INSTRUCTORS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Students pay their college for the education they receive. Instructors are paid by the college to educate students. Overall, the instructor's role is not only affecting the student who paid for the education, but also changes the entire environment around the student's personal and professional lives by shaping them into a better person who is more educated and presenting them to society and their family. This in the end builds a better reputation for the college to encourage more people to become educated and gain a career.
Roger,
There are some studies that indicate the amount and quality of time students spend with instructors outside of the classroom is a key to persistence.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Instructors can have a big effect on retention, as stated on an earlier reply; students spend more time with the students than any department. So we need to be a good example of modeling, mentoring, and monitoring. As we hear of different results of surveys being done buy past and present student’s one common answer or factor we hear are how much the instructors made a difference between succeeding or not.
I am a full-time Student Services Coordinator, part-time instructor. The students educational experience is directly reflected by those who teach. Admissions sells the experience and Instructors make the eperience. Students will recommend the Institution based on their experience in the classroom, not their admissions interview. Instructors should be provided more praise than they receive. They have to work hard - teaching too many hours, being responsible for customer satisfaction at all times, help w/ retention, grading, prepping, etc.
Thanks, Darrell.
When you have a class full of students like the second type you described, what are some specific things you do to help them form new HABEs that will help them get to where they need to be to be a good representative of your institution in the workplace?
sometimes it feels like a doble edge sword, I have students you are happy with my instruction and with the class, they see i lead by example and show them how it should be done (service manual) and how it can be done (tricks of the trade)
then on the otherside, I have the students who feel that they can do no wrong and thus have learned way's of doing things (or not doing things) that can lead to product damage or injury and when called on it, they play the victim, as their instuctor, i have to re-teach them on their skills and attitude, and why, if they are to successfull, in the industry that we are in, you are only as good as your last job.
Good comment, Carol. Your students are fortunate to have teachers like you helping them to reach their goals. Sometimes a smile and a kind word are just as important as a great lesson plan.
Being there for your students is key in my opinion. Having a coach you know is there to lend a smile, be concerned, and encourage you along the way may be all a student needs to be the best they can be. I love helping my students realize their dreams, goals, and mission in life.
Well said! If the student is not happy with the instructor, they are not happy with the class. If they are not happy with the class, they are not happy with the college. If they are not happy with the college, well...then we haven't done our job. It rolls downhill, so to speak. Our job is to make sure that they stay in school, that they get the degree that they came for. It's not the student's job to make sure they stay. It's the instructor's job. The student will stay if they are happy. We make them happy by giving the student good grades. The student gets good grades by doing well on their assignments. The student does well on their assignments by learning the material. The student learns the material because *we* teach them! That is *our* job! that's *great* customer service!
I feel that the instructor has a great impact on the student. We are with them six hours of their day. I like to teach by example, so I keep a smile and act accordingly. The student that has a hard time understanding I will act upon some tutoring and some extra lab time one on one.
we as instructors dont just teach the task,we should pay attention to the students ability,work with them to show that they can do it,stop if they are frustraited and walk them through the problem so that they find the answer on their own. you dont give the answer,then they smile and feel good about them selfs.
Very good summary. Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding professions. Oftentimes it is the most difficult job as well. We impact the lives of our students beyond the classroom; it is a subtle byproduct of being an educator.
We show up every day and impart knowledge on our students; this is what we get paid to do. Our students show up every day with the expectation that the money they have invested will provide a pathway to a better life not just for them, but their families and ultimately their communities as well. In essence we are part of a larger cycle.
Every college is built around the hard work and success of the students enrolled and the faculty employed. The reality is that every student is a direct reflection of their instructors investment and will build the reputation of the institution without any direct effort.
This is most evident when attending graduation ceremonies and family members describe the change they have seen in the gradutate and in the careers we help our students gain.
