creating a positive image first and foremost has to begin from inside you as a person . clothing , words, are only a byproduct of an image. By deciding early that your mission is going to be acomplished with positive motivation then the rest such as attitude,behaviour and thus your image will ultimatly be good.
You can greet your students at the door, dress professionally, be organized in your presentations, handouts, tests, and listen to your students' concerns.
Hi Cynthia,
What do you do to create a positive instructor image?
Patricia
Hi Kimberly,
I love the extra personal touch you give your students. Your students will never forget your kinds ways nor will they forget you were always there for them.
Patricia
Welcome the class every morning. Smile. Ask how everyone's night/weekend was. (ice-breakers or warm-ups) Stand up straight, discuss what will be taught in class that morning. Dress nicely and always let your students know you are there for them for extra help.
Well put and helpful. I like to review each courase since I teach them over and over a years time frame. I critic myself on what worked and what didn't work. I also restructure tests to bring claity to difficult questions.
Hi Edna,
Day 1 is crucial. It lays the foundation for everything. Students expect professional behavior from the instructor. We have to remember we are role models.
Patricia
Creating a positive instructor image is critical to successful teacing-learning process.
Being ready in Day 1 with prepared error-free course syllabus and content materials with classroom ground rules is a priority. Allowing the students to see that I had taken my time to provide them the ruling documents with class policies and specific, detailed, concise, and clear instructions will not only be apprecaited, but would be helpful for an effective time management for them. Presenting a professional, pleasant, calm, and respectful demeanor at all time will role-model good behavior. Approriate attire and clesn, and neat very well put together will certainly project a positive image.
Start with attitude and outlook. Be positive and upbeat. I think that those two things can allow your students to know who you are, right from the start. Your professional image can also be demonstrated by you being organized, on time and prepared for your class, exactly what you should be expecting from them.
First smile when you come into the class. Look confident, talk with the students casually and tell them what we are going to do today. Also dress appropriately.
I also take the time to send out a personal email to each student (easy on our "portal") and tell them I am looking forward to seeing them. I also posts some general discussion topics on the forum and an announcement with writing tips. Then at the first class, I make an effort to learn their names (we use the "name-tent" method and I make one for me too.) That way, I can "fix" the name with a face much more clearly. And I tell them about my teaching experience on the college level and how much I love what I do! I also hand out a very detailed syllabus for the class and have a few Power-Point models to show them what a student paper should look like..I also give them a print copy of the sample paper to take home. And in case they lose it, I post it on the portal as well...
Hi Barbara,
Nicely stated! You're right, there are many things that come into play to create a positive image. Image has various external and internal factors,such as dress, neatness, attitude, persona, demeanor, etc.
Patricia
A positive instructor image consists of more than just knowledge and experience. It begins with a neat, professional outer image, an introduction stating background, education, and experience, and clear verbal tones. A competent air and approachability should be sensed by the students.The instructor should ,on the first day,express what is to be expected, and the requirements for the course, as well as all relevant materials given out, gone over, and understood. Any and all questions should be answered as much as possible, and the students made aware of an open door policy at all times. Barb Jarosch 1-5-2010
Hi Carl,
You dress the part; this is no doubt acceptable. Your students know what they should look like whenever they begin their field experience.
Patricia
Based on the idea that we're a role model for what professionals in our industry look like, I dress as I would in the field. In my case, I teach classes on advertising design, so I dress in the same fashion as an agency creative director - the position the students will typically be aspiring toward. In today's workplace, this often means a nice sport-coat over a fashionable t-shirt with jeans; it's not a suit but it's enough to set me apart from typical student dress and showcase how the industry really looks.
Christina,
I like what you mentioned about being yourself and honest. These are two things that most students will respect. I believe that you should convey who you are and relate to the students from that point of view only. I believe that if you are really sincere, then you cannot go wrong by being yourself! Honesty is a virtue that must be held in high regard when dealing with students.
Hi Instructor Scales,
I create a positive instructor image by being demonstrating a passion 'for' and an interest 'in' the course material. This tends to be contagious for most students!
Hi Carl,
What do you do to be regarded as having the look of a "professional?"
Patricia
I liked what the training course said about dressing like a role model - it makes sense that, being career college, the look you are emulating is not necessarily the look of "professor" as much as the look of "professional".
Aside from this, some other steps that stood out as valuable to me:
- showing you're well-organized and timely
- keeping the class under control
- being consistent, professional, fair and ethical
Overall, I think a lot of it comes down to an oft-overlooked common sense principle of being mindful that what you show is how you're seen.
Hi Michael,
You are right on point! My beliefs match yours.
Patricia
