Greetings Kimberly!
Some of the best education that I have received has been from other students in my classroom either as a student myself or as an instructor. Life experiences as important to one's education.
Good job and keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Life experiences can be a great tool to help apply classroom theory into real world practice. having someone give an example helps student understand how those theories are applied into "everyday."
I think that when adult learners talk about their life experiences it helps them bond as a team. It helps the other students understand that they are not in it alone.
I agree that sharing our mistakes is valuable as instructors. Sure makes us seem more "human" and approachable.
I have found that students not only enjoy my personal stories, but also enjoy hear stories from fellow students. Sharing the students can help relax the atmosphere of the classroom at the same time it reinforces content.
Previous experiences can give a "skeleton" on which students can add the new concepts and terminology. Their experiences can help them and fellow students see how the ideas and concepts are actually applied in the real world. Tying in with an earlier module, students' experiences can be a valuable source of memorable examples for the class.
"Real World" life experiences add to the richness of the classroom discussion. Students not only learn from the instructor, they learn from each other's experiences. I believe it enhances the learning experience.
It makes a huge difference in their ability to relate to the subject matter and keeps them motivated by feeling like they are contributing.
Sharing life experience in the classroom helps the students to relate to the fact that what they are learning will be relative to the work world that they will be entering. I also find that it is good to learn what experiences the students may have had and what it has taught them. Can it be related to the new field of study that they are entering.
It is important for students to use their life experiences in the classroom as it helps to solidify concepts in their mind and helps them to remember as well. It also makes them want to participate and makes them excited to learn.
In Adult Learning environments, it is important for the students to see the teacher as a subject matter expert (SME). This credibility allows the students to believe they can accomplish their goals. Using real life examples, as a SME, shows application of the material to a career.
Greg
It help's the student relate the course to the work they will be involved in after the school in the work place.
Life experiences makes the learning real and for adult learners it demonstrates a key reason they want to learn and that is how can they apply the knowledge they are learning.
Life experiences also reflect a "storytelling" approach to teaching and it can demonstrate that the instructor has experience in the field they are teaching.
It also allows the opportunity for the class to share their life experiences reference the point being made in the lesson.
It's important for for students to be validated and feel a sense of accomplishment and self worth.
I think it important because it validates the adult learners to the other students. We have a mix of older and younger students in our classes and younger students look up to and thrive to hear about the experiences of the adult learner. I feel it is important that the younger student hears the "been there done that" experiences because it gives the younger student something to look forward to when they get into the field.
It helps them see they can be successful at their chossen career. That past experience can be applied in many situations.
I find that I have a give and take relationship with my students. We learn from each other in many ways. Using life experiences in the class offers me one more way to give to my students. By them discussing their life experiences they give to each other, but also to me. I learn about their level of competency in a certain area by listening to them. I also tuck away things that they have said, in order to relate to them so they are more comfortable with me and more apt to ask me questions and see me as more approachable.
Absolutely Carrieann! So - do you have some interesting techniques for illiciting student life experiences or does it naturally happen in a classroom setting?
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Especially in culinary arts it is key to know that they too can do what we did in the field once the master the techniques we give them
It is important for an adult learner to be able to use their life experiences in the classroom so that they feel they have contributed in some way towards their fellow classmates learing.
