Career focused education
When presenting new subjects is it better to explain the revelance to the job or stick to the theory?
Jackie,
I think as a result of your explanation to the students you greatly increase the value of what you are sharing with them and why you expect the performance that you do.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Hi, Mossetta,
I teach software applications for office students. So that they can relate what they are learning in class to their future careers, I have them complete assignments similar to what they might expect to do on the job. They write up minutes of a meeting, develop a newsletter, and complete other such activities.
Janet
Thank you Dr. Meers. I believe that if there is a reason for a process, then the students should know why they are required to conduct themselves accordingly. If I can connect with their emotions, then I know I have affected their behaviors and given them an opportunity to feel the process, not just coldly repeat a mechanical operation in a human environment.
Jackie,
I think this is a great way to give them the use of a procedure (Miranda Waiver) along with the reasons for the waiver and how it got to be a part of law enforcement. This is a foundation upon which you can add other components of the law and the students will see why you are teaching what you are. Like the idea of using the "WHY" throughout the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In my process, I show the relevance of the theory and how it applies to the job. In criminal justice I want the students to understand “why†the various procedures and protocols are now being employed in the field. If they understand “why†I believe they will understand how not to be the reason for new procedures or protocols to be established.
As an example; I instruct the students on how to conduct a Miranda Waiver. That is the procedure of the job. But I also want them to understand the theory behind the Miranda decision, why did the Supreme Court wait until the 1960’s to enforce the 14th Amendment Due Process to the states (when the 14th Amendment was passed one hundred years prior?). By having the students understand the theories behind Miranda, they will properly apply it in the field, thus preventing evidence or statements from being disqualified by the court.
Thomas,
I think the more connection you can make to the job in terms of relevancy helps to increase the value of the theory when it is taught. Relevancy increases the ROI for students in relation to the needed effort on their part to be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When presenting new subjects, it is better to explain the relevance of the job as opposed to sticking to the theory because career education students need to understand how the material they are learning relates to the job they're going to be doing.
