Mindy,
Sounds like a plan. My goal (and hope) is all my students recognize they need to be ready to help their employer in their larger mission. And the way to that involves knowledge and skills, professionalism, critical thinking, and courtesy. These traits, along with flexibility to adapt to changes in the workplace will assure a greater chance for long term employment.
Barry Westling
The goal to educating my students is to give them guidance and direction in order for them to obtain a successful career. Teaching them team work, communication and a developmental trade is key to their achievement.
Zbigniew,
Yes, certainly, skills and knowledge. I like to add critical thinking, professionalism, and communication. Individuals with these traits are usually the ones that retain employment and remain in their jobs longer.
Barry Westling
To prepare and equip student for a career. Students will need to develop adaptation to new knowledge in other areas of field they picked.
Dona,
For me, I want my students to be able to seamlessly transition from student to worker, and that happens, I feel I have achieved success in my goal.
Barry Westling
My goal for educating students is to give them a true understanding of the curriculum presented. I try to get them to "Know" the material, not just slide through it. I use many different ways to "teach" the students including hands-on instruction and various forms of media: models, play-doh, cookie decorating, games, power points etc. I also use demonstration and practice in the classroom.
Daniel,
Great. I maintain that knowledge without an application serves only to entertain. Therefore, getting students educated to the level where they can perform independently and solve problems in the workplace is among our highest expectations for our students.
Barry Westling
As an automotive tech instructor, my ultimate goal is to see a student learn the basics about a car, then apply different ways of "thinking outside of the box" in regards to problem solving. Since car problems do not always manifest themselves in a textbook manner, I love to see my students fix problems that are out of the ordinary.
Lilia,
Yes, and tucked into that definition of "knowledge", should include critical thinking skills, communication (written and verbal), and professionalism. These traits are needed for long term successfulness in the work setting.
Barry Westling
The goal of educating the students is providing them with the fundamental knowledge to become successful practitioners.
Brian,
The so called "soft skills" you list are every much as important as the knowlege and skills required for the technical aspects of the course. We want our students to be prepared in all ways so that their employers recognize the value of what the graduate possesses, and confirms they made a good hiring decision.
Barry Westling
My goal for educating student is get them ready for the demanding world call the work force. My purpose give them not only the technical skill foundation; they need the learned the important skills of being a good student. This includes being on time to class, following instructions, and be able to communicate. These qualities are what employers seek. I bring into my real world experiences and the experience of my guest speakers to help students with this process. I try to design project incorporate these principles into the assignments.
Shawnte,
Yes, and of course we want to ensure they receive the skills and knowledge needed for successful work setting jobs. Good behaviors, critical thinking, and professionalism would also be appropriate goals.
Barry Westling
Jeffrey,
I would agree that if we could achieve that for every graduate, we would be meeting our goal. The real benefit of a good education is some application in the graduates life that benefits them. Hopefully, we can meet these goals for most every student.
Barry Westling
The goal of educating the students is to remember thst they are your first priority and they matter the most.
To send them out into the working world with the skill set and knowledge base to take what comes their way and apply the methods from school for a beneficial outcome.
Christopher,
Very well said. Of course in career training, specialized skills and knowledge along with appropriate behaviors are needed to be successful in the work setting. It's awesome when all these factors come together for a student in an educational program.
Barry Westling
I believe the goal of educating students is to help open the door to learning - we tear down the walls that confine our students and then show them a new world of knowledge, then pointing the into a direction of continued personal development. As individuals if we are not aware of what is "out there" we will say in our own little world. When we get a glimpse of what is possible, then we have the opportunity to learn more about our world and ourselves.
Christopher,
Yep! "Adaptable skills" is a great term to describe the capabilities a graduate will need for success in the work setting. For me, I include communication, writing, professionalism, attendance and punctuality, and appropriate speech and common courtesies associated with a given career area. These, in addition to content knowledge and related skills will usually prepare the graduate well.
Barry Westling
To provide them with the ability to attain adaptable skills and habits that will translate into a well-trained employee in their chosen fields.
