Guide
The guide is the best style and it has a bit of essence of buddy and controller.
there has been times with differant classes that I have found myself going more toward buddy than Guide, and other times finding myself going toward controller, insted of Guide I must learn to combine both in in a balance to become a Guide I will keep this in mind and practice alway being aware of what I am doing.
Michael, how are you measuring your students along the maturity spectrum to consider them as adult? Does their age alone quality them as adult or do you place any tactile behavioral traits to the adult label? To be treated as an adult one must follow adult traits. When adolescent traits are practiced then adolescent techniques may be required within a classroom setting. It is important your students know you will treat them with the same level of maturity they demonstrate so if they want to be treated like adults then their actions need to be appropriate.
James Jackson
This is a great description. Considering that we are working with adults, there is a certain level of "buddy" that can exist, but this must be balanced with an instructor's ability to control the class, manage the material, and guarantee that the best possible learning environment is being provided for everyone in the class.
The guide or mix of buddy and controller is the style of management that I have gravitated towards also. I look at as constructing a strategic sequence of sign posts that are not so close as to lead my students and not so far apart that they get lost. I want to require of them that they expend a comfortable amount of energy and thought to navigate the course material. When I am successful, I find that my students have a greater sense of accomplishment and ownership for their classroom experience. The challenge is accurately assessing who needs the sign posts closer together and who needs them further apart.
Zafar, what style do you see yourself and why do you feel your style can be described in that way? Do you feel you need to make any changes over the next year to become a better instructor? Thanks for any information you feel comfortable to include.
James Jackson
