It is very important to stay on track to stay professional. i have had time when I talk about items that can eend up having students comment on that is in appropriate and I have to bring it back. It is hard sometimes since you relate to them.
Hi William,
We are professionals, and we should look and act the part. Favoritism is frowned upon in the education environment. Let's not befriend our students.
Patricia
Hi William,
I concur! We must remember we are not educators to win a popularity contest. We are educators to educate.
Patricia
You don't want to get too familiar with students. It is not professional. In addition, it might make you appear to be more worried about your popularity than your effectiveness as an instructor. Students may try to take advantage of an instructor that wants to be their friend, rather than their mentor.
I think if you are somewhat undisiplined it shows the students it really doesn't matter nomatter what you say .It's hard to sell "do what I say not what I do.
Maintaining a professional image is important because you are acting as a professional role model for your students. Also, becoming "friends" with your students can cloud your judgement and make hard decisions even harder to make should they arise.
Hi Peggy,
Nicely stated. The instructor/student relationship should be strictly business. Never befriend a student, way too many problems can generate from this friendship.
Patricia
Hi Katrina,
I can tell you are the professional that you want your students to become. Continue to lead by example and be that positive role model for your students.
Patricia
Hi Reynaldo,
Great response! We have a lot of fun in my classes, but my students know that I am their instructor and not their buddy.
Patricia
1) First, it sets the expectations of relations in the class. Students who are new to college sometimes have that erroneous image of professors being students' friends.
2) Professional distance in class also mirrors the distance maintained in the workplace, so it gets the students used to it.
3) Friends do each other favors and give each other things they haven't earned, like A's.
I think that students go to an institution to get the knowledge and skills from a professional and not from a friend. However professionals and friends we all are humans and having fun while learning I believe is good. The important point here is to avoid the misunderstanding that because the course is having fun that means becoming buddies.
Hi Terry,
We as instructors should certainly lead by example. Our students need as many role models as possible.
Patricia
Setting an ecample is the most important way to show students that it is important to grow and be seen as a professiona. It also teaches them that you can care about their success while keeping the realtionship as a student/intructor level
I agree completely! This is the basis for our entire institute. Many students are changing their image as they become professionals for the first time ever. Many of these students do not have a role model or have an altered idea of what a professional means. As instructors, we are role models and the introduction of professionalism. Our attire, attitudes, language and social/ professional interactions are all under scrutiny and constant obervation from our students as to cues to what is a professional, how to act and how this will make them successful as professionals.
You will lower your status with them if you start acting like a buddy. If you do become a friend, it becomes more difficult to correct them. They need someone that will hold them accountable for thier learning experience. If you are a friend, that accountability will dissapate
Hi Henry,
Students clearly see it whenever favoritism is shown. As stated, having favorites cause way too many problems.
Patricia
Allowing personally relationship with students is not a good idea on many levels. One in particular would be the uncomfortable class dynamic that will come forward due to the perception of favoratism.
Because soon the student that you have authority over will feel like you are on the same level as they are
Hi Shanna,
Absolutely! The student/teacher relationship should be strictly business.
Patricia
It is very important to not become friends and to maintain a professional image at all times! If you become friends with your students you may lose credibility.
