Thanks, Anna.
Knowing your students is a big key to success. How do you get students to share the little details of their lives with you?
I had the pleasure of working with true professionals when I first started my career in higher education, and saw first-hand how they interacted with students--how important knowing your student's name and remembering even the slightest detail about a student can really stitch them into the fabric of the university.
Hello Jeffrey, I had one a long time ago who steered me in the direction that gave me the knowiege to choose the direction in life, which without his guidance I would not be where I am today.Being a Instructor for only a short time(15 months) I am still very new at this an cannot think of any influence he had on me other how to present myself and how to treat others which is a big help with students.Craig
I had a teacher Mr. Cowley on an exchange programe for only one semester and he put such a spin on how he handled the class and the students that he got me interested and off on a path to a career in electrical and electronics. To this day I remember him and never could find out where he moved to after that.
Thank you, Julia.
Often we choose to allow someone to be our mentor more for how they do things than for what they do. What personality traits have you mentors had in common?
My mentors have shown me how to care about myself, my quality of work and set goals for me.
They are have been there when I needed help finding an answer to a technique or to particular
research info. They have taken the time to talk with me & show me they care about my path in life & my progress.
I had a mentor in the military that was truly a hard charger. His example propelled me improve and hone my leadership skills. The individual that trained me to be an instructor at my present job really had a strong command of how to deliver the course material. Alot of his methods rubbed off on me.
It' feels strange, to go from being the youngest tech in the shop, to being the oldest and now It starts all over again, being the newest instructor in the coarse. I use the same thought of, who's been here the longest, and how can I gain his knowledge in the quickest manner, to be better as an instructor every day. Now as I'm being looked upon, as a mentor, I look upon the students as ,if they where my high schooler, the reason they're here, is because they don't know, the subject matter. That process helps me remain calmer towards their mistakes.
Nice! Very fortunate to have someone like him take you under his wing at a young age. And good for you for being open to learn.
Who says we are who we are by the time we're five years old?! I'm constantly changing and certainly glad of it!
I have several mentors. Two in particular are a fellow I worked with in a previous position who completely embodied the customer service, teamwork and commitment to the Plan, Do, Study, Act process of quality. His name was John (he has since passed away.) One of the most powerful lessons I obtained from him was when he asked me what I thought about a group of workers gathered around talking while still on the clock. After some discussion, he helped me to understand that assuming the worst (those workers were wasting time doing nothing) rather than considering the best (perhaps they were gathered together trying to figure out a work-related problem?) could really backfire. He taught me the use of questions vs. assumptions. Engage the person and ask them what they need, how I can help.
The second, very powerful mentor is my own sister "Lauren." She lives on the edge, pushes the envelope of every mainstream belief, has a genius level IQ and a very bad temper! The greatest lesson she taught me (without intending to) is that no matter how caustic someone may seem, they are human and can be hurt. She helped teach me empathy, compassion...probably to my detriment. But, I am forever grateful to her for helping me to not judge others. (Straight or gay; republican, democrat, or other; kind hearted or prickly; Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddist, other. We are all people who bleed when cut, experience joy, hurt, frustration, fear; don't always do the right thing when the situation calls for it; etc.)
I am very Blessed for these and everyone else who has taught me many lessons as I pass through this life.
From the stand point of a career educator/staff rep: these two people have given me a wealth of knowledge I use every day in assisting our student customers with their daily life challenges (by employing empathy I cannot seem to shut off) and my internal customers by helping them with system and process ideas that can improve the health of our entire organization.
Life is good.
Expected behavior and academic standards are clearly listed during orienation and individually in each syllabus. Students are given a list of objectives that include affective, psychomotor and behavioral for each lec/lab course. We talk at lenght about what I expect them to accomplish and how we will go about making them happen. Then, I keep reminding them about our goals, and stick to the objectives as much as I can without being insensitive to students' individual needs. Everybody can learn, but maybe not at the same rate, so it is ok to try again,and again until they get it right!
Thank you, Veronica.
What are some specific things you do to set high standards and clear expectations for your students?
My mentor has been the program director of the Medical Lab program I attended. He was friendly without being your friend; he was fair and impartial, and even though his standards of behavior and accademic performance were very high, we always knew what was expected of us. Since I became and educator, I have tried to model the same behaviors that made him my mentor.
Thanks, Thomas. This is a good post!
It is interesting to read all the mentor stories your peers sharewith others taking this class.
What are some of the specific things he did when he "took you under his wing?"
I had a mentor named Kenny from Cincinnati, OH. Kenny taught me a lot of things when I first started in the industry. Kenny lived a wild and reckless life in his early years but had a religous awakening that forever changed his views. He was a pretty straight arrow after that and did what he could to help people instead of being self-serving. I dont know exactly what had happened to him, but I am thankful that it did. He took me under his wing when I was new in the industry and showed me a lot of little things that helped me to be successful in this industry. Now, I do my part to emulate Kenny and mentor the new kids entering the industry. I do my best to show them the things that I was taught that helped me along the way. In essence, I owe a debt to those that laid the ground work before me, and mentoring is how I pay it back.
Thank you, Louis. Great post!
My mentor came into my life when I was 13 years old.
I started working for him, part time after school and on weekends and full time in the summer. He owned the corner gas station and automotive repair shop. He was a European trained “Journeyman†automotive repair technician. European trained meant that he spent 7 years in an automotive apprenticeship program before he was even allowed to repair vehicles on his own without his mentor and many, many years after that before he was considered a “Journeyman†and a “master Craftsmanâ€.
He taught me how to repair automobiles, but that was the most insignificant thing he taught me.
First he taught me respect, respect for the tools that I was working with, for without those tools I would not be able perform the tasks necessary to repair the vehicles, I never thought about tools in that way before. He taught me respect for property, for we were working on someone else’s vehicle and needed to treat their vehicles while in our possession like we would like our property treated by someone else if it was in theirs. He taught me respect for our customers, for we were customers to other businesses and how would we want to be respected by them, and let’s not forget to mention without the customer, we have no business.
He taught me patience as I watched his patience with me as he continued my training throughout the years. I watched him with customers as he patiently would let a customer explain his situation and work with that customer to a successful outcome, may times having nothing to do with the issue of the vehicle, you know life gets in the way.
He taught me about self esteem, confidence and pride, to always do what’s right, for that is something that you keep inside and nobody can ever take that away from you.
And last but not least he taught me charity, as he knew that I came from a family that could not afford to send me to college, and worked with myself and my parents to afford my education.
I bring all the above qualities, everyday into my classroom and try to instill them into my students. Slowly I watch as the student’s faces start to shine with the understanding and acceptance of the worth of these qualities.
I mention him during my lectures to my students and use him for an example and hope someday a long time from now they will mention me and what I have instilled in them.
Thanks for sharing this, Craig.
What was it about this person that made his message make such a difference for you? How can you do the same for your students?
Most of us have that moment when we know we've chosen the correct path. Myself it feels like yesterday although it been 35 years. I had that one special educator that was there when it wasn't clear which path to follow. With his help and a few correctly chosen words he was able to enlighten me. From then on I knew this was the career I was ment for. I talk of this often with my classes and let them know I,(We)are here to help and pass on knowledge with our passion to help them succeed. You have to let them know you care.
Thanks, Carrie.
What are some specific things that teachers can do to instill the attitude you describe here into their students?
