
The students often ask me questions about how to get started in the software industry and I am happy to share my experiences with them. At all times, I stress hard work and ethics in an attempt to serve as a good role model for the students.
Kurt
We have really cracked down on the attendance issue as wll. However have you noticed that not all instructors do their part and let student go early anyway? We have many different programs here and they all seem to have their own hours of operation. It makes it difficult to just tell the students Its not our program. Which I find myself saying quit a bit.
I don't believe you always have to be on your A game. That would be unrealistic. I don't expect students to always be on their A game either.
Students can relate to an instructor that doesn't have unattainable goals for herself and the students.
I haven't had any students use profanity, but I'm pretty sure I would say something like, "please don't use profanity in this classroom, it is against our policy and not respectful of the other students.
I have been adhering tightly to the attendance rules and regulations due to the accreditation issues. That has been easy to enforce, partly because our school has made it crystal clear that we have to keep the students for the allotted time.
Some of the model behavior that I use in the classroom is that I do not use profain language. Profanity is against the campus policy so I strictly adhere to this rule. I always start class on time and end on time. If I am going to be late or absent I let the students know in advance because I expect them to notify me in the same manner. Some students do not realize that a no call no show = no job.
Our Students want to be just like us. We as role models need to show them how to be the best they can be. If we are the best we can be then we as role models show them the way.
You always have to be on your A game. We expect students to be ready to learn, we intern should be ready to teach as they expect that from us
