I believe the better we know our campus individuals and their strengths, the better chance we have of properly serving our students. I'm truly committed to making sure students know who to turn to when they have concerns/issues. It sounds like you are too! We can never have enough team members that put Students First!
Very good point, Allison. And it's this point that makes student support so difficult. It's hard enough to get people to proactively listen to student issues; now we're asking them to get involved at another level. Not everyone is willing/able to do that.
This underscores the importance of a well developed and ingrained referral system.
I find in my position more students want answers, not just a person to vent to. Their family and friends should be their sounding board. If they aren't available, we are there for them!
Many students don't know where to go, they want some direction of who to turn to. Listening doesn't always solve the problem.
I suspect you're right, Michael, but how does the learner find the person who will listen to them?
This is council that many faculty members may have trouble with. The argument is that the class room is an authoritarian environment and that the instructor must be in control at all times - perhaps even when he/she is wrong. How do you deal with this perspective?
I fully agree, showing a student that you can listen and help them identify there problem can make all the difference. A lot of the time there not looking for an answer just want someone to listen.
Sometimes students are on the verge of having a nervous breakdown in my class. It usually isn't the class itself, but outside factors that are causing this problem. I have been teaching long enough to know there breaking point. When I do see a breakdown happening it is usually because they need to vent to someone. I take the student to the side and I really let them explain their problem.
Ego Removal: Let go of having to be right. There's a business saying - "Do you want to fill your ego or your bank account?" The result is not that you are right, but that the problem for both parties is solved to mutual satisfaction. It might not be the solution you thought would be chosen, but it will be the solution that really works.
