Jennifer,
The field trip is a different setting that is unlike anything found at the school classroom or lab. Students can put themselves in an imaginary setting that is closer to the work setting than can be experienced at school. These can be very ispirational times for some students.
Barry Westling
Understand real world experience if different from what text book offers or reinforces textbook material.Allows students opportunities to ask questions to get a better understanding, as well.
Courtney,
Bringing someone in for real specialty areas is a great idea for a speaker. Of course, if that topic is a major objective for the course, the speaker material would need to be supplemented. But if it mere peripheral to the major topics in the course, students will enjoy the variety and change up in routine.
Barry Westling
Joseph,
I have informed the speaker what current topics we're covering, and "it would be great if these these (3), (4), (5) topics were covered. That has helped minimize the war story drama that some speakers slip into.
Barry Westling
I've used field trips in my courses to show the different opportunities to students when they graduate. I also use guest lecturers on topics that I'm not a SME in, like taxes, to have someone who is knowledgeable speak about topics.
Guest speakers can be great if they remain on target. I've had some that zoned out during a vignette and have had to keep trying to bring them back on topic. some of the stories are interesting for the students but totally irrelevant for the topic they were brought in to discuss. any suggestions on keeping them on target?
Amy,
The experience of a field trip offers a unique type of instrucrtion, unlike almost any other kind of experience. These can be quite inspirational and motivalional, to the degree students can get "jazzed" about thier instructional program.
Barry Westling
Dave,
I agree field trips can inspirae and motivate as much as any other instructional tool we have avilable.
Barry Westling
James,
Two ideas come to mind. One is with prior arrangement, see if a field trip can be scheduled for the beginning of class, when pertinent site visitation may still be available. Another related thought is perhaps a good site might be willing to provide a special tour after hours. Yet, a third possibility might be a good guest speaker who can bring in some good visuals (PPT, photo's, or company produced marketing materials).
Barry Westling
I feel there are several benefit to the students by using outside speakers and field trips. The excitement of the change to learning from different people and differnt settings will allow the student to be more excited about the subject. They feel they are getting the first hand knowledge of being out in the workforce and be able to imagine themselves in the same role.
Speakers also allow a different teaching style to give information. The speaker may be sharing their stories and experiences which would be different than the primary teacher. This could reach students that might have issues relating to the teacher.
These short term changes might also help to revitalize a class who may be overwhelmed or bored with the subject matter.
Students get to see, in our field anyway, equipment and its application for their particular chosen field. This may kindle the fire of desire in their chosen field and with that give them an elevated enthusiasm and passion for information or knowledge.
I really like the idea of field trips. It is one of the ways I learned when I first started my career. Unfortunately, it was through on the job field trips where the company I worked for let us go out and visit construction sites. My issue is that it is hard for me to schedule a job site field trip as I teach night classes when most sites are shut down and most of my students work during the day. Would you have any suggestions there? I also like the guest speaker idea and see that as being easier to accomplish given my particular situation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Walt,
Very good! That personal, real life experience is irreplaceable.
Barry Westling
By attending field trips, my students experience what their industry is like and whether they are a good fit for the particular company we are visiting. In addition, they often have an opportunity to meet their future supervisor and begin to establish a professional relationship with that person. When I take my students to a company that does field service, and my students like what they see and make a good impression, they are often invited to spend a day with a technician in the field to experience first-hand what a typical work day would be like. All of these points are valuable for the student and helps them to make informed decisions about their career choices.
Adonis,
Both these activities are unique and extremely useful, especially the field trip. It's interesting I've observed that many times students have only vague ideas about what their profession or career area includes, even being ejnrolled in a program. What's great about the field trip is it can open eyes and minds of students who would otherwise be unaware of opportunities and activities within their own profession. And guest speakers allow students to ask questions that they might not think to ask of their own instructors.
Barry Westling
Guest speakers give students the opportunity to ask real-life questions related to their field from someone with current experience. Field trips allow students to see the field in action and see how their learning is applied to the real world.
Staci,
Having a different "voice or perspective" adds variety to the routine of daily classes too. Sometimes that voice can stimulate thought, questions, or seam together content that has been fuzzy.
Barry Westling
I am a massage instructor and I love taking my students to different locations in our field, like spas and chiropractic offices so they can see the different aspects of our field. It really helps them decide which way they would like to go in their career. Guest speakers are also great because as the course said they bring real life into the classroom and help the students realize that as in any part of life it is not always as easy as they assume or expect things to be.
Elena,
Yes, students often have varying ideas (not always accurate) about what a career area or profession has to offer.
Barry Westling
Field trips and guest speakers are very important in learning process. Field trip is a great opportunities for students not to hear about their chosen profession, but also immers for a short period of time into it and be able to see how their real working environment will look like.
Guest speaker can answer all questions and give head ups for students who are in the process of acquiring their professional skills through didactic lectures.
