adding personal experiences to lectures
I think it is a great idea to add personal experiences to the lecture for reinforment of real live issues for the art of learning.
Krista,
These stories are what increase the value of the course content for the students. They help students to see the relevance and application to what is being taught and this gets them engaged in the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree. When students start to appear bored of a lecture I will try to add a personal experience from the field then you can see in their faces that they are awake and interested again. It often leads to questions and they are engaged in the material again. Its important to remind them that the material being taught will be used in the field one day and that they will eventually have stories like that of their own.
Mo,
Personal stories help the course content come alive through relevancy and application. This is why the students perk up when a story is shared. So keep sharing the stories and increasing the value of your content to your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I couldn't agree more. I'm always using personal experience my everyday teachings and lecture. I feel that it will always help relate the material your trying to teach to the students and get them excited to use the theories your teaching them as well. Also using personal experience can help deliver information that you have personally learned that may not be in the textbook.
LeeAnn,
I like the way you engage your students and start their reflective thinking development. You are giving them settings in which they can analyze and come up with solutions and then you can tell them how situation worked out. This is really reinforcing the relevance of what is being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Every now and then when incorporating a personal experience into my lecture, I like to turn the situation over to my students for THEIR feedback... "How effectively do you think I handled that patient?" "Is there something I could have done a little differently to accommodate the doctor's wishes without embarassing the patient?" While it can be therapeutic to tell about a funny experience that relates to the topic, I think it's valuable to share difficult issues that were faced. I find that these critical thinking feedback exercises involve the students more than only asking for yes and no answers.
Richard,
This blending of life experiences is a great way to get everyone involved in the sharing and learning process. It also helps with the development of respect since you all are learning more about each other and what each individual has to contribute to the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In addition to my personal experiences, I encourage my students to provide a slice of their experiences. I emphasize that younger students may not have as many situations to share as the older members of my classes but their personal experiences serve as a platform to build upon.
Guy,
Sharing personal experiences with students by the instructor helps to validate what is being taught. The more application examples that can be shared the better because they show relevancy and increase the value of the course for students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think adding personal experiences are a great way to close a topic. This helps them not only hear the subject but relate to it though the teacher as well. This also adds credibility to the instructor.
Connie,
Stories from the field help to increase the value of the content being shared. In addition, these stories motivate students because they show them how the material and skills being taught have relevancy and application to their future success in the field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also like to share real life experiences. In my field of dentistry there are a lot of funny and serious stories which help the students to get a glimpse into their chosen field.
Gina,
So true. Students really perk up when a story is told by the instructor especially when it involves a challenge or some kind of mistake that was made. These stories help the students to see the value of the content being shared and the applications that can be made in their career areas.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree Gary, students love to hear stories that show their instructors are just people like themselves. Funny things that happen on the job can help as a learning experience for students in their future careers. Basically what not to do, are the funny stories I like to tell. It Also brings the separation of an authority figure of an instructor down to a human level.
W,
Yes, they do. They are very valuable teaching tools that can be used at many different parts of each course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I always try to add personal experiences and stories to my lectures. I find that comedic little stories not only helps to humanize me, making me more approachable, but it helps the students to solidify that point in their head.
Agree gaining confidence of student to captivate them in lecture and learning experience.
Carl,
There more that this can be done the better. This is what brings value to the content being shared.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Real life examples of the subject and application of the learned knowledge brings the knowledge into focus and reinforces the learning.
