They get to see and hear about how the material they are studying is going to directly affect there carrier choice
Ramondo,
Very true. Students sometimes will have vague or unclear ideas about what work setting entails. So well planned field trips or informed workers can add an element of reality and a degree of motivation too.
Barry Westling
It is good to see the industry they are aspiring to get involved in action because they can now relate course material to real life actions playing out in front of them.
Wenda,
A break in the routine is one thing. What it is substituted for it is another. Good field trips should create a vision of opportunity and hope, along with realistic plans to become the best (or better) students and graduates.
Barry Westling
Terrell,
Of course, I'm sure your students have a clinical or extern component to their program. But in addition to that, getting some one on one prior to their required extern is probably quite helpful.
Barry Westling
Ronald,
These activities do open up opportunities, questions, and possibilities for students to ponder.
Barry Westling
Taking field trips and listening to guest speakers can help to create a more hands on/ real-world learning environment. Field trips can allow students to see professionals in action and guest speakers can give students the opportunity to speak to an actual professional (seeing someone in a position they hope to have one day; able to hear information that is not found in a textbook).
It can be a nice break from lecture and give students encouragement to keep working hard in school.
Taking field trips allows students to see some aspect of their chosen field in the fashion that it truely operates. I really like sending my students on "individual field trips". I teach dental assisting and we go over many clinical skills/procedures in lab. Although this is a wonderful way for the students to practice and get comfortable with the procedural steps, it doesn't give them the "real-life" experience of seeing the procedure done on a real patient. When I lecture about a Root Canal, the next step is for us to practice the procedure chairside. The final piece is for the students to go on a field trip to an actual office and see the procedure done by a doctor and his assistant. This system has proven to give my students a true understanding of clinical skills/procedures.
I feel that a field trip gives students a better vision of what's ahead of them to come and
having a guest speaker is a great motivator.
Okasamar,
Field trips do inspire and motivate, as well as inform and educate.
Barry Westling
It is important to have field trips so your students will see there career field
Bo,
One awesome source that just about every instructor has access to is recent or former graduates. Graduates are familiar with the school and the program, are able to better relate to the current students, and nearly always bring an enthusiasm and passion that more experienced workers may have lost. Another source is salespeople. Either they can speak about their products or they may know of individuals in your community that would be willing to be a guest speaker.
Barry Westling
Students can build a connection from the industry.
I always have hard time to ask or find the guest speakers from the industry.
Can you advice for the step for the search?
Or do you have any phase that I can use?
Brian,
Yes, the field trip can be a wonderful source of information and inspiration, sometimes by providing a sense of reality to otherwise vague ideas about what the work setting appears like. Students are usually very motivated following a good, well structured field trip.
Barry Westling
Students get a lot of benefits from taking a field trip. It helps them to get first hand knowledge of what they are getting into and get a sense of if they are on the career path they want to be or not.
Anita,
Both are good ideas. Assuring that students are active participants, especially with guest speakers enhances the learning experience. Passively listening or watching is not as beneficial as when students are fully engaged in the activity.
Barry Westling
I always have great results with both. I observe the guest speakers and give a quiz afterwards so that everyone gives 100% participation. Also I give a list of things that the students should look for while on a field trip so that it is educational and this keeps students paying close attention of details.
Sandy,
The ability to ask questions and probe details about a job or work setting, is always a welcomed activity. I've observed students are nearly always bolder asking questions, perhaps because they feel the guest won't hold back, and they won't see them again. In any case, these are always informative and interesting activities.
Barry Westling
Amanda,
Added to your comments, I'd add extra motivation and inspiration. Students can really get "jazzed" by what they see and hear, enough to even turnaround marginal students into top performers!
Barry Westling
Field trips allow the student to get a real world view of the subject matter you are talking about in class. They can also sometimes talk to professionals in the industry about their job to see if that is the path they want to take.
