bringing in the real world
I find that giving the students actual cases to correlate the new information with helps a ton. Plus they love to hear the stories as well, they listen with excitement hoping to someday experience these cases.
Hi Yuliya:
This is especially important for career oriented course work. Often times, describing what the student will encounter in the real world based on the concepts you are describing can drive home understanding of that concept.
Regards, Barry
Students show interest in real life stories because they can picture themself in the future. They want to be succefful.
I agree. It takes time to learn. I try to tell my students that they will be successful if they take time to learn and work hard. I try to set a positive learning environment and provide as much support as I can.
Hi Holly:
I think students like stories and situtaions taht deal with work. Stuedents remember these messages, maybe becacause they can relate to them or they're just fun to listen to. I don't know, but I know they're worhwhile and effective.
Regards, Barry
I have found that describing experiences that have happened to me, or others, strengthens my students appreciation of what their chosen career is all about. It gives them a working knowledge of things to strive for or avoid. It lets them know that we are all human, prone to mistakes and how to learn from the mishaps of others. Or excitement to experience things for themselves.
Hi John:
Great! I think one of the bet ways to capture students attentio is by bringing real world examples into the discussion.
Regards, Barry
I still work in the area that I teach. Some days I share what has happened that day just to let them know what they are getting into. Some days are very busy-challenging, some a delight. The students always have lots of questions as to why some days are different than others.
Hi Melanie:
Honesty and genuine sincerity is almost always appreciated - it seems it's sort of taboo to discuss our past errors, or maybe just pride.
Nonetheless, when students here our stories, work situations, mistakes, or near misses - thing like that, they can usually realte to some degree, and if we can get them to bite, "gotcha!" We've captured their attention, and they're going to remember something from that experience.
Regards, Barry
Hi Randy:
The good thing about stories is that usually they're interesting, are related to the field of study, and amaziningly, they're memorable! Students will remember a story told, but forget essential points of a lesson!
What's cool too, is it gets the students tinking. Anytime a teacher can achieve that, it's a good thing. You've touced on that in your post, and I think you've got a good plan in motion.
Regards, Barry
Hi Kathleen:
Good point. Really, every thing is kind of abstract until there is a practical application and a real world experience that accompanies it.
Regards, Barry
I think it's important to bring in examples of the real world because it shows how they may be applying what they are learning. In nursing you can teach a concept, but when an example is given of an actual patient, they can visualize it.
I believe bringing in the eeal world experience from our end shows the students that it takes time to learn. Sometimes they want to catch up to us so fast, that they don't realize they have to make mistakes in order to learn from them. Sharing the mistakes we have made shows them that were human and we make mistakes as well. I remember being a student and I like hearing that from my instructors, I knew there was hope!
Melanie
I love to tell the students "real world" stories. I usually make a point at least once a week to tell them something about the field that they are studing in. The love to hear some stories. I work in I.T. and teach in the I.T. environment, so when I bring in real world stories, they know what they are getting themselves into. Instead of just talking about it, I have about 6 lab systems that I like to break (typical end user problems) and try and have the students work out what the problem is and the resolution. Some times it may take them a while until the fix the problem, but I really don't mind, and usually it falls under the K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple stupid) problem, like the monitor is unplugged, or the keyboard and mouse are plugged into the wrong PS2 port. So instead of just telling them about the real world, I try and bring it into the lab environment as well.
Hey Bruce, Nice example. Real world activities and approaches can only be helpful since that's pretty much where all roads arfe leading.
Regards, Barry
Jessica, real world experience and the examples and stories of such are always intriguing. I always stress practical application in the kitchen. I continually stress to my students how you have to be able to apply what ever your theorizing(studying in text)about. I continue throughout each semester driving this statement into their heads! I think it's imperative to share real world, on the job, stories with the students on a regular basis, to help them establish a real picture of our field. They need to hear the stressful, down in it deep stories, and how you pulled the sinking Titanic up or how you sank! This gives them gives valuable insight of the do's and don't in the industry, and also sheds light on how to recover from a sunken ship.
Hi Karen:
I think any discussion that includes personal stories, anecdotes, real cases, work examples, etc., will always make for a more interesting class. If show our "human side", I agree that helps build a bridge to connect with students more openly and honestly, which they should appreciate.
Regards, Barry
When giving demonstrations, I ask for students input and offer an experience to share, including my own. This encourages discussion on their part but also showing the instructor as being human.
Hi Jessica:
You're right. When students can relate to the real world or examples from their past, they associate those past memories and match it up with the new imformation you're providing.
Regards, Barry
