Barry Westling

Hi Jennifer:
I have found field trips really inspire and motivate in way few other instructional activities can do. Students begin to imagine themselves in the workplace, and come back to class wanting to study more realizing they will soon be working in their chosen career field.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Carmella:
Whe a student is able to imagine a possible goal or realistic future is possble for them, that's such a powerful motivaing force. Few educational activities can motivate quite the way a field trip can.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Jose:
I think you can only leran so much from class and lab. A field trip opens the imagination to all kinds of possibilities. This can help the students motivation in a huge way!

Regards, Barry

Jennifer Toomey

I agree. I find that if you just talk about the subject, the students really dont feel or understand it. When they can see, taste, touch, hear, they really begin to grasp the concept

Carmella Hoover

I have to agree that this experience is of great value since it does provide a real life look into the student's field. I also believe it provides students with an insentive and a vision that may be reachable. Just another reminder of their goals that is inspiring and motivating as well.

Jose Lim

Seeing how it is done in the "real world" is important because sometimes what they see in class is different from what is found out in the professional world.

Barry Westling

Hi Stacey:
You imply that you're not able to have guest speakers or field trips. If that's true, your institution must have some reason for that.

A way to be creative is to have your better graduates come back and speak to your current classes. Recent graduates can bring a type of entusiasm and information about their expectations for work, which can motivate too. As recent graduates, your scholl may not consider them trure "guests".

Regards, Barry

stacey caudill

I wish that there was a way to have field trips a our school because I think that it would be so beneficial to the students. Even having guest speakers come in to speak to the class about what they look for in an employee would be helpful. Part of our job is to not only teach about the hands-on skill needed for the job but also how to behave in the work place. I think hearing from an industry professional about the importance of professional behavior would make more of an impact on the students than when it comes from me.

Barry Westling

Hi Cara:
Field trips and guest speakers can be very motivational for students. Sometimes the students don't have a thorough grasp of the profession they're being traind for and these activities can really opent their eyes to future employment opportunities.

Guest speakers, even recent graduates who've just started working, can provide answers to many questions the students may have wondered about, and thus can be a source of inspiration that can even make some students want to try harder.

Regards, Barry