Not only do you wear the hat of an instructor but you must also wear the hat of a supervisor. When students perceive you as a "buddy" they will quickly take advantage of that role. By maintaining a professional distance you maintain the position of authority and the more important role of instructor.
An instructor is in the position that will grade the performance of students. If a professional distance in not established, there may be a perseption of favoritism, and unfair advantages among students. Some students may not apply themselves adequately thinking that you will give them favor or expect less of them. You can show care and compassion without undue familiarity.
I Agree, we must show the students that we are "human" and that we are "real" it creates a mutual respect, but not too friendly....
I really believe that becoming friends with students is a bad idea because the moment you are friends or act like friends they expect too much favors from you. they come up with excuses for not doing homeworks or assignments. They also expect to get an A whether they deserve it or not. They can also draw you into conversations that are not appropriate in class or even do something inappropriate that is not a good example for other students. if you are perceived to be friends with some students, the others may even accuse you of favoritism or some kind of unfairness. This will greatly reduce their respect of you. you can be friendly and caring and then get their respect.
I have been a student all of my adult life and have wanted my instructors to be advisors, mentors, but never friends. I assume the same for my students and work to establish rapport and be available and accessible to support their learning, but not be "friends." Having their respect means more to me than having their friendship and affection. Instructors are role models for their students and some of that image may be tarnished by their knowing we are not as perfect as they might want to believe.
I think that all instructors should keep it on a proffesional level to keep the respect with he students if not I think you creata a problem with that student as well as the class
We are the instructors! If we were just their buddies, then we would be sitting in the classroom on that side of the room. The students are looking for an instructor, not a buddy. It's OK to be friendly, but familiarity is certainly not appropriate as it is very unprofessional.
This is important because you have to draw the line between the instructor and the students. Too much familiarity in the classroom affects the learning process. This is where the disrespect for the instructor starts.
I think that all instructors need to keep a professional image with the students so they know that you are a professional in your filed. I also agree that you have to be friendly but not friends with the students so the students know that you are human too.
It is important because it prevent fratenizing or showing favortism and the students would more likely show more respect.
The student looks to the instructor as a role model for attire, speech,behavior,and relationships, someone they can respect. The student is not looking for a new best friend.
I try to be a model for my students to copy. I show that proper behavior will be rewarded in the classroom and in the field.
Maintaining a professional image prepares the student for the real world experience of employee management. Students need to learn professional boundaries and protocol. Allowing students to become your friend limits your effectiveness and crosses professional boundaries.
I always believed that if you present yourself in a professional manner, dress, hair....then you will see a certain level of respect that is automatic. I advise the students of this at the beginning of the class.
Maintaing a professional image is important because it gives students a reason to put 100% effort into their education to become like their instructor. If students lose confidence in their instructor, on the other hand, they will begin to doubt that they can gain anything from the course and they may even have second thoughts about their career course. This may lead to student behavior problems.
I always maintain a professional image from the first day of class and beyond. I set a professional tone in the way I dress as well as in my dealings with students. I am always patient, calm and non-judgemental. I am fair and objective and let students know I care about them and their success. Therefore students act and/or behave in the manner they are shown. My students show respect to me and to each other and I have control in my classroom.
I feel I must maintain a profeessional image at all times. because being a teacher is something I enjoy doing. Everything I learned and achieved I want to reach back to help others to see that an Education is very important to their lives. If I maintain my professionist student will see and want to achieve their goals.
This can be a real Pandora's Box. First of all, we can be friendly but we cannot afford to be friends. Once we cross that line, any negativity on the part of the instructor towards a student's situation, attitude or comments can be perceived as biased against that student or preferential towards another. Secondly, once the instructor becomes "friends" with students, all objectivity with regards to the students is gone. The instructor has, in effect, become a parent-figure instead of a mentor. This is detrimental to the proper training of the student and potentially damaging to the credibility of the instructor.
If instructors do not maintain a professional distance or boundary with students, students may feel they can gain an edge, take advantage, manipulate the friendship/relationship, feel they are above the rest of the class, create conflict with other students as they might be perceived as getting "special treatment". Crossing the line can create all sorts of problems in perceived fairness and expectations the student may believe he/she should be entitled to when the boundary line has been crossed. Very very bad idea... Poor professional judgement on behalf of the instructor.
There are a multitude of reasons. First and foremost is that you damage your professional credibility when you attempt to get students to "like" you on a personal basis. Second, you need to maintain objectivity in grading and assessment. Students need to perceive you as unbiased. Finally, you should be careful to maintain a professional distance because, to do otherwise, may open you up to serious ethical, if not legal, challenges.
