Posts in March 2022

Appreciative Interactions Can Bring Out the Best in Students

March 17, 20220

When you're assigned an online class, what is your mindset, as to the responsibilities you've been tasked with completing? Do you have a particular checklist ready to use in preparation for your duties? Is there anything you do to mentally prepare for the start of the class? Do you think about how you'll interact with your students?

Based upon my experience, there are two commonly held views by online instructors. One is to approach your instructional role as a series of tasks to complete, a class to manage, and students to address in a fairly routine manner. The other is to view this role from the perspective of being an educator, mentor, coach, and someone who can make a direct contribution to the development of your students. Most instructors develop a standard working...

How to Respond to Disrespectful Students With Care

Respond to Disrespectful Students with Appreciation and Care

March 11, 20220

What do you expect of your students, as to an expectation of respect for you and your position as their instructor?

From my experience, whenever you teach a class with adult students, there is an expectation these students will maintain a basic level of respect for you as their instructor. It's a mutual process, with the instructor reciprocating back to their students that same basic level of respect. I've not had to think about this topic until recently, when I've observed a trend with many online students no longer holding respect for their instructors.

What I'm noticing is some online students feeling empowered to speak in any manner they see fit, without regard for the school's Student Code of Conduct. Worse yet, a student who speaks with a lack of respect can also...

How You Can Think Your Way to Success

March 11, 20220

There is so much written about success that it hardly seems possible someone could contribute another new idea about this topic. Yet as a mindset coach, I want you to realize the power of potential you hold every day, just by the thoughts you are thinking. I'm not advocating a ten-step program that involves buying into a philosophy or some radical new style of thinking about success. I want to remind you there is one element you have available right now, which can determine how successful today, tomorrow, and your future will be; and it's the power of your thoughts.

Whether or not you've taken time to consider this fully, it's your thoughts that control or dictate your life. Your thoughts project to you the essence of an inner voice, a powerful source that can be reasonable,...