My fellow instructors and myself always plan on at least 2 field trips per quarter just to get the students into the workplaces they may be once they leave our tutelage. It gives them an 'real life' perspective.
Hi Brigette:
Field trips and guest speakers also allow students a fresh perspective on the topic, whcih may serve to renew their interest in it.
Regards, Barry
Hi Linda:
Exactly - the students receive a fresh perspective from a different source other than the primary insttructor.
Regards, Barry
Hi Nelson:
Exactly - by offering another perspective to the student may serve to renew interest in the topic alltogether.
Regards, Barry
Hi Connie:
You're right - it may not always be feasible to have field trips or guest speakers.
On the other hand, if they can be incorporated, it can be a fresh perspective for the students to interact with another professional on a specific topic.
Regards, Barry
Hi Melanie:
Right! It brings a fresh perspective of the topic which may serve to re-motivate the student about the subject alltoghether.
Regards, Barry
Hi Mark:
That sounds like it would be a fun and interesting class!
Going on field trips or having guest speakers always brings a fresh perspective to the learning.
Regards, Barry
When I use field trips in my class, it is to drive home a point or to enhance a skill that can not be done within the realm of the classroom. Such as observing children in a natural setting, for the enhancement of a behavior skill for the child.
Guest speakers, add to the class by bringing their own experiences or expertise, and talking about them with the students. It is always best to get other points of view and experinces from professionals in the field.
Hi Debra:
Guest speakers are a great way to renew interest in a topic. They bring a fresh perspective to the material.
This can be especially helpful if it's a topic that will be used by the student in their job or career in some way.
Regards, Barry
Hi Patrick:
Field trips, if possible are probably one of the MOST interesting methods to keep student morale up in the learning environment.
This is especially true if you're visiting a place that will be similar to what the student wants to do in their career.
Regards, Barry
Hi Katina:
Exactly! Having other people speaking to the students gives them a new perspective.
And, if the student may ever work in that field, it gives them a chance to ask questions to people who are already doing what they may do someday.
Regards, Barry
I think that it helps to keep the students engaged and excited about the real-world aspect of their chosen field of study.
Hi Catherine:
Guest speakers especially give the student another perspective about life, and perhaps the field they are studying in.
It also allows the student a chance to ask questions and get answers they weren;t expecting.
Regards, Barry
Hi Rebecca,
Exactly - guest speakers can provide a persepective about real life scenarios that a student can learn from.
Regards,
Barry
Hi Neelam,
Guest speakers are a great way to bring new interest and enthusiasm to a subject.
Tt gives the learners a chance to hear about real life scenarios that they may encounter, and offers them a chance to question the speaker about possibilities in their future.
Regards,
Barry
I think field trips are a wonderful oppurtunity for the student to see what they will be doing in the real world.
As an instructor you teach about the business your in and give examples, but using field trips shows a direct coralation from what you learn in class and the real world. Guest speakers achieve the same thing but can also give their point of view about the industry.
I recently invited a guest speaker into my classroom. She walked the students through "a typical workday". They were so interested and had many questions for her at the end of the presentation. I think it helped the students visulize themselves working in their career choice, and it excited them!
Using different methods of teaching, allowing students to observe their field of choice firsthand and have people that work in those fields provide information they may not otherwise have access to, may help them decide if this is truly the field they wish to study.
I typically don't incorporate many field trips into my courses as we are typically crunched for time and most are basic sciences.
Reading some of the replies has given some food for thought as to how much benefit a related outing could be instead of just pushing in more material.
