The students react positively. They understand more of what becoming a professional means.
Hi Arcadio,
Certainly build a rapport with your students, but a line should be drawn and students should not be allowed to cross it.
Patricia
As professional educators it is vital that the lines of fratinazation is never crossed. Once the lines are cross, learners will see you as instrument that they can utilize to munipulate their way their their course and grades. Maintaining a professional image and distance provides the necessary instrument in conducting a learning environment that will allow the learner to carry the knowledge and skills that they have gathered/learned out into the real world
Maintaining a professional distance from students undergirds effective class management as a basis for earning and building mutual instructor / student respect. The alternative is reflected in a wise saying that familiarity breeds contempt. Undue familiarity between instructors and students undermines everyones' capacity to behave as professionals in a learning environment.
Hi Jennifer,
You are right! We are role models for many of our students. We need to be very careful about what takes place on campus as well as off campus.
Patricia
Students look up to us and watch very closely what we do. We need to create an image that is respectful.
Hello Patricia: I agree with you 100%. In my opinion, we as instructors are not students' friends! However, I do believe that instructors should culitvate an environment/a rapport with students which enanbles them to seek the instructor as a Resource person and a Problem solver.
Hello Nicholas: what you have written regarding Maintaining a Professional Image in the class-room, lab. or clinicals is true. Students need to know who is in charge, and I have noticed that my younger students demonstrate the need for that type of structure/knowledge more than the Adult Learners in my clinical Post-Conference hours.
Maintaining a professional image also helps the students to understand that their instructor is available for them as a Resource person, and he/she is someone that they can depend on if there is a problem.
Hi Gaylene,
How interesting! What type of reactions do you get from your students after watching the presentation?
Patricia
Hi Nicholas,
Students will certainly give you respect if you carry yourself as a professional. The way you dress, speak, act, etc. dictate how you are regarded as a professional.
Patricia
It keeps the focus upon student learning and give the student something to aspire to. Friendship with the students fosters entitlement games
Hi Jonathan,
We are not in the business to befriend our students. We are in the business solely to educate them.
Patricia
Hi Simon,
Once your raison d'etre is ruined, it is so hard to regain it. Maintain control, yet be approachable.
Patricia
It sets the tone for maintaining mutual respect and also lends more credibility of the instructor. These will help the class flow with more structure and an atmosphere for learning.
On one of the first day of the course of study, I like to provide a slide show developed by my national professional association. The slide show is about being a professional and the professional code of ethics.
Providing this presentation, as well as maintaining a professional image and conduct myself, helps to students to develop as a professional.
Hi Darren,
It sends out a different message whenever you look the part. Students take you very serious.
Patricia
The lab jacket really does seem to help.
I believe that instructors should project a professional image in the class-room as well as in clinicals and in the Lab. because they are perceived by students as Role Models. Instructors are SMEs as well as IDEs. They are responsible for setting examples as to how students can succeed in the academic areas as well as in the job market. By keeping a professional distance from students, instructors project an image of an educator who cares for the students's success and is available for mentorship. Yet, the professional distance is necessary for students to understand that instructors are not his/her friends.
I teach allied health professionals. I find that wearing my doctors jacket has the same effect in the classroom as it does in the exam room. It meets the image that people have created for someone who is knowledgeable in the field.
The instructor is there to be a role model, an inspirer, a motivator, a source of knowledge, wisdom and experience. Getting to close to students can seriously jepardize the instructor's raison d'etre.
