Instructor Authority
In dealing with students who are noisy, disruptive, or procrastinators, and also intimidators, I think it is important to know that the teaching institution will back you up in what you are doing, and that students can not complain about you for doing your job to keep order and fairness in the course.
Does anyone have insights into whether on-line instructor have the support of their employers in handling difficult students? I think it would be hard for an instructor to "go it alone", especially since they lack personal knowledge of the student.
Comments?
Hi Julia, I am the chair of psychology at Capella University and I am very deligent in making sure that learners understand that they must respect their instructor and work with them to resolve issues. I just attended a meeting where we brought a learner up on charges of violating the learner code of conduct because she was treating the instructor with disrepect. When I talked to the review panel I made a point of stating that it is critical that learners understand they can not treat faculty with disrepect and be able to continue in the psychology program.
On the other hand, I have had learners who complained about the instructor and upon investigation, I realized that there was a need for additional professional development of the instructor to help them work with difficult students.
I am just now incorporating into our regular faculty meetings a time to discuss difficult learner profiles and the best way to manage behavioral issues.
Tina
