STRUCTURE = LEADER = INSTRUCTOR
A good leader must set rules and regulations in order to establish a strong foundation. Students need the structure that only rules and regulations can give. The instructor must choose rules and regulations that will establish him/her as the leader.
A successful leader is the person who is a living model. In order to set yourself as a mentor, it is essential that you follow the same rules and regulations you expect your students to and monitor their compliance.
Retention can only come when students have structure and feel their instructor expects nothing less than their compliance and success.
Tiffany,
Thank you for participating in this discussion. I agree that a code of conduct can be a good idea. The best codes focus on what students are expected to do rather than on what they are not supposed to do.
I look forward to reading your posts in the other discussion forums.
I like this idea! We also have a Code of Conduct but nothing is posted visably for students to see on a routine basis. We have had some issues with student behavior lately and I think having something like this in place may help. At the time, a few of the students were relunctant to stand up and call out a classmate on her behavior but having the Code of Conduct posted may have given them more of a feeling of support in speaking up.
rules and structure are important. letting the student know what they are is also important. but a code of conduct goes beyond rules, it builds charactor.
I think your Code of Conduct is a very good idea. I have developed a set of rules and regulations for my students. These rules are handed out at the beginning of each module (set of courses), but I like the idea of a code of conduct as it provides a method of "buy in" for the students.
This is very true! Students need structure to succeed. Rules and regulations are key to establishing yourself as a the leader. As an instructor of an allied health program we have instituted a code of conduct the students must sign when entering the program. We have the code posted in the classrooms and each student keeps a copy. We have maintained the highest retention rates and our students will even cite the code to each other when they think there is a violation. Initially students were taken aback by the code, but now they have even begun to make suggestions for additional rules and regulations. Our strong foundation is reflected in our successful and happy students.
