Classroom Management
What do you think the similarities and differences are between managing a successful business and managing a successful class? Is success measured the same for both?
Steve--
Great question. In many ways, they are very similar. Successful businesses are also learning laboratories where processes and knowledge and continually refined for maximium effectiveness. We need to continually learn.
Classrooms should also be learning laboratories for the same purposes. The leader/manager and the teacher both need to facilitate that process.
Susan
Most definately! Having similiar structures and organization will allow the students to rely on set forth rules and guidelines. Having these set forth will allow them to succeed. This is true to an Employee as well as a Student.
Similarities include structure and organization. Having everthing planned out so the class run as efficient as possible. Differences include adjust class structure to optimize learning.
I tnink there is a close paralell between class and business management. I mention to my class to think of there earned score as a paycheck and any class rules as the same as would be found in a company handbook. I also explain to them that if they are not here, they will not get paid for that day. Also tasks must be completed in a timely manner just as you would in the field.It seems to help them understand that in order to be successful you must apply yourself both in school and in the workplace.
I think that there is a very close parallel between the class enviroment and business enviroment. I have had my own business and I fall back on that experience and apply it to my class room course enviroment. I let my class know that we will be running the course in a Shop enviromental way so to give them a touch of what it will be like in their chosen endevor. I work hard to get them to understand that a test question are just like working on someones vehicle, its a test to fix the vehicle right the first time, on time, and with the cost extimate. I explain that all tasks must be completed in a timely manner just as you would have to do in the shop enviroment. It seems to help them understand that in order to be successful they must apply themselves both in classroom school enviroment and in the workplace shop enviroment.
Both of these need a qualified manager, a competent worker base and a marketable product. In class the success can be measured in student numbers, grades, retention, and job placement opportunities(actual jobs). Like a business, the class benefits from their efforts: better knowledge, better skill development, professionalism, and upon completion better pay opportunities. Success means competent teaching, correct lab activities, and effective evaluation tools. Just like business, school takes hard work, commitment, and perseverance.(Passion and a Dream!).
Dont know about a business but,classroom you must be able to manage.They count on your experience and knowledge to get them through the course and out in the field were they have to apply it in order to be suscessfull.
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.
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.
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 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.
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
Steven--
Very great analogies. Of course, in business there is also an element of educating the customers at times.
Susan
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
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.
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 think so in either circumstance you need to be as real as possible.
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
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
