I love the idea of field trips and guess speakers. We have had instructors that take their students to the library for research ideas and to the grocery store for nutrition. I have not found any places for my lab classes. But this class is really encouraging me to find some area where we can show our students exactly what their job looks like in action. Thank you for the encouragement. Joyce
Steven,
Proactive students will nearly always get more from their initiative. Coordinating a field trip, even if it's only marginally related to the career category, takes just a bit of planning, but students often get energized by the experience -- and that's always a good thing.
Barry Westling
The benifits vary greatly acording to subject material. While this is a possibility of most classes some do not have the time to fit it into the cirriculum. The alternative is for the student to do a field trip on thier own and check with the selected site to confirm they have actually attended
Theresa,
And often, a good field trip can be a wonderful motivator, sort of a "shot in the arm" as the experience creates a desire to work harder in class to be ready for the work setting they now have a taste of.
Barry Westling
Students can benefit more on trips because they can see the work they learned to real life.
Roberto,
Students usually love these activities -- a break from the routine, an opportunity to see some aspect if their future career, and usually, motivational.
Barry Westling
i think that it a grate idea to take the students to have field trip so they can see and feel how is in real life and how is done they can toach
and the guest speaker can axplint and instruct how is done and how they are going to do it.
Mariann,
Sometimes just a small taste of one aspect of the real work setting can be a motivator, enough to regenerate interest and enthusiam for the students course of study.
Barry Westling
It makes the careers they are preparing for a reality.
Eugene,
As a former department manager of several larger health care facilities, I've always given students a look at the "backside" of operations - perhaps areas that are not so glamorous, but informative and interesting. These add more perspective about the big picture of the myriad of settings and activities that occur in the daily grind. It's always very motivational.
Barry Westling
For the student who may not have much experience in the real world of the culinary profession I like to take them to supplier facilities so that they can visualize from first hand experience what goes on in the supply chain before the truck arrives at the back door. For many of them this whole process will remain unfamiliar till much later in their career when they may become chefs and they may need to make a will call or just provide them with this experience so they see the care and expertise that goes into getting the products into the restaurant. Guest speakers always provide another glimpse into our profession. I like to pick individuals who are out there struggling right now. One of my favorites at the moment is the Food Truck Owner/Operator/Chef. It's such a microcosm look at a complete operation done on a smaller scale that depicts almost every skill needed to operate a successful business without wrapping or confining yourself into a building.
John,
Right, and any time we can get students inspired is a GOOD thing!
Barry Westling
The momentum of the class setting changes with positive energy and excitement. The students display renewed passion for the field and more often they are truly inspired when they witness a site themselves.
Lea-Anne,
Great. You know, I've seen the amazing power of good field trips manifest by motivating marginal students to begin to really buckle down, change their whole perspective about school, and end up in much better shape than they would have been had the field trip not occurred. That's a powerful learning activity!
Barry Westling
I like the idea of field trips and guest speakers, for the fact that it gives the class a break from you as an instructor, and gives them another outlook or point of view on an issue. I personally as a student always appreciated a guest speaker on a topic as it broke up the same old thing that we were getting on a daily basis. Thanks!
Amanda,
This is a good motivation for planning for speakers or field trips. Beside providing a break in the routine, I agree students often need a reinforcement about their choice to attend school and it's hoped-for outcomes.
Barry Westling
Sometimes students are going to get bored if they are just continuing to listen to lectures and take notes. You have to keep students intrigued, make them remember why they wanted to start the program you are teaching to begin with. Going on a field trip allows them to see their desired career in motion. It gets them excited to realize and see first hand what they have the potential to be doing. Guest speakers can serve as motivators. In certain situations, for example, with a student who is close to dropping out, having someone come in who has been in their shoes and yet completed the program can inspire them to stick with it. It is important for students to know they are not alone and that many others have been in their exact situation. A lot of adult learners work and have familie's. Showing them it is possible by an actual example can have a big impact.
Lissette,
Sometimes, knowing what does NOT interest a student is as important as what does (as you experienced). Most professions or work settings have multiple areas that a students can seek employment. It is probably better to find that out in school so that emphasis on what the student feels important can be appropriately channeled.
Barry Westling
William,
I always find outsides speakers and visits to be well accepted, giving a break from the routine. Often, students will hear similar information I've shared and that tends to reinforce the importance, and also adds a degree of credibility, and perhaps builds trust.
Barry Westling
I often teach on Electric Vehicles and Alternate Fuels. So I take my class out to SCE, where they had Electric Vehicles and Alternate Fuel vehicles, and the techs there show them and teach them about the vehicles they have and use. I have also had people from other Dealerships and other shops come in and talk with the students about their experences. This gives the students another point of view
