students
Is it better for students to relate to their classmates or the instructor to relate to the students?
I believe both are very important. There should be a rapport that students have with each other as well as a rapport between student and teacher. This dual "relationship" will make a better classroom experience for the student and foster a more productive atmosphere for the instructor.
Yes Terrell this is so true
I believe that it is important that students and instructors relate to one another. However, as an instructor I believe that the bulk of the responsibility for creating an atmosphere wherein students feel comfortable approaching me is pinnacle.
I believe both. I also like to form team projects than require each of us to perform a certain portion of the "end goal"-amazing how everyone pitched in this time as they knew the info they had to share would pertain to the test!
I think it shows them that they have a support system which includes both the students and the instructor.
I think both as well. It should be collaborative. Some students will take to others, while not taking to some students. It is the job of the instructor to try their best to make each and every student take to them- but this is nearly impossible.
It is equally important to have the instructor and classmates relate to the students. But reality is instructors are not able to relate to all students so to have classmates available to relate because there are three times the number if not more students to instructor ratio.
Melissa,
How right you are! And we often have no idea of the impact we have on our students.
Susan Backofen
As an instructor, we have an obligation to provide the best educational opportunities for our students. Having said that, if there are instances in which an instuctor can demonstrate tranparency and show their humanity, it would make what we teach and portray more believable. There will be times when we can relate-but it has to remain professional. On the other hand, some students may not relate to their peers. All in all, we can learn from each other and this is what makes learning and teaching exciting!
Tabitha,
I agree! Helping to build those peer relationships quickly makes a huge difference.
Susan Backofen
Students should relate to their peers and their teachers. Relating to their peers will provide peer support, and a way for them to get information from class that they might have missed if they are gone due to being sick or family emergency. I had a teacher from college recommend for us as students, to meet the person to the left and right of us, on the first day of class and to exchange phone numbers. This helped in so many ways. It was a great icebreaker, allowed us to get to know people on the first day, and helped in the future months if you needed to ask a peer for their opinion and/or assignments you didn’t get. It was a second way to make sure we had everything we needed. We could contact the teacher or a peer for help.
i also agree that both are equally important. i am an instructor but also take classes at night for my own personal education so i can relate to both sides of the story.
terrell,
I think both. They need to know they are in a safe environment and that means that they have the support of their classmates as well as their instructor.
Susan Backofen
