Showing relevancy is important, the best way I found is to use real work examples such as patient care scenarios. In addition I show how each course the students learn work as building blocks and often refer back to something the students learned in an earlier course and how the new information they are learning fits in to help them understand the relevancy of all that they have learned so far.
Hi Dareen,
I love guest speakers they add flavor to the course, and they make book theory come to real life.
Patricia Scales
Hi Yvonne,
Scenarios are great for helping prepare students for the real world. Students understand the relevancy of a course through the use of scenarios.
Patricia Scales
Storytelling has long been a tool used in education. I find that when I tell stories of real life experiences,it captivates adult students because many of them can relate to the story. Relating to the story serves as validation that they are understanding the relevance of the course material. Oftentimes it serves as the "ah hah" moment. Many students have provided feedback that the story helped them understand course content because they too have experienced the same life experience. It's so gratifying.
Hi Pauletta,
Even adult students love storytelling. Most students can really follow a story, and they enjoy it.
Patricia Scales
Discussing real life situations that are encountered in a career work environment. Pointing out unique problems and how the are resolved and or how they are detrimental to clients, I believe, showcases why they would want to be the 'expert on hand'. Places a real life goal for the students achievement.
Highlighting reproducible customer satisfaction should be another demonstration of why we take on a particular career field.
Discussing a 'day in the life of' also demonstrates what a possible 'normal' working day would be like should also be encouraging.
Some of the ways I show students relevancy is to ask the students why do they think they need to know the information/procedure presented, and then let the class discuss the reasons. I then include real career related scenarios and videos. I try to keep them focused on the bigger picture - working in the field. Guest speakers are a great contribution to the class.
Hi Larry,
When students can tie what they are learning into their career, they understand the relevancy. Students need to know how things are going to be in the workplace.
Patricia Scales
Hi Georgina,
Students need to keep their eyes on the prize, the big picture. Students become more interested in the course when they understand the benefit.
Patricia Scales
Show real world examples of pertinent content to the course as well as skills and knowledge that will develop the students abilities for the positive job and life development.
I think it is especially important in a career college to always relate the academic material back to the real world application.Students want to understand why it is they are learning what we are teaching. If we can show them how they will use the information versus just saying "know this", they will be more invested and learn the information, rather than jsut memorize it.
Hi Kim,
Real world examples hit home with students. They want to kow how things are in the real world.
Patricia Scales
I am a new instructor, but some of the ways that I plan to do this is with a lot of hands-on learning. I plan on inviting guest speakers, taking field trips, coordinating lab exercises with lectures, and role playing.
I can show relevancy of course content by sharing personal experiences, displaying tools of the trade, and bringing in guest speakers who work in the career field the student has chosen explaining the way the classes are taught, the measurements of success, and the resources available I can help them realize that they can achieve success.
I teach Medical Assistant students. At the beginning of the first class, I like to discuss with them why the upcoming information is important to them and how they will be able to use it in the field. I enjoy giving them examples, but also using analogies to better understand the material.
Hi Kathleen,
I agree! Adult learners want to and need to know how they are going to benefit from the material. When students understand the benefit of the material, they have more of an interest in learning.
Patricia Scales
Hi Jennifer,
Students love us sharing examples and stories with them as to how they apply to the real world. Students really want to and need to know how things are in the real world.
Patricia Scales
I find examples of work from previous classes, what others in the field have accomplished through examples of their work. I also like to make any reading assignments relevant to the real world so the student will want to read the material. I think some student think you are making them read just because there is a book for the class.
In order to show relevancy of the course content it is important to connect the information taught to the career. This can be done by telling stories and using examples from on the job experience. It can also be done by using guest speakers and/or videos.
For example, for the Victimology course I am currently teaching, I invited a guest speaker to talk about her story as a domestic violence survivor. The class then was asked to write a short essay connecting the theories of domestic violence "cycle of violence" to her story.
Hi Jodie,
Guest speakers really do add a lot of validity to the course. I love how you have the students do an assignment based on the presentation as to how it relates to book theory.
Patricia Scales
