Fuzzy Expectations
Student sometimes have unrealistic expectations of career education. For example, students who watch TV crime shows may think police are constantly shooting guns. A criminal justice student will learn that the real expectation is doing accurate paperwork. Career education will help students focus on facts, not fiction.
Donald,
TV has done an injustice to most careers because of your point. The careers we work in are not portrayed realistically and as a result the students select certain career areas as a result of the TV influence. We are getting a lot of CSI and Culinary Arts majors now that aren't willing to put in the hours and years needed to be proficient in their fields. The more reality we can introduce into our classes the more reinforcement our students will have that they made the right choice or will realize they need to a career area that better fits their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
People who watch ER television shows sometimes think that every minute working in healthcare will be nonstop excitement. Classroom lectures and bedside skills bring some reality to what also goes on in the hospital setting.
Wardell,
We are challenged with this attitude all of the time. I teach a general requirement course so I know what you are saying about how students will shut down on certain courses because they can't see how they apply to them and their future. I take these attitudes personal and work very hard to have examples and case studies that show the students how my course content can be applied to their lives outside of school. When I see the students change their attitudes and get engaged in what I am teaching then I get really excited about why I am a teacher.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The bump in the road occurs when the student only wants to be focused on what is perceived as strictly relevant courses and material and becomes unreceptive to a well-rounded curriculum.
Zena,
This is an important point. Media has impacted certain careers to the point that many students aren't realistic about really goes on inside of that career. I am thinking of culinary arts and criminal justice (CSI) as two fields are being misrepresented by media.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
true with the reality of the the industry and the reality of job placement students need to be able to understand reality from fiction
Tonya,
I agree. I don't think they spend enough time exploring career options before selecting and this is why we lose many students part of the way through a program. It was the wrong choice for them right from the beginning they just didn't realize it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Tonya,
Having worked in this field I can really appreciate your comments. Yours is a challenging and intense field even though the perception of it is different in the minds of many people.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think people should research their career before entering it. Talking with people that are in this field with experience would be a huge benefit. Some people start their education and have no idea how much time and dedication it takesand drop out. If they are more aware of the expectations,maybe they would make a better career choice, instead of dropping out.
I do agree especially in the cosmetology field. Most people think of the typical ditz gum chewing person as a hairstylist. Actually, it is rather difficult and students are shocked by the material and expectations of their insructor. They're actually is a lot of anatomy and chemistry as well as customer service, all of which can be difficult for some learners.
Gwen,
You make a good point about the need for students to make informed, meaningful and realistic career choices. The more value we can show them in terms of their chosen career the more valid they will see their choice as being.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree students come in with very unrealistic expectations of their career choice. Having a good foundation to learn from and an instructor with a clear understanding of the profession will help to ground them in order to realize the true expectations of the chosen profession.
Ken,
Good point and one that students coming into certain majors need to understand from the very beginning. Some careers are seen as being glamorous when in fact they also require due diligence in order for people within them to be successful. There are both aw and actual components to all careers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
