Field trips are a great way for students to see how the skills they are learning in class can be applied in the real world.
Nicole,
Good points, and I believe students can begin to visualize themselves in their future workplace, or a similar setting, and that is usually an exciting feeling that may result in students taking their subsequent classes a bit more seriously.
Barry Westling
Mark,
What you describe can help build credibility, and perhaps take the discussion to another level in later lessons. What I find is students are willing to ask all sorts of questions (a good thing) of the guest. They may feel they can ask because they feel comfortable, uninhibited or not intimidated.
Barry Westling
Students attending a field trip or listening to a guest speaker get a realistic job preview. It is so important for students to understand all aspects of a career when they are deciding a major or area of focus. A field trip can give them an experience the classroom can't, where they are fully immersed in the culture of a company and the day to day work of an employee in that occupation. A guest speaker can provide insight into what they do everyday, as well as their career trajectory and the type of education or work experience they went through to build up to their current position.
Guest speakers often tell our students the same thing that we tell them but it is somehow more believable from someone else. It is also a nice change in the rhythm of teaching.
Allison,
Wholeheartedly agree. There's just something inspiring for students when good guest speakers or an interesting field trip is planned. I think students may begin to visualize themselves in a particular setting, and that mental picture creates a spark of motivation that can lead to a desire to work harder in class so they can be (better) prepared for work when they complete their program.
Barry Westling
Guest speakers can set a fire of passion under a student creating a desire to obatain their goal.
As for field trips, the student can gain a wealth of knowledge pertaining to their career choice. Again creating the desire to acheive their goal. Thus retaining the student in the program.
Sharon,
Field trips can also dispel vague ideas and misperceptions about what the work setting entails. Like "a look is worth a thousand words", a good field trip can provide an interesting experience and lasting memory that goes to support the students readiness to move from student to graduate (an employed one!).
Barry Westling
It is a great experince for students to take a field trip because they get to speak to other students in their classroom and interact and work as a group.
Lizette,
For me, I believe the power of the the field trip to mobilize enthusiasm and facilitate motivation is nothing less than amazing. And any activity that can motivate, inspire, and energize a group of students is definitely worth the effort to plan and coordinate it.
Barry Westling
I agree. It is great to show power points and pictures and models. However, when you see the real thing in action and can use all your sense you will be better able to analize and understand it, retain information and better able to apply it. In most cases it is a positive experience.
Charlene,
I agree. To plan an activity that motivates students is always an inspiring moment. In my experience, rarely do students fail to benifit some way from the field trip experience. It gets inside them, and that something inside can turn into an unbeatable force and drive for many.
Barry Westling
I think as a dental hygiene student, going out on a field trip to a dental office is a huge motivator and confidence builder. There they will see what they are doing right and it is a great chance for networking. The same applies for guest speakers!
Bette,
I agree, and I have found the Q&A portion to be lively, interesting, and informative. It's almost like students are uninhibited about asking questions when there is a guest. And that's a good thing. It's just curious that in routine classes they're not so inquisitive.
Barry Westling
Bette,
Good guest speakers do have the capability of bringing fresh, interesting, and current information to the students. One big key is to be sure the guest speaker knows what level the students are at. A few times I have prompted the guest "to be sure they touch on xyz".
Barry Westling
I have used guest speakers on numerous occasions and they bring the real world to the classroom. Students ask questions and receive answers based upon real world experiences.
The guest speaker brings current methodologies and philosophies to the class.
Bette,
Some programs and institutions have financial, logistical, or liabilty limitations to conducting field trips. In most cases, a good guest speaker can provide much information that stimulates thinking, provides details about a segment of the work setting, and can field students questions, and the Q&A portion can be most beneficial.
Barry Westling
We do not take field trips; however guest speakers are always welcome
Dan ,
Yes, and keeping focus is is valued environment to maintain. I've found even recent grads to be helpful as guest speakers. What they lack in content and experience, they usually make up with enthuisiam, interest, and familiarty with school policies and practices.
Barry Westling
