I feel if you don't maintain a professional distance from students you will loose the authority respect in the classroom. Once students think they are on a friend level with an instructor discipline becomes very difficult at that point.
If the instructor presents in an unprofessional manner, how can respect, admiration, or inspiration follow? As an instructor, I want to lead by example, to set a professional standard for my students.
I make it a point to not become buddys with the studants It helps maintain class control.
I agree that the instructor needs to maintain objectivity and show respect to all students. We cannot be their friend but still can be caring and understanding to all the students.
It is important so students can keep a respectable image of you.
It is important that instructors are professional and students are professional, as well. When everyone is professional it creates a positive learning/working atmosphere. Professionalism is a characteristic students need to development and maintain as they transition into the workplace.
I think it is important not to cross the fine line with students at all.
Hi Gustavo,
You have to be extremely careful with building relationships with students. The relationship should be strictly professional. Too much is at stake for an instructor to have a personal relationship with students...way too risky. Professional is the best and safest approach!
Patricia Scales
Patricia et al. – Hope all is well and Happy 2014. Professional distance is keeping the instructor’s relationship with students at arm's length to avoid the appearance of impropriety or “buddyâ€. Keep it or you may find yourself facing termination of your employment, losing your license; and perhaps, defending yourself in criminal court.
Professional distance may be easier said than done, particularly for educators dealing with adult learners, who are not that much older than some of their students. Maintaining one's professional distance still allows certain types of reasonable friendly contact between teachers and students. Keeping this distance is important, because the facilitator or instructor has to remain objective in assessing the student’s performance.
Last, but not least, time management comes into play as a reason for maintaining a professional distance. An instructor can be likeable, for example, but they are still doing a job. This is why they depend on office hours and have to limit their contacts to people who are actually in the class. Regards.
Maintaining a professional image as well as a professional distance is important in classroom management because it helps both the instructor and the student recognize boundries necessary for classroom management. When an instructor tries to be both friend and instructor the borders between the two areas become blurred. The students could lose respect of the instuctor and the instuctor could lose creditability with the class.
Instructors must maintain a professional distance from students. We may be their friend, but we are not their pal. Meaning we do care for them and the challenges they face in being successful however we are not their pal that goes and hangs out with them on the weekend.
In classroom management professional distance from student is important because it sets a barrier and limitations. I am your teacher and you are my student. And it avoid conflicts between the teacher and the student.
I believe that maintaining a professional manner is important at all times. Especially, being a younger instructor I have to create a professional boundary at all times so they don't assume we're friends and expect leniency.
It's important to maintain that professional image because I am not their friend, I am their instructor. Being friendly is okay, but I do not interact with them on a social level - this includes Facebook - when they are my students. They have to respect me as their instructor or they will take advantage of me, and I will let them.
An instructor CAN become too friendly if they aren't aware of the situation.
Because students will respect you more for your professionalism and can also be a role model. Like the module says, you are not their friends, but their instructor. I keep a professional distance from my students, but I still make small conversations with them, just not with my personal life, only professional life which is my job.
We want to keep a professional distance from our students because we are instructors. We are the source of their knowledge, not their counterparts. I agree discipline, reprimands, and grades come from instructors, not from friends or those considered to be the students' equals. We should remain friendly without being friends.
By keeping appopriate professional distance allows the students to not only respect your position but adhere to policy and correction when needed. If we as instructors dispaly a buddy -buddy syndrome then when time comes to deliver policies and guidelines it will not be followed through.
By maintaining a professional image it shows that you value your profession and yourself. Students see that you are a professional and respect you for that.
In a superior to subordinate relationship it is always best to take the approach of being "friendly, not familiar."
Students look to you to lead by example, to impart knowledge they don't have and to present that knowledge in a fair and professional manner.
In doing so you have set the stage - and the rules - for a proper teacher-student relationship and effective learning environment.
Becoming friendly with students can also affect the objectivity of the instructor. The instructor may be willing to allow some things that they may not allow with other students. It's important for the students to respect you and they will if you present yourself as a professional. Even if you have expertise in a certain area, a student will dismiss your knowledge as a result of unprofessional behavior from you.
