Sandra,
yes, these real life experiences provide the "pegs" on which they can hang the concepts from the course & be able to recall at a future time.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
it is important for adult learners to be about to use life experience in the classroom so they can take each new technique or skill and apply it to their lives outside of the classroom. When an adult learner has more life experience he/she is able to adapt to change and understand the practicality of new classroom information to apply to their future.
I know that when I can relate a new concept to something I've actually experienced, that concept is planted firmly in my memory--it's almost like I don't have to even try to learn the concept because of its correlation to something I already know. If my students can find real-life correlations with the content of my course, their learning will not only be easier, but the information will also be retained better.
It is important to use life experiences in the classroom because it makes the students feel like success is attainable. I have had issues with learning in the past and telling the students about how i got through my struggles has really helped them.
Adult learners come into the classroom with their own experiences that enhance their learning. Each person has their own unique experiences that they can all share. Their experiences could benefit the class and help their peers with the curriculum. Sometimes their life experiences will help them and their classmates with applying the concepts in class. I often utilize life experiences to help solidify the concepts. It brings the difficult concepts to light and helps the students to grasp it better.
also sharing stoies related to the course is going to help student to learn the concept.
It will help them to realize that everyone can do mistakes, but we learn from our mistakes also.
I would like to add this, also that reminding of students'life experiences will keep them motivated and gives them a positive energy to stick to throughout the program.
Telling students real life story experiences help the student retain the information and provide them to relate to the material in their own lives.
As well as what the module mentioned, I find that one/a few students sharing their life experiences can also help some of the other students to feel more comfortable speaking about their own particular life experiences. So sometimes it can serve as very positive educational tangent when multiple students share their class relative experiences.
I find it helpful when my students share their experiences because my students age range can be right out of high school or 60 years of age. I think it is important for the younger students to hear of life experiences and intern for the mature learner to hear the younger learners concerns of the workforce.
I always have a better outcome when I tell real life stories rather than constantly repeating the material.
If a student is to relate to a subject the instructor must be able to give the instruction on what the student wants to learn. He cant teach how to cook,when the class is how to build decks.Everyone likes to know the shortcus and the easy way to do things,if it means haveing to do it proper, some times the student will loose interest, today its hard to keep the students mine going the right way because there are so many things pulling at them.
I think that using life experiences makes the students feel like you understand what they are going through and that you are there to help them and that they can achieve anything that they put their minds to.
By using real life experiences in the classroom, adult learners are also making it more convenient for the instructor to relate the course material to their actual lifestyle. This will benefit the student, their peers and their overall retainment of the lecture. When students are able to relate the material to their actual lifestyle, or chosen career path, they will have something to refer to when the time comes to retrieve the information from memory.
This lets the students know that you have been through what they are about to go through.Giving Life experiences examples helps them see that situations can be real.
Charles,
yes, they can make those connections between the theoretical & the concrete skills.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Doris,
it really does help with the shared knowledge/experience. And, as you said, it can help students who are struggling realize that others are struggling too.`.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Judi,
it really does help with their confidence building & as you said it helps with the transfer of concepts from the classroom to the work setting.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
It is important to let the students use their life experiences in the classroom because they can share with the other students what they have learned. The other students may be experiencing the same things and they don't know how to handle it, so by the sharing student, they are able to get help.
