Common instructor mistakes
Becoming too friendly with students
Hi Shawn,
We are not in the business to befriend students. We are in the business to instruct students.
Patricia
Instructors are not friends, they are a professional role model for students to absorb information and the instructor should gain respect from the student.
Hi Ty,
What type of instructor mistakes have you made?
Patricia
Hi Katherine,
My school does have a Facebook page. What type of guidance were you given at the meeting?
Patricia
Hi Chyrisse,
No, I would utilize the personal email addresses. In my opinion this is more professional.
Patricia
Hi Christian,
Your persona and demeanor should let the students know that you are their instructor not their friend.
Patricia
This is something that I am dealing with on an onging basis. Since I am one of the young instructors I have to remind some of my students that I am not a friend nor will i be a friend. Instead I tell them I am their instructor and I am here to help them on the course they are in.
Hi, Patricia...Do you think Facebook should be used to keep in touch w/students during the teaching quarter or just after? Just curious...Thanks!
Our school had a Faculty Development meeting about Facebook to give us guidance on managing these issues. Does your school have it's own page? They can post comments there and you can become a fan.
I like the idea of setting your age to 99 for privacy.
it is a problem but if you keep it professional it will be ok.
Hi Chyrisse,
Facebook is an effective tool for various reasons as long as it is utilized in the right way.
Patricia
Facebook is being used for networking among friends, professional, and associates. I have students who have "friended" me to keep in touch. Since FB is public I think it is best to keep the postings light and maintain a professional demeanor. I do not discuss any personal problems. Nobody should air their dirty laundry. My students know about my activism so if I post something political they are not shocked.
Hi Kevin,
Yes I can see that, but as long as you maintain your professionalism, you are okay.
Patricia
A very comon problem with being a chef instructor is that you often run itto your current and formar students when you go out to dinner
Hello Shantelle,
You are trying to make the separation; continue to do as such.
Patricia
I am a pretty young instructor, and come across the difficulties of reminding my students that I am not their "friend"...I've had a student ask me for facebook and myspace information (which I have set to private as well as my age set to 99) where I tell that even though they are nice and I like them as my student, my personal accounts will not be mixed with school life.
And it is a little awkward, running into some of my older students, if I go out with my friends...I've moved to the other side of the room as well as also leave an establishment to avoid any unprofessional interaction, outside of school.
Hi Mia,
Yes, you must know when to draw the line.
Patricia
Hi Darla,
I understand fully. It is a fine line here. You have to use your best discretion when you are getting to be too friendly.
Patricia
This is a very difficult issue because it is important for instructors to build rapport with students. Moreover, research about instructor effectiveness has shown that instructors who share some personal information with students are likely to be more effective with students. Doing so builds a connection, which is important to any relationship.
Yet, instructors have to be very conscientious of the significance of their relationship with students--that the instructor is in the power position of the relationship. (This would be similar to most professions, such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.) So the instructor needs to keep the relationship professional, while also being supportive and caring. Obviously, this is difficult to do, which explains why some instructors are too friendly with students and why some are too distant with students.
One point that I use as a guide is that I can be human while still being an instructor. So I've had a student who had serious medical issues that caused her to miss school. I talked to her with compassion about her situation, as I would with anyone I knew in that situation. I also referred her to the school counselor and academic affairs to answer her questions about returning to school, etc.
