Hi Mo:
I think when as teachers we are able to open the mind and create a possible future and create a vision for success for our students, that's a fantanstic contribution to the students education. Few activities can do this in quite the same way as a good guest speaker or dynamic field trip experience.
Regars, Barry
We just had one of our graduates speak last night to our students. She was fantastic. She related to them because she has been in their shoes. She talked about what it took for her to get through school. She also talked about how her training has helped her so much in her court reporting field. The students had lots of questions and they were so excited after she left. It was really motivating for them.
A fieldtrips helps students to learn from diverse information sources and to motivate them.
I love taking field trips and having guest speakers because it gives my students an opportunity to hear another voice and have other experiences. I live in an amazing food city. But it can be hard to navigate to those new to the industry. Exposing my students to the food around them and allowing them to see my passion helps to heighten their experiences.
They get to see how the industry really is and by hearing from someone that is in the business
Field trips ring home the message that we have been trying to relay. Students actually get to see and experience first hand what it is they have been learning about in the classroom.
I feel filed trips are imperative to allow students experience first hand what to expect in their prospective careers.
I teach Physical Anthropology. Each semester, we take a trip to the zoo. The students enjoy it because they can see the primates that we discussed outside the classroom in a (somewhat) natural habitat. It is a nice break from the classroom setting. For many, it is their first experience to a zoo.
I bring in guest speakers and the students truly enjoy this. Guest speakes typically reinforce ideas that I bring up during lectures. It also gives the students a different perspective from a person in the specific career area.
Field trips are extremely beneficial for the students I teach. I am a Massage Therapy Instructor and in different classes, we will go to sites that perform the type of massage that we are currently learning about. Another option that we have is to go to a site that is in need of the specific type of massage that the students are currently learning. There is always very positive feedback from the students when we do have field trips.
As far as guest speakers, they are wonderful also! There are so many different paths a person can take when going into massage. It really helps to have different Massage Therapists come in to talk about their work as an employee, owning their own business, or as a traveling therapist. There are so many options and its great to expose this information to students while they are fresh in their careers!
In both instances students can get a glimpse into their own futures within their area of study. Both also help to illustrate the relevance of the subject matter required to be successful in a chosen field. They both act as a humanizing and specific moment of observation that is so much more approachable than contemplating the entire area of study lying before the student. They are appetizers to whet the appetizer for more education-the main entree.
Mo
Hi Amanda:
I agree, students can relate to "one of their own" so to speak. They also tend to bring a fresh sense of enthusiasm and desire to paint a very positive portarit of the career area they're being trained for.
New grads may not have all of the technical matter down pat, or extensive experience, but they they do have the ability to convey that it's quite possibe to get through school and begin a successful career. That can be tremendously inspiring and motivate students to try their best!
Regards, Barry
Hi Mona:
The last part of your post is interesting. I think your relatioship with your students is and will always be that of their instructor (as long as they are students enrolled in school). So, whether you are in the role of teacher, mentor, counselor, or club advisor, that core relaionship has not changed. That's the basis by which you know them and interact with them.
Now, I'm not speaking of personality, as we all can and should do our best to remain approachable and assistive to all studnts in their quest for learning. Sometimes, I'll use the expression, "we can be friendly without being friends". Our delivery of course content is that of subject matter expert, and therefore, we must always exercise a sutle underlying presence of control and authority.
But students will respect teachers who are honest, helpful, and demonstrate genuine care and encouragement. So, planning off campus field trips can be a bit tricky, that's why the need for authority and control.
Regards, Barry
Hi David:
Few exercises can match the inspirational feeling that occurs with good guest speakers in the classroom. And when students are inspired, they also get motivated to do better and perhaps try harder, too.
Regards, Barry
Guest speakers can be really motivational and inspirational to students, particularly if they are a former student from the same school who has achieved success in the industry since graduating. Students then see that their efforts and hard work will pay off.
I agree with the variety field trips and speakers offer. Teaching in a culinary school, I feel that there are some experiences that are difficult for the students to attain within the everyday class evironment. Yes they learn cooking techniques, history, recipe development... But for young chefs how do they get to develop a palate? Being able to bring your students to a place producing, serving, selling food is real. Many are so young that they have yet the opportunity to "taste". Yes they taste the foods prepared in their classrooms, but there is so much more.
Now here is my concern. Though our school has field trip release forms, often field trips are looked upon as a risk. I would love to have more off campus learning opportuinities available to our students, even if it is on my own time volunteering as a club advisor. Does this fall into making the students "friends?"
Hi Thomas:
Great way of organizing your activity. You can assure and determine the topic is relevant.
Regrads, Barry
I like to use Guest Speakers from the field to relate their educational experiences to their success.
My guest speakers are geared to discuss specific topics and then we can branch off with questions and answers.
Hi Thomas:
Guest speakers are dynamic and usually very interesting and enjoyable to listen to. Students like them because they're talking about the caree area the students are studying for. It can be inspiring and motivational.
One thing you can do is to "prep" the guest by askng them to touch on a specific topic or area you want emphasized, but tell them not to make it obvious, just intertwined in their presentation.
Regards, Barry
Field trip are great but need to be organized and planned ahead. I perfer guest speakers to come into the classroom. They allow the students to see and hear from someone who isn't paid by the school to talk to them about the career they choose. The guest speaker hopefully confirms what I'm teaching or stressing as important qualities as a future professional in this career.
