Making field trips and guest speakers a part of instruction
What are the benefits students get from taking field trips and listening to guest speakers?
Hi Daniel:
And, the student may get the chance to ask questions of these people that are working in their chosen field.
Regards, Barry
Hi David:
Guest speakers can be an especially nice touch for career oriented courses.
Regards, Barry
Hi Donald:
It also creates a break in the potential monotony that can come with every topic. With career oriented courses, it gives the student a chance to ask questions to people that are in the field they are studying for.
Regards, Barry
Hi Brian:
These allow the student to ask questions of people in the field they are going into. Creates an entirely different perspective than what one could gain in a classroom only.
Regards, Barry
Hi Warren:
Perhaps a field trip might be a "job shadow" the student is to do prior to applying for entrance into the program?
Regards, Barry
Guest speakers, especially if they are "Clinical Specialists", employed by manufacuer's of equipment used by health care professionals, add a dimension to the classroom, that I, as the primary instructor, can not deliver. It, not only is informative, but sheds new light on delivery, and direct patient care assessment.
It gives them motivation and opportunity to talk to others in their field and ask questions.
I take my students to the Library- to my surprise most of them do not have a library card- they do not know how to access the online database for technical journals or other resources they need for their career. I have the Librarian present the information- they love it!
Since I normally teach computer application classes and I orginally did not see the benefit in taking a field trip or bringing in a guest speaker. However, this last term I took the students to a grocery store to have them get product prices and produce a grocery budget in Excel and it was the highlight of the class!
I really enjoy taking my students on field trips because it brings to life what we are learning in the classroom! I teach medical assisting and I usually take my students to a hands on museum. They get to actually touch and feel and do some of the topics we are going over. It gives them the "boost" that what they are learning WILL come in handy someday! Its a great reward to students as well! A change of scenery is always good for students too!
I believe students can gain insight into different employment avenues within their fields. For instance, laboratory professionals do not always have to work in a hospital or a physician's office lab. A field trip to a blood center such as The American Red Cross will allow the students to witness first hand the testing of different blood components rather then picturing it in their heads after learning book theory.
Field trips and guest speakers are effective techniques in course delivery. Both methods aid in establishing student engagement and better understanding of the learning objectives as well as establish a better idea/concept of their career. These methods provide a more concrete and true-to-life experiences/ examples about the career and scope of practice as well as concerns and potential challenges and provide clearer concepts that aid in student's perspective about the career and provide encouragement to continue and succeed.
The benefits are numerous: practical applications for the subject matter; the opportunity to learn from a professional in their field; a change in terms of both voice and context.
Yet how do instructors properly prepare their students for such an endeavor. Often, guest speakers are friends/personal industry contacts and I fear wasting their time.
When I took them on a field trip to my dental office you could see the excitment. The lights came on. They got the relevance to what I was teaching.They wanted to learn more.
I use guest speakers and field trips to my advantage; for exaple in my Bloodborne Pathogens class I have a speaker from our local Aids Foundation to talk about HIV/Aids. My Clinical Procedures (microbiology) Class im currently setting up a trip to the lab so they can see viruses and bacteria under the microscope. Students are more motivated to come to class with this type of participation.
This gives the students an opportunity to explore or listen to a different point of view or give information on the different opportunities that their nursing career can offer. they can also see they have many options to their career and that they can try different things to help them decide what part of nursing they will enjoy or not like.
Students definately benefit from field trips and guest speakers. At least once every few months I have a former graduate come in and speak with the students on their experiences from the field as well as the importance of each and every class that they take during their academic career at our campus. I also schedule field trips such as to the Bodies exhibit and the DEA museum for our Pharmacology students.
I am an instructor in the respiratory therapy program. Our students have clinical experience 2 days a week. However, the courses are intense and at times can feel overwhelming. We use guest speakers and field trips every term to keep our students focused and motivated. It really works. KW
The students gain new perspectives by hearing/seeing what is discussed in class. T I try to have at least one guest lecture or field trip each term. Besides, it a day the students don't have to hear from me (kind of like a day off for both the students and me).
