I love to use visual examples as well as verbal to enhance memory. Recall may be stronger for those who are very visual.
I often use relife examples to sometime enhance the subject matter. The students sometime need to
know that the material they are learning can be relevant in their studies. Which sometimes help in getting a better understanding of the information
It provide concrete tangible examples that students can relate from their personal life experience. It give them cues to remember a specific course content.
It links prior experience and background knowledge to new concepts.
If we are able to tie the lessons in with real life experiences it will make more sense to them and therefore stick. We have to make the lesson relevant.
My students love examples of what can happen in the medical office setting. It gives them a visual image to help remember specific points we have covered in class and it also opens up the floor for questions and comments that further engage the students.
Hi David!
Memorable examples helps the instructor demonstrate the real work world to students.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Using real life situations helps the student visulize themself in the work force. It also makes them notice the importance of the material being taught.
I've been a nurse for a long time, & am currently a Medical Assisting instructor. When I lecture, I not only teach from the text, but I use stories from my past experiences in the medical field, as well, to bring home a point. This gives my studens a "mental picture", which will stay in their memory a lot longer than just reading something from a text. I've had former students come back to me years later stating that they were able to recall certain information on the job, because they remembered a story from one of my classes.
The use of memorable examples helps a student personalize, or internalize, a concept. This will aid retention of learning material.
Hi Melissa!
If students can't apply concept to real life, teachers/instructors have not accomplished their goals. I like you approach!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I also give students an opportunity on exams to support their answer with real life examples. It shows me that they can take information learned and apply it to something that they are familiar with. It also may give them an opportunity to look at experiences from a different perspective. I value this much more than filling in a multiple choice question.
Examples, if honestly and properly utilized, help the vocational student connect the classroom material to the real world.
Greetings Judith!
When I give an exam, I often ask students to provide a real life example for the answer to some of the questions. If they can apply a learned concept to real life, I know they are learning.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I use a combination of examples as well. I teach in the Medical Assisting Program and am a Medical Assistant myself and have many "real life" experiences to share with the students, but they also need to know the materials in the text books as well. I try and teach as real world as I can and it makes a difference in the students' learning.
Memorable examples may offer images of the information being studied. An image or example, in most cases, will help the student to remember and understand a term or concept.
As a trades person I like to recall my work
experience to help motivate the class
Information needs to be relevant or else it is just static from a radio.
As a instructor in a Golf Course Management program, my real life working experience in the golf industry as a PGA Professional since 1996 pays off in the classroom. Our curriculum in design to be industry modeled and use our experience to bring the course material to life. This brings relevance to the students learning experience and allows them to see what they may be faced with in the future.
My "stories" or examples of things I encountered throughout my career working in the golf industry is a valuable resource to the students. Even though some of the information may be from ten years ago, it is still relavent today.
The students relate to these examples in a positive manner and often comment on this portion of the class in end of term surveys.
I think the more we can show the students how the course work will be used in the future the better the student will stay focused and want to learn.
Hi Brett!
Combine classroom training, memorable examples and hands-on experience than as a student adds years of experience, they become well-prepared for the work place. Employers are looking for people who have more than classroom training.
Goo job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
