Using DISC to Build Confident Students

Some educators might be leery about using behavioral or personality assessments with their students, and rightfully so. In truth, many of these types of assessments were created with the intention of finding out what’s "wrong" with a student. Their resulting reports can have an adverse, negative impact by changing the way teachers, staff and guardians view the student, and ultimately changing the way the student may see themselves. When you start out looking for something wrong, you’re very likely to find it. There has to be a better way to assess students.

A More Positive Approach

PeopleKeys has developed a battery of behavioral assessments, called StudentKeys. These cognitive, perceptual and behavioral assessments are specifically designed to identify the positive characteristics of a student. Based on the DISC method of behavioral analysis, the StudentKeys personality assessment measure normal, observable behavior and communication tendencies. This departure from the typical mindset, underpinning most assessments, is one reason StudentKeys is gaining popularity with many secondary and post-secondary schools.

Inherent Worth

One reason you may have chosen to become an educator is a belief that every student has inherent worth. Using a behavioral or personality assessment that affirms this belief and provides a valid and reliable assessment without “tearing down” a student by pointing out possible deviations from arbitrary norms can be an invaluable tool for building confidence, improving communication, and gaining a deeper behavioral understanding of your students.

See More Clearly

While it’s important to help your students grow in their strengths, it’s just as important to help them work on their limitations and build their inner confidence as they overcome them. What may come easy to one student may be difficult for another. A student’s classroom behavior and communication style can have a direct impact on how teachers and classmates view them. Knowing how observable behavior is connected to one’s DISC style can open new doors of understanding. Identifying the unique characteristics of a student is key to developing confident students. Over time, if an educator fails to recognize a student’s limitations or acknowledge their strengths, a student can make the mistake of measuring their progress by comparing themselves to someone else.

Knowledge Is Power

Many educators rely on their instincts and experience to know how to instill confidence in their students. However, learning the theory behind your students’ behavior will help you be more effective and empower you to interact with them in ways they will positively respond to. Knowing which child responds positively to competition, pressure and challenges, and which child prefers positive reinforcement or needs more time to adjust, can help you to be a more effective educator as well as have more control over classroom behavior.

Answers at Your Fingertips

Take advantage of online continuing education courses that allow you to quickly and easily learn more about the behavioral styles of students. Small investments in furthering your education now can have big pay offs down the road, for you and your students.

Get DISC certified with PeopleKeys’ Certified Behavioral Consultant course and also gain 3 CEU’s, accredited by IACET, to use toward your licensure.