Get Your Students Hired
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Teaching Skills and Trades Online --> Why Integrated Learning Matters
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
analysis, reflection, understanding, and application are key tools for integrated learning
I learned that integrative instruction is about designing and mediating instruction that promotes and supports a full process of analysis, reflection, understanding, and application.
The ability of any skilled trades person to effectively apply their expertise is undoubtedly enriched by the integration of critical thinking and problem-solving. Incorporating these abilities into the learning process seems essential and online teaching offers multiple tools to do it.
As an instructor of service skills training, we need to go 1 step further than learn-practice-apply, help students to critically think about why they are doing this...this way? and/or what could happen if a change in the process is made? We will develop more confident students if they can figure out alternates to achieving their outcome or goal.
Our focus should be on having students apply what they are learning in real-life contexts throughout the entire learning process. Integrating practical experience early on, and online learning can play a significant role by offering projects that use various technologies and provide instant feedback.
Utilizing simulation is an essential tool for the hands-on experience that may or may not take place for students during the real-world experience in the training environment.
When learning a new skill is important, mastering the learned skill with the hands on perfects the lesson and skill learned. At the same time promoting critical thinking.
Integrated learning is a vital tool for students to master skills within their trade. I am a culinary arts teacher and we are somewhat limited in virtual training for obvious reasons. However I did take a course where students practiced skills in their home setting and then submitted finished product pictures for visual grading.
integrated learning provides the students with skills that will help them after finishing school on the job and in life situations
Technology provides another platform for trades students to apply what they learn and improve their learning. Utilizing technology and online learning can enhance learning trades and problem solving skills.
Online learning can be customized for each student. This offers a greater level of integrated and connected learning.
Technology and online learning is a upgraded approach to learning trade skills. This adds more value to practical learning, which increases problem solving and critical thinking skills.
Reply to Kathleen Kuznar's post: I have found the ssme. In the Dental Hygiene field, it is critical that students have hands-on training. Along with that it is also critical that they learn to problem solve as each patient is uniquely different. Most of the information can be learned through technology and online learning but it is key to have simulation for safe practice.
It helps to emphasize the importance of the overall curriculum design with how educators are setting up the framework with how learning can be enhanced by building in flexibility to meet the diverse learning needs of the students while working at their own pace. As with words of wisdom from Penn Foster with curriculum design = learning concepts, the practicing those concepts, then applying a working knowledge of those concepts for more active learning :-)
Again, as mentioned before, it really comes down to another tool that they can use in order to cement the skills into their toolbox. Students these days are so used to using technology, VR, and more online avenues that they are more easily able to integrate these items that may seem more familiar to them.
My notes of the process that includes analysis, reflection, understanding and application seem to be a good framework for integrated learning.