Unfortunately my students have not been able to take a field trip but we have had guest speakers. I usually invite enthusiastic graduates of our program to speak about their experience with our school and their externship, how they secured a position, and their present status in the work place. Students are so eager for the Q & A section of the visit and ask so many questions there is never enough time to answer all. The students can really relate to the speaker and feel that they too can be successful. You can just feel the sigh of relief when the visit is over! Some of the tension and anxiety of going out into the field has been released and many of them have gotten that needed extra boost.
Chris,
Right! I have found that someone local who is experienced and knowledgeable, who is willing to share their expertise on a particular topic can be very motivational. Of course, the field trip can reveal some aspect that is otherwise unavailable to students in the classroom or laboratory setting. Both activities add to the students awareness about the profession they're training for. Sometimes, a student will really buckle down with their studies after an especially good guest, or out of class experience.
Barry Westling
Field trips are designed primarily to extend the classroom beyond the boundaries of the classroom's four walls. Field trips add a greater dimension to learning vs. reading in the classroom, and listening or looking at visual aids. First hand experiences are often non-existent for students so field trips assist in providing those meaningful experiences. On the other hand, human resources (guest speakers)are extremely important and sometimes eliminate the need for field trips. Community human resources enhance the teachers role by giving students another way and opportunity to deal with their environment. Guest speakers, 1)provide stimulation and enrichment for students, 2.)provide an opportunity for possible contribution of materials, and, 3)have specialized knowledge- are subject matter experts (SME's)in their respective fields.
Kathleen,
Yes, a change in routine with a different "voice" can be helpful. Guest speakers, and a host of other activities help keep classes interesting and students engaged. I find students are very willing to ask bold questions of speakers, and usually the speaker is not shy about answering their questions either.
Barry Westling
I think field trips and guest speakers help break up the monotony of the classroom setting of lecturing from powerpoint. It might also help the student gain from a different prospective.
Lilia,
I am always impressed with how much students seem to appreciate a good field trip, or haviving guest speakers come to class. Obviously, neither of these activities can be a substitute for real work experience, but receiving a glimpse of some segment or hearing from someone who is working in the field can be motivational. Getting students to be be enthusiastic and motivated about their learning is a great achievement in and of itself, and therefore, worth the effort for planning and coordinating these activities.
Barry Westling
By providing both experiences to the student has them understand the overall end goal. Heading out to the fied and seeing their career in motion, in real time can give them a perspective of where they are headed. They are learning in bits and pieces and having them see what they are currently learning into the overall process brings value. Guest speakers can also bring real life scenarios of what is out there right now and make the career more inviting to the student to push through and motivates them to learn the material.
Dr. Fu-Sen,
I love field trips! I believe a well planned trip to an interesting segment of the work setting or locale that features a relevant component to what the students are studying can be a tremendously motivating experience. And when a student is internally inspired, they are more apt to become energized, enthused, and focused on their classroom studies following the field trip experience.
Barry Westling
Field trips and guest speakers should be a part of instruction in that they can show students the applicability of the subject that is being studied. Furthermore, field trips and guest speakers may provide students with new insight and a different perspective on the subject that they otherwise would not have gained within a solely classroom setting.
Eileen,
It's true, students sometimes feel more at ease with a guest speaker, asking probing questions about the work setting, wages, work conditions, advancement, and so on. I think because the speaker is an outsider students may feel more comfortable asking "insider" questions. And usually, the guest speaker is willing to share information without hesitation. A good guest speaker can reinforce the students choice to attend school, perhaps in part by answering these types of questions.
Barry Westling
The students can ask relavent questions on the field trip to the course work. If they are unsure about something they watch or ask questions to person who is making the part, or the guest speaker to get better clarification on the topic.
Sometimes the guest speaker can explain topics better or more in depth than the intructor.
Thanks eileen szydlowski
Maryl,
What a wonderful idea and terrific experience! I would expect many of your students to be moved to the point that single experience influences their whole future career (something like that happened to me about 45 years ago when I was just starting out).
Barry Westling
My students are coming out of general education courses, and in their first course related to their field of study. I am taking them to the national headquarters of our professional organization. For an assignment, they had to do research on the web site, and come up with a couple of questions that they would like answered. I am hoping that they will be inspired and motivated by meeting the people that actually wrote the clinical practice guidelines that I have been teaching them about.
Russ,
I think the idea of merging different themes is a terrific idea, and the outcome probably very good. We want to stimulate interest and personalize learning whenever we can. If we capture the students attention then we have them "hooked", and will be more able to cement key points or ideas central to the class topics. Field trips are especially good for motivation, and oftentimes students determine to focus on their studies a bit more seriously.
Barry Westling
A relevant field trip is a good way to tie multiple course themes together. I use a historic tour of the local area to show how diverse communities can come together and build economic success and social harmony in addition to positive intergovernmental relationships despite segregationist laws of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is also good to see the ‘real world’ application theory learned in the classroom.
Judy,
Yeah,it's frustrating to try to describe an experience or task verbally, in books, or even videos. I often lament "if only we go go to the workplace right now, I could show you". That's where a good field trip could complement the academic portion of the class.
Barry Westling
In my experience, students enjoy field trips and seeing real world activity. As an educator, I share my experiences with students however it becomes meaningful for students to observe real life situations and share their experiences in the classroom. It makes learning exciting and real for the students.
Ethel,
I agree and believe a good field trip can be very inspiring. It can motivate students to take their classes more seriously, and provide a way for students to visualize themselves working in their chosen profession. Any activity that has that effect is definitely worthwhile.
Barry Westling
I feel that it is a vital part of learning to have field trips provided to the students. While the textbook is very important part of the learning process; I feel that when the textbook comes to life the students gain clarity and began to think about their chosen field more in depth.
Richard,
Yes. Sometimes students learn material correctly but fail to appreciate the information fully because there is no practical application. A good field trip can help students visualize some of the tasks they might be involved with as graduates in their career education
Barry Westling
