Students must see us as instructors, not as there friends.
When you cross the line from being professional to personal you lose respect as a adult and a educator
Many ways to about this sort of image, cause the students are all different and also your peers look at images.
It is important so that students will know that you are serious about what you are presenting. It is also important because you as the instructor are setting an example of how the students should conduct themselves once they enter the workforce.
I agree; an image is not only to become a role model as a professional in the field but also as an individual whose persona is positive, motivating, and engaging. I want my students to want to come to class each meeting because they feel welcome and look forward to the events/challenges of that class meeting.
Being respected will award success. Being buddies will detract from a professional class setting. Someone is in charge; it should be you, the instructor/facilitator, leader. Be a role model by which your students can mirror as a professional in the field.
Hi Alisa,
Professionalism also helps the instructor to gain respect.
Patricia
Hi Patrick,
We are some of our students only role models. They have no one else to look up to. We teach them everything they need to know about being a professional.
Patricia
Hi Joel,
How do you go about exemplifying a positive attitude?
Patricia
Our University has a dress code for instructor's we are not allowed to wear denim if we are teaching that day. I think that a dress code can help with the professional attire issue.
You can not teach professionalism to adult students if the the Instructor does not adhere to professional standards in appearance, attitude and language...Instructors are role models.
I have found that if an instructor is friendly outside of the institution that they teach in this can create problems for the instructor. Most institutions have policies against this behavior because someone has crossed the line. If you have a relationship outside of the classroom with a student it can change the classroom dynamics. The student then can misinterpret the relationship in the classroom. This then gives them more power or perceived power in the classroom. I have seen the student then demonstrate behavior that they feel the rules of the classroom do not apply to them because of their perceived personal relationship with the instructor.
Debbie
I agree if the student does not view the instructor or professor as a professional with knowledge the will not have respect for them.
Debbie
One thing younger employees have trouble with is that 'Expensive does not = dressy' It doesn't matter how much you paid for that 'designer' T shirt it is still a T shirt. This could be communicated on line.
Instructors should dress professional = no flip flops, no denim, etc.
Personal observation has taught me the pitfalls of failing to maintain a professional distance. At the first dental hygiene school I taught in, the Director of Dental Hygiene was having a lot of problems with administration. She took certain students out to lunch and had them in her home discussing the challenges of her new position. It all seemed very strange to me. As the situation evolved, not only did the Director lose her job, but the students were actually complaining about her. There was talk of student harrassment; I don't really know if it became a legal issue. Some of the students thought she was creating a barrier to their learning process. Even if I were motivated to make friends with my students (which I am not), watching this process showed me what can happen.
I look the part and walk the walk and talk the talk.
Hi William,
Yes they do. We must practice what we preach; lead by example.
Patricia
Hi Brenda,
I soley agree! I have been teaching for over 21 years, and you just described me in your response. To this day, I have not had any problems with my image as an instructor.
Patricia
Hi Dan,
Our behavior should definitely be to the point of emulation. We have to be our students role model in every professional way possible.
Patricia
