He views his technique as a harmless yet effective way of teaching this valuable lesson. Students complain that they do not understand what is going on. In a meeting with the department chair, Reach strongly defended her teaching approach as the appropriate way to give the excellent students the edge they need to compete in today's marketplace. However, because fairness is a perception based on interpretations of behavior rather than on intentions, many instructors may inadvertently engage in what students perceive to be unfair behavior. Each section contains tips for teachers on how to be fair and ethical, and thus avoid as many classroom problems as possible.
Students expect an instructor to treat everyone in the class equally.
Few professors intentionally favor certain students over others, but it is probably impossible not to like some students more than others. Differences in liking may foster differences in interactions, such as allowing certain students to dominate discussions. Even subtle differences in how students are treated may lead to perceptions of partiality where none exists. Instructors should carefully monitor their behavior to avoid giving the impression of partiality. Respect involves treating students politely.