School and college are a huge part of student’s lives as they spend most of their time there. On average, students spend 6 hours every day, for 5 days a week, in school or college. Students are mostly shaped by their experiences in these academic institutions, and teachers play a huge part in it. The impact of teachers is quite huge on students, particularly those who hold them to high standards. Research indicates that teachers who hold their students to high standards can significantly influence how a student performs academically. These expectations shape their classroom performances, feedback quality, and overall interactions. This article will explore how teachers’ expectations affect students’ performance and achievements.
What Are Teachers’ Expectations Exactly?
The term “teacher expectation” describes a variety of attitudes and presumptions that teachers have about their pupils’ academic aptitude and success potential. These expectations can be either explicit or implicit and also influence how teachers interact with their students, assign tasks, and deliver feedback. These expectations are mostly influenced by their class interactions, academic records, socio-economic background, and behavioral tendencies. Teachers are more likely to provide support, challenge, and encouragement when they expect great performance from their pupils, which leads to improved academic outcomes. Similarly, low expectations lead to a prophecy being fulfilled as students internalise negative thoughts about themselves and start believing they can’t achieve anything.
The Pygmalion Effect On Education
The Pygmalion Effect is a psychological term that describes how positive and negative expectations can hurt an individual’s performance. In education, it refers to a phenomenon where high expectations of a teacher result in improved performance of students, as students rise to the expectations placed on them by their teachers. This idea is based on Rosenthal and Jacobson’s research conducted in 1968. These studies showed that a teacher’s expectation about a student’s intellect influenced the student into actually presenting academic evidence to back their expectations. This effect highlights the power of teachers’ perceptions in influencing great outcomes. When expectations are high, teachers often provide more support, attention, and encouragement. Ultimately, this leads to better academic results and boosts students’ confidence & motivation. Expectations work outside of the classroom as well, whether it’s in an office setting or working on a project. For example, if your teacher appreciates your initial draft before it is submitted, you will pay more attention to thesis editing to make it even better. Having positive expectations can change the entire direction of achieving success in that particular task.
The Influence Mechanism
Teachers influence students through expectations with various techniques or frameworks. One of the most widely used frameworks is through giving high-quality instructions. Students who are expected to perform well often receive difficult tasks, detailed feedback, and greater encouragement. These students are also given more time and attention to complete the given task with better focus and quality.
Moreover, nonverbal cues such as tone, gestures, and eye contact also help to communicate expectations and how students feel about themselves. When students believe in themselves and their abilities, their motivation and engagement increase. Additionally, if students are subjected to low expectations, they are drawn towards demotivation, discouragement, and being disengaged from learning.
Student’s Self-perception and Motivation
One of the most critical effects expectations have on students is the way they perceive themselves. When educators believe in students’ potential and capabilities, they slowly start seeing themselves from their perspective. This is instilled in students through the way educators communicate beliefs and through verbal praise, encouragement, and supportive behavior. This leads students to develop motivation, resilience, and willingness to complete challenges that seem tough. Over time, students internalize these expectations and see themselves as capable and successful learners. In contrast, if teachers show low expectations for a student or a lack of belief, this leads the student to believe in it and develop low self-esteem. This is very harmful for students who have a disadvantage or are from a small background, as they already face various barriers to getting to the place they want. Recognizing the power of expectation is crucial, especially when tutoring or mentoring a student.
Concerns about Equality and Disparate Treatment
Teachers setting expectations based on race, skin color, or financial background could be a serious concern in the classroom. Research shows that unconscious bias from teachers leads to low expectations for students from ethnic minorities or lower socio-economic backgrounds. These biased expectations can switch the teacher’s behavior towards the students as they don’t interact with them properly, give them less challenging work, and provide them with limited feedback on their overall class performance.
For example, a teacher has low expectations of students who are from a low-income family that they will have lower academic performance. Moreover, in the UK, students who are from a minority have always faced lower expectations from their teachers. There is also gender bias, as boys are often underestimated when it comes to getting good grades, while girls are perceived as someone who always has a record of high academic performance.
Strategies for Raising Expectations
There should be professional programs for teachers that specifically target one area, and that is their expectations for students. They should be taught proper techniques on how to evaluate their expectations. They should be programmed to be aware of their implicit biases and should be taught to counteract them. Formative assessment techniques can be used by teachers to properly gauge students’ potential without relying on preconceived notions. Teachers should also practice reflecting on their teaching, as they should analyze their own interaction with the students to ensure fair treatment of students. Strong relationships with students can also help break down stereotypes and foster a culture of high expectations. However, in various other parts of a student’s life, you’ll find expectations ranging from getting good grades to expecting to find a decent Custom Thesis Writing Help in Canada service to finally completing that thesis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What tools can teachers use to identify their implicit bias?
Teachers can use tools such as implicit bias tests or reflective journaling of their teaching to identify their bias.
- Can a student’s expectations of their teacher impact their learning outcome?
Yes, it can, as students who believe their teachers are competent and fair are more likely to be engaged and perform better.
- How can students manage high expectations?
Students can develop systems to ensure that they reach their goals, practice time management, and seek support from teachers.
Conclusion
Teachers’ expectations are a powerful factor in shaping a student’s achievement, yet they are often under-acknowledged. If harnessed positively, this can inspire students to exceed their own expectations and achieve things they thought were unachievable. However, if teachers have a bias towards children, it could negatively impact a student’s performance. It is, therefore, essential for educators to take a balanced approach when it comes to teaching and setting expectations for students.
