Adam--
This is a great point about learning taking place all the time...not just while they are in school. The world changes quickly and we all need to be continually learning. This is a huge paradigm shift from our parent's world. We need to be sure to reinforce how to learn.
Susan
To some degree business & class room management is simaler . you have to be honest with both, do what you say & be willing to bend if nessary
I do see similarities between the two. The one I point out a lot is working & learning. In this field things change all the time. If the student doesn't keep up on their education it will affect their paycheck or their position at where they work. While they are at school full time & work part time, the rolls switch when they leave the school.
David--
This is an excellent analogy for many reasons. FIrst, it's true. Second, it's work related and third...if/when they are in a position to be foreman, they will need to do those things on the 'other side' of the fence.
Susan
They both have much in common,people skills are needed to succeed and you need to sell your product, which in our case is an education.
I like to tell my students that our relationship is similar to a shop foreman to technician. There are expectations in both cases. Most are the same. When I ran a business, I had to be early and organized. Jobs ready to be delegated as soon as employees arrived. Have clear expectations given to my employees. Be fair and willing to listen to any questions or concerns from them.
My employees were expected to be there every day (on time, consistent timely breaks and lunches); dressed professionally; positive attitude toward everyone they come in contact with. They are both given tasks-jobs that are to be completed.
The differences would be an expectation that the students are learning. They may not get it right the first time. Most tasks will take longer until they gain the experience. They will be “paid†with a grade.
Kerry--
What a unique perspective! You have a wealth of 'real life' stories you can give to your students that will make them even more qualified and competent on the job.
Susan
I think it is important to run your classroom as much like a business as possible. I am a business owner in this industry as well as being an instructor and so I think I have kind of a unique perspective on this one. The closer we relate the classroom to a real world business the better prepared the student will be, it does no good to make the classroom fun and exciting if what is taking place has no application to the business world, remember our students are going to be faced with a very real world and an industry that is quite competitive, and not always user friendly to the new technician. It is easy to sugar coat things and give the student the idea that everything in our industry is fun and cool. Don’t get me wrong I love this Industry and I wouldn’t ever want to do anything else that being said I think it is imperative that we make our students understand that in any business there are challenges and often complex problems that need to be figured out and corrected. The one major difference I see between the real business world and the class room is when the student makes a mistake, or gets lazy it shows up as a lesser grade in the real business world these things can cost them a job or a carrier this is something we must get them to understand.
Bill--
You bring up some great points about 'how to' be a supervisor, teacher...I'll add student and employee. Seems that the expectations for all roles are increasingly blurred and inconsistent.
Susan
James--
Excellent point about treating students as professionals. They are learning, but I believe treating them as they will be on the job better prepares them and they tend to rise to the occassion.
Susan
I think so in either circumstance you need to be as real as possible.
i believe almost all parts are the same between business and class, isnt the class a business unit, of course so they should be the same . the thing i see so much today in both class and the business is the lack of knowing how to do either or both. unfortunately we have too many bosses that dont know how to be bosses and too many teachers that dont know how to teach.. very sad. and this is every where you go!!!!
I feel the major similarity between the classroom and business is the working with people and taking the oppurtunities for encouragement and coaching as needed and having the people see you as someone who they can work with. A major difference could be looked at in the monetary sensse having to control and operate a budget. Success is measured differently in both casaes and in some ways measured the same way.
the difference is you are selling students knowlage not product.I treat them like auto technicians in lab time they seem to apreciate that.I think success would be the same,you feel pretty good when they graduate as too making profit at the shop
Steven--
Very great analogies. Of course, in business there is also an element of educating the customers at times.
Susan
Steve--
You bring up a great point here about a student realizing a return on their tuition investment. Many don't think about that per se...just that they want a job (or better job). This is definite discussion that should take place, ideally, beginning with Admissions.
Susan
The similarities are in business satisfying the customer and running an efficient repair facility is paramount to success. In private education it is also important to have satisfied students to maintain high completion rates which results in a school being profitable.
One of the differences is that in education there is more emphasis on learning, developing various skills and preparation to entering the work force.
It is similar in that you must motivate and manage people, different in that the profit is not always in dollars. Success is on a different scale in that students understanding is measured individually and business success is based on net profit.
The student must understand there is a relationship between the class and a business. They need to feel what they learn is worth money in the field.
They both have much in common,people skills are needed to succeed and you need to sell your product, which in our case is an education.
