Get Your Students Hired
Colette,
This is a very good point. Immediate application really helps with the retention of content. Immediate use of newly acquired knowledge is the saying I learned during my teacher prep days and it has stuck with me over the years. A simple idea that has tremendous application.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Understanding the importance of immediate application as it relates to retention and storing learned information will help me as an instructor. In addition, I can become more consistent with keeping the big picture before my students in order to demonstrate relevance.
Daniel,
This is where self discipline comes in and many students don't want to invest this much time or effort into their career development. They do have to start at the beginning and work up from there. We all did and it got us success. They to have to invest in their future if they want one.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Every person has their own opinion as to what is relevant but if you give the students examples as to how what they are learning will apply to their career they should be able to understand it better. You have to start at the beginning to learn. You can't just jump to the end and expect to know everything.
Vicki,
Good way to share with your students that you are there to help them be successful if they will put forth the needed effort. As the learning leader you get to set the standards for the course and then help your students work to achieve them. A great opportunity for career development and personal growth.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The course content and relevancy are the main focus in my choices of the specific ways I try to meet student needs and expectations in preparation for their career goals. Always try to help in making the pieces fit into the bigger picture. I remind them that I am here to help them to achieve their goals and we will work together to accomplish this. I think review and application are an important part of reinforcing newly acquired knowledge and transference. I admit, I do enjoy their ah ha moments!
Clare,
You hit on all of the key elements of career development. By helping your students to see relevance and application the value of the course content increases greatly. You are making it real for them and helping them to connect their studies to their future. The more this can be done the better because reality is coming their way very quickly and they need to be ready for it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Making content and delivery relevant seems simple while working in the field myself. While addressing the class yesterday, I was emphasizing how the assignment they were given could be used in their current placement setting. I was helping them to see that school is temporary and that they will be my colleagues after this learning process and I love what I do so these are the steps to take, to be able to have this type of career if you want it. That is a key factor! The sutdents need to want to learn and by helping them see how relevant this education is, they can better decide if this is really a career they want.
Jacqueline,
This is a high stakes form of education because the students are preparing to enter their career area. Each and every class has a specific part to play in their total career development. They need to see the value associated with each class and each project.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Teaching in a career college as I do makes all courses relevant. Students are given specific classes to help them attain their degree with no muss no fuss. To help the students see the relevance of what we are teaching them we use projects, papers, & actual hands on practicals.
Joyce,
Right you are and this is why at times it is good to stop and do a fun review so the students can see how much they have learned. I generally do this via a game like Jeopardy with prizes such as candy. This gets everyone involved and they soon realize they have really learned a lot and even more surprising they remember it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree with the comfort zone. The students learn and many times do not realize how much they are learning.
Brady,
I like and use this approach a lot in my classes for the reasons you list. These methods helps the students to see the relevancy of the content as well as the applications that can be made. This is a win win situation for everyone when completed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
One of the best ways is to show them how what they are learning has an impact. This might be a basic case study, with an exercise with a similar scenario for them to perform after they have learned the material. Field trips to an area or site that pertains to what they are learning, with an assignment to report what they saw and how it interacted with what they learned, etc.
Maria,
This is so important if you are going to keep the students engaged. They need to see the value in the content being shared so they know they are receiving relevant content that can and will be used upon graduation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Everything I cover in class is relevant to what the students can expect once they graduate. An understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the body and disease process is beneficial to their learning and application once they start their internships.
Kathy,
Sounds like a most rewarding time for your students. Reading the transcripts and hearing you explain how it all works increases the motivation of the students. They start to see themselves in court taking transcripts and this is a vision we want to expand as the students move through their courses.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Robert,
By helping them see the sequence and segments of the course you are showing them how they will progress in both their knowledge and skill development. This is very important in keeping them engaged for the duration of their program.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Saroj,
This is an important part of being a learning leader. What are some of the strategies you use to keep your students on topic?
Thanks for your input on this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Joe,
Way to increase the value of the course for the students. Also, by doing so you are easy the transition process for the students as they will learn in the classroom/lab what their workplace will be like.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.