Using Life Experiences in the Classroom
Being a lab manager for over 20 years, and a lab assistant for 15. I share manny of my real life experience.
When I share my experience in class, I engage my students every time. They get created and asked question about it. It really gets them motivate and alert through the course.
It's equally important to let the students share their life experiences as well. Many of them have very pertinent examples that they've never realized until they've gotten to the classroom.
as a nurse teaching medical assistants, sharing real life experiences helps them when they go out to clinical sites
I have found that when I share my life experiences with the student I become a real-life person to the students not just their instructor. I have used humor to help them understand that real-life stuff happens but you must live it to learn it and this makes our learning experience one they will remember rather than teaching them a perfect scenario which usually never is the case.
I agree !! I too am a nurse and now I teach. I have found that by sharing some of my personal and professional experiences with the class, they seem to relate to me in a more "relaxed" and open manner. They frequently ask me to talk about how I handled patients and how the profession has changed over the years.
I worked in the business world and try to bring my experiences to the classroom whenever possible..which is quite frequent.
The students become more interested & motivated, in my opinion.
Life experiences is what brings the students back to the classrooms every day. Without those experiences, none of us would have a class.
Sharing real life experiences helps the student to apply what they are learning to situations that may confront them. Otherwise, it is just another concept we are teaching them that becomes rather nebulous rather than applicable.
Seems like it would be a great way to relate the material in class to how it is applied in the working world. I will be using my backround as a master automotive tech. now that I'm teaching automotive classes.
Life experiences shed light on ideas from the textbook.
Lauren, I am also a nurse and have over 30 years of experience in a wide variety of healthcare setting. I use my life and career experience to help reinforce the material being offered. Sometimes the conversations interesting, but they can get off topic. I find that I have to redirect at times. Students like to hear the experience as it validates the material. This also gives students the ability to speak in public and use their medical terms!
I teach Math classes and I always share my life experiences to help explain how what we are learning is of value in every day personal and professional life.
Absolutely. Especially for an area like nursing, I'm sure those experiences are invaluable.
I've been a nurse for several years. Using life experiences in the classroom are very useful. It helps the student to understand different areas of their choosen career field. It also can make open discussions very interesting.
Hi Mr. Martins,Sharing such a great life experience in the field gives the students a great motivation to succeed and follow their instructor's foot-steps.
