Crissia,
this is so true. Each of us likes to be recognized as a person & this provides that value to the students.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Agreed! Students definitely respond better when they feel that they are being treated as individuals and getting real world value out of a class.
It is important because somebody else in that classroom can always learn from another person's experience in life. Life is a learning experience and what better way to learn than from each other.
Valerie,
you are so right. Everyone loves a good story & by using real life examples we are helping our students by telling them stories & helping them connect the concepts to these examples.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Real life experiences and stories tend to organically engage students. Applying and attaching concepts to those life experiences help students to identify concepts, define concepts, and explain concepts that are being taught. Essentially, this strategy is very helpful in strengthening the understanding and recollection of a topic.
I like to use my life experiences in connection to the topic discussed to give my students a better understanding of the covered material. "Seeing" the picture in real life or gives them several examples makes things a lot clearer.
Crissia,
additionally it shows that we value the experiences they've had before entering our classes & we want to help them connect the information they learn to real life.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Crissia,
additionally it shows that we value the experiences they've had before entering our classes & we want to help them connect the information they learn to real life.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Sharing these stories can also help to foster a sense of unity in the classroom. Students realize that they have common experiences and struggles, and that they are not alone. Those difficult times and mistakes made can be valuable learning tools.
I think it can help the instructor along the way.
It helps them to be successful first. But also allows them to gain confidence by helping their fellow students learn from their shared experiences.
It can be valuable to both the student as a means of relating new information to things they already know and to other students in the class to get a broader knowledge of the world and the different application for the things being learned.
Maureen,
yes, I like to say that these experiences provide "pegs" on which the students can hang the theoretical concepts of a course.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Maureen,
yes, I like to say that these experiences provide "pegs" on which the students can hang the theoretical concepts of a course.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
We can all relate to experiences we have had. It makes a subject more tangible when discussing the experiences we have had. In addition, students remember the stories of the other student's or my experiences, thus have knowledge from then on about how to implement the learned subject.
Eleana,
this is very true. It also shows that we value their life experiences & appreciate that they have lived before reaching our courses/programs.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Eleana,
this is very true. It also shows that we value their life experiences & appreciate that they have lived before reaching our courses/programs.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
By using life experiences in the classroom, it enables students to be a part of the teaching process. Also helps keep other students motivated in continuing the course.
It attracts more in learning process.
We are all a sum total of our life experiences and what we choose to do with those experiences both positive and negative. By allowing students to utilize their life experiences permits them to develop empathy and understanding for the patients they are going to be providing care to. We look at case studies and ask what went well and why, what went wring and why, how could the outcome be different, students primarily base their answers on their own life experiences, this activity also provides an opportunity for students to bring constructive resolutions to problems enhancing their critical thinking skills.
