Patricia Scales

Hello George,
What other ways do you feel would be better to discuss this acronymn with students? It is extremely important for students to fully understand what is in the educational process (courses, internships, externships, labs, clinicals, etc) for them.
Patricia

Eric Feltman CHEP

What I do for my students is to give them real world situations from past experiences, either mine or a co-worker. I can explain the relevance of what they are learning and how it will help them in the working world. In our field, it all boils down to making money and if you only learn half way, you only make half of what you have the potential to make. Trying to find a senario based on their interests really helps to drive the point home. Most of the time, the students don't even know you are using it as a metaphor.

Patricia Scales

Hi Eric,
Students enjoy hearing about all the practical experiences. There is nothing like real world experiences.
Patricia

Craig Smith

Thank You, I agree that real world experience is an important element in teaching. Wouldn't it be nice if all our students could learn from our good and bad experiences. Sometimes, that hard to reach student might jump on your coat-tail and start applying themselves when some real life motivation is put forward. ( MONEY ) I find relating my experiences with what they may be able to obtain in the field is a motivator.

Patricia Scales

Hi Craig,
I teach a professional development course. I cover salaries based on one's major in this course, and believe me students are on your tonsils whenever you bring up the topic MONEY. The students are so excited and eager to hear about what their potential salary can be.
Patricia

Ronald Parker CHEP

This may be one of our biggest challenges. When I see a student that is not getting the reason they are spending so much time without actually getting something for that time it is frustrarting. I try to find some aspect of the course that sets off there curiosity. I have found that unfocused can have alot of meanings sometimes the student may feel overwelmed by possiblly the subject or other students that may distract or make them feel uncomfortable with asking questions. I would like any and all suggestions on helping with the unfoscused students.

Patricia Scales

Hi Ronald,
You must show the unfocused student that you really and truly care about him/her as a person, and you want to see he/she succeed. Also, make a connection with the sudent so that rapport building takes place, and the student trusts you. Once the student feels as though you are on his/her side, you've won, and the student will at least try because he/she doesn't want to disappoint you.
Patricia

Tina Luebbehusen

I have a hard time finding real world experience with my subject area-- American Literature. Though reading and writing are a part of our everyday lives-- most students can't see reading The Scarlet Letter as a real world experience. Though I can bring up everday siutations where the same situations occur-- students just don't see relevance in reading a piece of literature that is difficult. They will spend hours pouring over Sparknotes-- but they refuse to spend five minutes with the actual text.

I would love to hear any suggestions or ways that others deal with this issue. I don't see why everything has to be a real world experience. Why can't we just take a moment to learn about American Literature?

Thanks,
Tina

Patricia Scales

Hi Tina,
My suggestion to you is to let the students know that you are going to take some time to teach them about American Literatue. Some courses are really tough to relate to real world experience, such as literature, history, social studies, etc. You will have some students that are interested, others will not be interested. Continue to teach with all your might!
Patricia