Managing Student Behavior
To effectively teach our classes we must actively manage our students. We do not need to "rule with an iron fist" but more fair as to encourage students rather than alienate them.
I agree! I believe to be a respected instructor, you have to give respect to the students from day one. Set the expectations clearly from the beginning to avoid any misunderstandings.
It depends on how you are,who you are controling if your are instructing both older and younger students the younger group tends to try gnd take advantage of the class so i believe that at times the older group might want a little more controled of a enviroment.I have had older students ask for more control in the class the learning enviroment does not have to be a prison I find that by being flexable about what gos on in class I have the best outcomes.
We need to teach our students basically like the golden rule. Remembering how it was when once in school ourselves. what I like about teaching the different personalities it's a new learning experience for myself. This keeps me on my toes. I know the treating our students with repect, not treating them like children gives back the repect back to the instructor.If we want our outcome to be professional it needs to lead by example.
I work with a career school where one program tries to "rule with an iron fist". They have the greatest drop-out rate of all the programs. In fact, their drop-out rate is higher than all the other six programs combined. This is demeaning to adults and is never a successful tactic. As a result that program has much negative feed-back from people in the community. Not only is it difficult to manage student behavior with such tactics, but in a technical school it hurts business.
Hi Lisa,
We must treat our students with great respect, professionalism, and maturity. These three things will allow your clas to flow smoothly.
Patricia Scales
You are so correct about not ruling with an "iron fist" Benigno. Over the years I have had lots of practice with running my classroom more like a democracy than a dictatorship. Especially because I teach adult learners; they have taught me I must show respect in order to receive it. I never talk down to my students or treat them as if they are children; that is demoralizing and insulting if you ask me.
Therefore, when I have to reprimand someone or a group of people for an inappropriate action or response, I always use the discussion method rather than the lecturing method.I seem to get much more buy-in from people when I approach things this way.
