Treating Students with Respect to Model Proper Behavior
I feel strongly that a large part of what I must do as instructor is to prepare my students for the work force. Oftentimes, my students are remiss interacting with classmates, and with me, with the proper amount of respect and professionalism. So, I try to always model proper work place communcation, e.g., more formal interactions. The trick is remaining approachable and jocular while presenting myself as a figure of authority. Almost always, responding to an inappropriate email with the proper style and type of remarks helps to redirect a misguided student. A good example is still the best teaching tool in many instances.
Rhonda,
You have to pull aside and have that conversation of the expectations of the class. I have told students in both online and f2f courses that if you can't be a part of the team and respect all (doesn't mean they have to agree) the group can "vote you off the island" and you never want that.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Great advice. What about the disreprectful or threatening student? How do you give respect when they are not giving it to you?
Cindy,
Great point. Do you have students expectations of behavior established in your syllabus?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
In my online discussions, I tell my students to act as though they were speaking to the person face to face in class and be careful of what is typed.
Dr. Vicki,
What a GREAT post! You have great points. I do think the passive aggressiveness cannot be ignored. I also agree that humor can be your friend. It makes you human.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi Michael: There are several things about your post that are spot-on. First, I agree we should treat our students with respect. It's a good idea to treat others as we want to be treated. Second, even though where I teach online, about 90% of the students are already gainfully employed (they're earning another degree or a graduate degree to position themselves for promotions or a different career choice), despite their work experience, it seems email brings out the best in passive-aggressive behavior in some students. I've seen people say things via email that they would never, ever say f2f. The good news is that we can model the proper way to respond by our own professionalism--which was your point. My third point is I like what you said about remaining approachable--and jocular--while also maintaining our position of authority in the classroom. Sometimes that's a difficult bridge to cross because of the impersonal aspects of email. On the other hand, I believe that's what this module is about when it talks about establishing our pattern of teaching. As such, I try to let students know I have a well-developed sense of humor (in my bio, announcements and expectations). It works--most of the time! Vicki
Michael,
Yes! I agree completely. We are obligated to set a good example of netiquette for our students. Many will already understand how to behave respectfully towards the instructor and each others. Younger students are sometimes a bit unclear regarding appropriate behavior.
I also post an announcement in the first week alerting them to the importance of re-reading what you have written before posting. Students, and faculty, need to sometimes be reminded that because tone of voice can be unclear in email, we must be careful with our language and word choices.
Suzanne
Michael,
You make a fabulous point. I too have begun to "crack down" on the casualness of communication in both my f2f and online courses. I too am preparing students for the workforce and the workforce is using texting and other tools for communication and they do have rules!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
