Hi Vincent,
Yes, we need to be the professional that we want our students to become. Lead by example. Students tend to have a bit more respect for you when they are to call you by Mr., Mrs., Ms. and last name. First name basis is way too personable.
Patricia Scales
By introducing myself as Mr. So and So on the first day I have established a sense of respect in my students. This keeps me out of the buddy zone and lends nicely to my professional image. Speaking, acting and carrying myself in a professional manner will hopefully rub off on my students and they will portray themselves in this manner throughout their careers.
Ms. Scales,
I find that maintaining a professional distance is crucial to class management. We are the instructors, educators, or facilitators of knowledge. We have a responsibility to deliver the subject matter effectively and efficiently so that the student can learn. Friendship and dialogue that is not pertinent to the course material can only derail the class, that misappropriate the funds that the student will eventually have to pay, and the compensation that the educator is being paid to provide the service.
A professional image is important for students to see you as a professional in your field and approach. It also sets an example of how students should present themselves out in the work environment.
As an instructor i am not in the classroom to worry about making friends. i need to have my students learn the requiered course materials so that they will be sucessful in there career choice and will respect me for being the professional who taught them to be professional.
It's important to be friendly with the students but ensure that they are there to learn to become professionals in their field by observing how the instructor conducts themselves.
I like to make it clear to my students that I care about them and that I'm there to help them in their academic pursuits in any way I can, but I'm doing it as a professional who wants to see them succeed not as a"buddy".
It demands respect; especially if you are close to the same age as your students or younger. Building rapport and showing interest in the students as individuals is important, but restricting your personal anecdotes to course-content related material helps to draw that professional line.
As a facilitator of student learning, my role is to be as professional inside the classroom as I am outside in the professional world. In order for students to respect me I must earn that respect by sharing my knowledge with them. Allowing students to view me as a friend is a hindrance to education and I would be doing them a disservice to allow that to happen.
Hi Kevin,
We should lead by example and be the professional that we want our students to become.
Patricia Scales
It establishes a clear role of instructor vs. student. It also reduces any appearance of favoritism with grading.
It is best to remember that you are there to impart knowledge not to find new friends. Trying to be a student's "buddy" because you want them to like you creates a potential problem with roles. The student may feel that as a "friend" they can get favors from you (allowable tardiness, submit late assignments, get answers to test questions before a test). The instructor may not ever allow these things to happen but even the slightest indication that you might allow the special treatment can hurt the instructor to student relationship. Also, other students may lose their trust and respect for you as an instructor.
Hi BRENDA,
Yes! Students need someone to look up to. Befriending students is way too risky. We need to be the professional that we want our students to become.
Patricia Scales
Hi Neil,
The instructor should always be the professional. Students need role models they do not need additional friends. As educators we need to be the professional that we want our students to become.
Patricia Scales
It is important to keep a professional distance from your students because you need to be viewed as an educator, not a friend. By getting to friendly with some students it can cause animosity in the classroom.
So you can maintain the respect needed for the student / Instructor relationship. Otherwise you could have more in class issues with students. They need to know you are there to help them succeed, but not as their friend.
Hello Patricia,
If the instructor tries to be 'friends' with the students, the students will no longer see the instructor as their authority. The instructor should never give up his/her professional persona because the students will lose respect and any form of class management will be out the window.
A good instructor should not worry if the students like them or not; he/she should worry if the students quit respecting him/her as their instructor.
I feel it is okay to be friendly, however, the instructor needs to keep their distance from the students.
Thank you,
Carole Ray
Hi Heather,
Yes, we should be the professional that we want our students to become. We should certainly lead by example.
Patricia Scales
Hi Carol,
You have it! Students do not need another buddy! They need role models.
Patricia Scales
The students will respect you as an instructor rather than think of you as their buddy and start to expect some favoritism. Maintaining a professional image also helps to establish the type of professional image they should expect and strive for in the workplace.
