Backfire
What if getting involved leads the student in a negative direction? What can happen to the instructor?
As instructors we are not only there to teach subject matter. We also need to mentor students and help prepare them for life. Getting involved does not mean giving advice that we are not qualified to give. Sometimes it's pointing them in the right direction as to who they need to speak to. Sometimes it's as simple as just listening and letting them talk that helps them to find make their own decisions. Standing by and doing nothing while they struggle with life's issues is the worst thing that we could do.
David Strocky
Listening to the students and being proactive with thier concerns is the bigest challenge,while maintaining class control,presenting the information,and reviewing and testing,mentoring,tourtoring,adviseing,counceling,and all in three weeks.
Not enough hours in a day to cover all these bases. About the only thing that would help would be a reasonable amount of time each day to gather your thoughts and process what you have observed so that a student that is at "risk" could be guided to the proper area for help.
I believe it would be up to the instructor to listen to the students problem he is having and then to make a decision if this is something the instructor is capable of being able to help out with or if someone trained in this area would be better suited to help the student....dont jump into something you are not capable of handling....just use your better judgement.
Whilst leading in negative directions can't always be avoided and could lead to repercussions. What goes around usually comes back around to those that would be too quick to judge the long term effect of short term reactions in such circumstances.Keep it honest,keep it true,"What me worry",and don't you!
Ted,
It's time to look within. Something in your planning strategy may have gone awry. It could have been the message or the way it was delivered. Put yourself in the student's shoes...if you were the one with the issue would hearing your words cause you to do the same thing?
but getting them to talk about whats bothering them can put you the instructor in an aquard position when or how do you promote that situation and still be able to stop it and not make the student feel like your blowing them off
Their Is Not Enough Time in A Day While Maintaining Class Control,Presenting the Information,and Reviewing and Testing,Mentoring,Tourtoring,Adviseing,Counceling,in three weeks.
What steps can be taken to solve the time problem? What can you learn from your peers who are getting everything done?
I think that if you try to handle all of their personal problems is what will get you in trouble. I have a student now that is in danger of missing too much time. I talked with him and found that he can't sleep because he is worried about money. He is worried about money because he describes himself as a "scrounger". I talked about the things that he needs to do such as using the schools employment assistance to get a part time job so he won't be worried about money so he can get to sleep so he can concentrate on school so he can get a good career.
I think as long as we are giving the student sound advice/and or direction the it's ultimatly up to the student to make the right decisions for him/her. We have well trained staff on campus to handle the students that have bigger, deeper problems in life.It's been my experience that most of the smaller issues can be dealt with between the instructor and the student.I don't worry about repercussions to myself as long as I can look at myself in the mirror when I go home.
well said, sometimes we can be the one to show a student he/she is not the only one who has been thru this type of situation, and they don't have to feel like they are ant diiferent than the rest of the world.
sometimes just listening to them will help them realize this, and get them going in ht==the right direstions.
I think that you are right. As an instructor he/she should be able to point them to the right person or area to help them get the answer there questions/ problems
Advice is never delivered without risk. If you are "getting involved" with a student's issue, be sure to maintain a caring attitude. Try to understand the issue as thoroughly as possible before leading the student to a good solution.
It's just like being a new manager, as you start out, you do what you think is the correct thing. If not, well, you have learned that lesson and hopefully won't repeat the mistake. As you grow and mature as a teacher, you will point the student in the right direction more and more and even sometimes, where you made a mistake earlier in your career, you are now equipped to handle it properly due to experience. We will all mess up at one time or another.
While mistakes may be inevitable, it seems that we should avoid as many as possible. Are there ways to help new instructors avoid common mistakes? Mentors? Training?
