past expierences
how often do you have a student use thier past expeirences to relate to the current subject being taught/
When students relate their experiences it bonds the class and helps other students come out of their shell and participate.
Kelly,
Good advice in terms of raising the "why" question. "Why" is a powerful word that opens many possibilities for learning and knowledge exploration. The more we can help our students with developing their critical thinking skills the better prepared they will be in their careers as well as life.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree as well. I have found that by sharing my experiences in the field, both good and bad, and allowing the students to share related experiences it definately starts the relating process. It allows them to see the skills that they already pocess to apply the new skills that they are acquiring. This starts the Ahh-ha moments for them as well. I also have students come back to tell me, "I heard you saying", as they were at their site applying thier hands on skills. I tell them this is the regression process for us. Going back to the "why" years of our lives as a child. If we discuss the "why" we establish the foundation behind the actions.
I totally agree with the use of past experience in illustrating important topics covered in lecture. I used to roll my eyes when my Profs would start telling yet another story about what they went through when they were in the field. As painful as those moments were, when I got out in to the field I remember hearing my Profs stories playing back in my head.
It has come full circle.
I do that to my students now, and I have to say that I had one of my students come back to me and say "I could hear you telling me why I was supposed to do this this way... and it all finally made sense..." WOW what a great feeling. I encourage my students to seek tactile learning environments, try to build a hands-on classroom structure, and encourage them to share their experiences with the group.
I had one student say she felt like we were in group therapy after a particularly emotional class discussion. I feel like these experiences in a structured, instructor led environment gives the students much more than theoretical knowledge that can be regurgitated on demand; it gives them a visceral notion of what is expected of them in the field.
Jim,
Good comments about personal pride in skill development and how that pride translates into career success. This is important part of career development that the students need to understand. This understanding is going to be a major part of their future career growth.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Sharing experiences quite often is not doing the work.It is usually soft skills and dealing with people. Students interested in making a career in the trades realize it will take a few years working to be a top paid technician and are interested in learning from experienced people. The experienced people know the faster a rooky learns the easier their job will be.
Quite afew times wee have a student experienced in ou trade at school to learn another trade. Our class room time is basic why the jobs are done certain ways and, follow a required protocal and codes have requirements that must be followed.
Excperienced students have said they did not realize why they had to do it a certain thngs on the job or be out of work. Doing hands on work they usually different ways to do their work and sometimes they learn an easier more efficient way.
Students that think they know everything and instructors are buffoons that can not do real work and they will not listen how to do hands on or class work. Their hands on work look junk and barely pass. Some are embarssed and blame innefficient instructors. Usually students that listen to them fail the class.
Experienced students tryin to learn more and are skilled will share their skills and knowledge with partners and those unskilled in the trade at the start of class end the class with high scores good beginner skills.
I enjoy instructing and feel proud when a student works to top rate of the trade.
Mary,
Students like to hear stories from the field. The stories help to reinforce the content the students are being asked to learn plus they can see the relevance of the content. Good motivators as well.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I share a lot with my students, both good and bad experiences in the field. I tell them I enjoy a good experience, but I learn from the bad ones, and then I tell them the bad experience so that they don't make the same mistakes.
Is a very effective way to relate new content to past experiences because it helps them remember more clearly, plus they enjoy when they are heard.
Paula,
I appreciate your comments about having them bring in their life experiences from their previous careers to the health care field. There are many aspects of careers that are in common with each other. By doing so you are showing your students that even though the health care field is new to them their life skills aren't. They can use many of these skills in their current training program, such as compassion and dedication.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I totally agree that giving students the opportunity to share something about their past experiences and how it influenced their decision to pursue their current career goal is very important because they feel recognized as an individual. Also, many of my students are switching career directions, from non-healthcare to healthcare. I find it is important that I help them identify how their past career, even if it seems totally unrelated to their new career goal, still provided them with experiences and learning that they will use in their new career path.
Jennifer,
This sharing is helping them to connect the dots between the course content and their own lives. The more we can do this the greater the impact our course is going to be on their lives and future.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have found that when they share their experiences they connect the subject matter with their future career choices. If they have had a situation happen to them that is part of our subject matter the information sticks with them.
I always ask what experiences my students have that they can share with others in the classroom. It makes them feel valuable and adds alot .
Each quarter students always try to use their past experiences in the field of study. Most of the time this experience help relax new students.
Elizabeth,
All the time. When I introduce a new concept I survey the class to see if any of them have had experiences in this area. They really like sharing their life experiences when they know something about the topic.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
