Opening students eyes
I believe it is important to relate course work to real world experiences. I have learned over the years, students often have a hard time understanding how course work relates to their future career. I make it a point to connect those dots for them.
Ashley,
This is a powerful point to get across to students. They need to see the value of the content in relation to their future. The more connections you can help them make the more ROI they will get from the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I completely agree especially since I teach a course in the medical field. It is imperative for me to be able to explain to them why and how the course work translates over into the field.
Courtney,
This connection is essential. Without such a connection the students will not see an ROI for the course nor their tuition.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
One of my first lecture is a short but realistic eye opener about what is needed to be successful in this industry, and I encourage my students to do stages as soon as possible, and as many as they can do.
Walter,
This is a good approach as it gives them a reality check in terms of why you are teaching what you are teaching and how they are going to use what they are learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Reminding students about how the information being presented will relate to them is important in keeping them focused. Also sharing real life experience and stories related to the topic will help them understand how they will be using the information in the real world.
Wendi,
By sharing these real life experiences you are helping students to see relevance and application of content. In addition, these stories increase the excitement factor for the students since they enjoy hearing examples from their field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I can remember not understanding how course material related to my career path. I have found that the hands on application when combined with course academics is the best way to enhance the learning experience.
Karl,
The more senses you can involve in the learning process the better. When you blend cognitive processing with tactile applications you have a winning formula for learning. Good strategy to follow and I wish you continued success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
An example of showing the relevance of what your teaching the students is when you explain why it is important to follow the procedures (know the proper procedures)BEFORE you start trying short cuts in the job. Some technicians in the field don't know the proper way to do a task because they only learned the short cuts so if the procedures change they are lost.
TC,
I think this is a point that needs to be driven home to students. Shortcuts are fine but they can only be used when the "long cut" or the foundational approach is understood and internalized to the point that the students see the big picture of a procedure and then can work from there.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I always review lab time with students are relate real world experiences to them to help them learn skills in patient management
Currently teaching in the health care field and having long experiences in the field, I am focused on teaching skills the correct way. I've not mentioned short-cuts, but will mention other equipment they may see in practice. I do try to give real-life examples of theoretical content and skills training to help the students better understand why they need to learn the content and how it can serve as a foundation.
Pamela,
Your approach is sound since it is educating them in the general aspects of the field. As they grow in both knowledge and competence they can then learn about short cuts and other aspects of the field that becomes common knowledge once a person has acquired sound fundamentals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sometimes it seems that student may want too many shortcuts, but if we are going to produce a quality work force we have to keep certain practices old schooll
