Maintaining a professional image is important to earn and continue earning respect from the students. Many of my students are older than me and many are younger than me. I do not tell the students my age so I can maintain respect. They always tell me I look so young. I usually smile and thank them. That way, I strive to maintain authority and professionalism.
Felicia
I have had the experience of having some students perceived as "friends" and the rest of the students worried they would not do as well in the class. I made sure the others were aware that all students matter. Interacting with all the class is critical. I learned this the hard way. But it's one of my best lessons.
It is important to have a professional image so students respect you as an instructor. If you appear messy and seem unorganized your students will be unsure of your teaching qualifications.
Identifying myself as an expert in my field is relatively easy because my modern students typically Google me before the start of the class, and spreads that information through the class.
Establishing myself as a CREDIBLE source of information rather than just an expert in the field has been a much greater help for me overall.
Student come to us for education. This is not limited to course content. Many student are looking to make a positive change in themselves and their life styles. They look to us as a mentor and model of professionalism. We need to mind our "P's and Q's" at all times.
Hi Katie,
You are definitely on point! We need to be our students role models. There is nothing professional about befriending a student.
Patricia Scales
Maintaining a professional image is important because you want the students to view you as a qualified professional. We must be friendly with our students, but not their friends. We need to maintain control and respect in the classroom. Being "friends" with a student is unprofessional.
Hi Jennifer,
That's right! Students do not need another friend, but they need as many role models as possible.
Patricia Scales
Students are looking for guideance and a mentor not a friend.
Hi Kelsey,
Nicely stated! You are definitely on point! Continue to be the role model that our students need. I can tell you lead by example, and you are a true professional to your profession.
Patricia Scales
Once your professional image is in question, you lose the student's respect and decrease their learning ability. You have to show respect to get respect.
I think it is important because this gives the students boundaries. Although, this is hard to do when the other instructor talks about your personal life with the students. I just ignore it but I think at some point I'm going to have to tell her not to talk about my personal life with the students.
Professional distance shows student the work setting environment. In a work place, we have to keep a professional distance.
If an instructor were to socialize with students away from school then the relationship is no longer a relationship between a teacher and student but it has become personal. It is hard to come back over the line to just being their instructor if you have socialized outside of campus. It is a rule that should never be broken. I do not want to be my students friend, I want them to see me as their instructor and one that inspires them to do well out in the work field.
Response to Patricia Scales:
Hi Patricia,
Maintaining a professional distance from students is an important part of class management because you are not there to be a student's friend, rather a mentor for them. They are there because you are supposed to be an expert in the field you are teaching and the goal is that the student is able to learn new skills from you .
The one thing I hit hard with my students is that if I did my job today, you can walk out of this room and apply what you learned right away, because you have gained a new skill to add to your current skills.
It is important for the instructor to show they are human, but it is not necessary to be their friend.
Thanks so much,
Kelsey
If instructors don't maintain a professional relationship, students will start slacking and testing to see how much they can get away with before the instructor says something or does something about it. Then the student gets upset when you have to fail/discipline them. You don't want to be their "Friend".
Hi Williams,
Nicely stated! Preparation is key, and we should certainly lead by example.
Patricia Scales
Maintaining a professional distance provides a level playing field as far as inclusion is concerned. It also allows the instructor to remain objective in managing the classroom.
DeLong talked about the student's unspoken expectation that instructors need to be available and approachable but not perceived as a friend.
Some students can take this as favoritism. Others my not care about your personal life and lastly it is just plain and simply unprofessional. I think you can associate with your students and be friendly and have inside jokes with your class as a whole, but no one person or group should be singled out. It is just best that we as teachers/instructors learn through experience what things are ok to say and do, and when the students begin to cross lines, revert the subject back to the material.
Maintaining a professional image is important for class management. I set the example for my class. My appearance in lecture or on clinical site sets the bar for my students. I instruct that you only get one first impression; make it count every time your in class, on the floor, or interacting with team members.
As the authority figure I set the bar and neither ask for, nor give any quarter on professional standards. This is made clear at the beginning on class and reinforced by my appearance daily. Before class and clinical, I inspect what I expect and that are appropriately attired students who present a professional appearance.
Management of others is best achieved when you are perceived as being professional, well organized, and someone worthy of being an example.
