Rapport with students
A very important way to accomplish your objectives. As soon as rapport is knewn to be established all efforts of good teaching will be successful.
Everett,
Some students don't communicate as much as others so it is OK if they don't contact you. Just keep up your own communication with them so you know you have kept them informed and they will know you are there should they need to interact with you about some aspect of the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I can see your point, but what if they are not calling or even emailing at all? Is this a bad thing, or could it be that they just understand everything? I am nervous sometimes because they don't contact me…
Randy,
This has been my experience as well. By sharing personal contact information this way the students respect having it and do not abuse it. It is like a safety net. They know they have the access if they really need it and this reassures them enough so they don't call all the time.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Totally agree with your distinction between rapport and friendship. I do give out my home phone (printed in the sylllabus) but not my cell #... have recd three calls from studentns in the past year.
Patricia,
Thank you for sharing your experience in relation to giving our your cell number. Your availability is something that your students appreciate and as a result they don't abuse your time or accessibility.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In response to giving out phone numbers, I do because in my class we have interviews set up or if they are going to be late my students let me know whats happening. I use that as a form of communication with them and I use my cell phone number not by private land line. I find that my students do not abuse my email or my cell phone and use it only for the appropriate and important reasons.
This so true, When everyone is on the same page we can do great things.
Ryan,
You make a number of very good points about respect and rapport. I tell my students that I operate with three foundational ideas. One, "courtesy is owed"--I will be nice to you as a fellow human and I anticipate the same from you. Two, "respect is earned." I will respect you and work to earn your respect while you are in the course. Three, "rapport is developed."-rapport will develop as you gain knowledge and skill in the course and we interact with each other. At anytime your behavior or attitude can stop the development of one of these so as a student I trust you will work to be a part of all three.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is one I disagree with. Meaning if this was the case you LIKE everyone that you meet, and there will always be someone that you do not like. Now with that being said, you can respect a person and there thoughts and actions whether or not you like those thoughts and actions.
Here is a example of something I don't like but respect. A technician is working on a vehicle and it needs to be done in 2 hours but the job is a 4 hour job. The technician rushes the job to get the vehicle back to the customer and forget to get everything torqued to spec. The respect is there because they got the vehicle back to the customer in a timely manner. What I don't like about it is that the job is incomplete and will probably come back or a bad rapport for the shop.
If you earn the respect of the student you can earn a strong rapport with them. Whether you not you like the student or if the student likes you.
ROBERT,
Good point and one that we need to help our students see. With all the various forms of communication available professional boundaries are becoming blurred. We need to help our students learn what the boundaries are so when they are in the workplace they will not step over those boundaries.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Thank you for your response. I agree and I do not utilize social media to communicate with students in any way. Students know our professional relationship starts and ends in the classroom or in a formal business setting.
Kristina,
Your comments are right on in terms of how we instructors should approach our students. Yes, first and foremost I want to earn the respect of my students while they are working to earn my respect. If they like me that is a bonus but it is something that I cannot really do anything about. I want to earn their respect which then build on developing rapport and this is what I really care about because once rapport is developed then some much learning can be accomplished.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have often said "it is better to be respected at first, both as an employee and as an instructor."...Cause, if you are respected, hopefully the "liked" will follow!
Everyone wants or at least I hope everyone wants to be liked...I know I do, but it is more important that I am respected, which I feel has to be earned not just given... and with respect a certain level of trust is established, which being in the medical field and as an instructor are critical, in saving lives AND DEVELOPING A MEDICAL PROFESIIONAL!
I agree with Romana. Students need to believe you are interested in them as people and believe in and support their goals. When a student believes you care about them, empathize with their daily life struggles, and share some of your own life struggles, you become more than just the instructor. I do believe the instructor needs to provide ways in which to stay in touch if a student needs to reach them; however, Facebook friends, or personal information crosses the line of professional/student rapport.
also, in trying to build that connection, if a student isn't just feeling you, back off for a bit.. constant pushing could push them farther away.
Trinity,
Good advice for instructors. There needs to be boundaries established and then followed. I am big on earning the respect of my students and then developing rapport with them. This sets the tone for a professional class dedicated to moving students toward their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree with Tammy. I also think that the students have to believe that you trully care about their success and that you believe that they will achieve their goals.I try to emphasise that throughout my lectures by saying things like " when you start practicing and seing your own patients how will you apply what we learned today?"
I think some teachers confuse rapport with friendship. There should always be a line that you do not cross. You do not need to be Facebook friends, or follow each other on Pinterest.
Some teachers give out their phone numbers, while others do not. Is that appropriate (even when there is not an office phone?
I think giving out my personal phone number is unfair to my family. I choose, instead, to be quick to answer emails.
Tammy,
A simple point that some instructors miss. Yes, we need to like them and show our human side and as a result respect and rapport will come along.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
