The best way is to show how the course material was of use to myself and guest instructors that I bring into the course.
I have been able to relate examples of problems encountered in the field and how the course material was useful to repair the vehicles.
Hi Patricia,
I teach accounting to non-accounting majors. I discuss current economic events to give relevance. I also talk a lot about businesses which have been successful. Those businesses that have withstood the test of time have solid business plans which include solid accounting practices. Accounting is the language of business - all businesses!
Cheri Elkin
Consistently give real world examples.
One way I show relevancy to my math courses it to apply % to shoping and taxes they pay. This allows students to have a goal of thier own. For instance, when they buy a car. What will they have to pay in taxes?
Hi Reika,
Whenever students understand how learning would be applied on the job, they get the relevancy of the subject matter. Students truly want to know how they will benefit.
Patricia
To show the students the relvancy of the course or part of a course, I may explain a scenario in which they might encounter at work and show them how they can apply their course work to the scenario.
I agree, students need to understand that its not just fun and games when others are paying you to provide a skilled service. They would expect the same of someone they had hired.
The skill I'm teaching is one that most graduates of their degree program will use on a regular basis. I try to give examples from real life to illustrate the importance of gaining this skill.
The way I show relevancy to my students, is to make the course content personal to them and their goals. Giving examples of real world situations and how the theory and application in question will be used. As instructors it is our responsibility to make sure the students see the connection between what they are learning in the classroom and the jobs they will be required to complete in their chosen careers. I believe this gets the student excited about learning as well as their future career.
Hi Michael,
If students understand the relevancy of course content, they have more of a keen interest in learning.
Patricia
Hi Beth,
I love it! What a great way to get your students to buy in. I can see why they immediately become excited. Money is such a super motivator.
Patricia
Hi, using articles, especially that cover topics students see every day on the news, can really add relevance to topics in the class. Lyn
Hi Karen, I absolutely agree! Communication skills are vital in all career fields! I reinforce writing skills in my Science classes as well. Lyn
I find that using everyday examples really helps the students to understand the material we are talking about. I find that as an adjunct instructor with a full time job I am at an advantage for this. While teaching my students the materials I can tell them a real story that has happened in the clinic. I find that the students are more likely to listen if it is somthing that really happened and how that situation applies to what they are learning vs just a well this could happen type of story.
Letting them know that the information and skills being taught in the course will help them achieve their career goals....also providing clear goals and objectives in the syllabus
I teach medical coding, and I always start a new class with a power point presentation on job opportunities and salaries of certified coders. This gets the students engaged and excited immediately!!
One of the ways I attempt to apply relevancy is by having the students process how our course (psychology) applies to their various lives as well as majors that they are pursuing. After giving the concept some thought, the students are usually to think of two, three or more ways that a psychology class can be relevant.
Another thing that I do is to assign the class articles and asking them to summarize the article and show how it applies to a given subfield of psychology.
Many of the students that do the articles are able to see the application as well as are able to actually participate more in class.
For adult learners, I use specific examples of situations they are likely to see in the workplace. In my pharmacy class, one of the ways is to do an "Identification Challenge." I bring in bags of actual medications and split the class into teams and award extra credit points to the first team to correctly identify each medication. All participants get full credit for the participation part of the grade for the day.
In chemistry, we have discussions along the same vein. When we study nuclear chemistry I emphasize the biological effects of ionizing radiation and the diseases/conditions that can result.
I try to make each class have some examples related to the real world, and I find that this at least generates some interest.
I really struggle with this issue but I am working on it. I teach the beginning Biology class for the Veterinary Technician students at our school. I have an academic background and not a vocational background. This hampers me in showing relevancy. But I have been helped by our other Vet Tech instructors who remind me they their students really need these concepts from Biology class before they reach the harder classes. I am slowly trying to find materials that make the class real world relevant and even Vet Tech relevant. When I talked about cloning I talk about cloning pets. When I talk about genetic engineering I talk about a retinal degeneration problem in dogs.
