I believe the benefit for students in taking field trips and listening to guest speakers is definitely the ability to actually "see" the career they are going into. Students who are not necessarily required to do any clinic or exernship hours may not really ever have the opportunity to witness, firsthand, what they will be required to do. For that reason, field trips and guest speakers help to open the door to those who may not be in a hands-on type field so they can be excited as well as prepared.
Eddy,
I love field trips and good guest speakers. For the field trips, students get unique exposure to aspects of their career choice that is unlike anything they could ever get in the classroom or lab setting. These are usually meaningful and memorable, and can be a motivator for better classroom study habits too.
Barry Westling
It allows the learning to also be an external part of the program which the students can also learn hands on and make the more active with in the program or class also a part of the school.
Melissa,
Great! This kind of experience will be memorable and useful for probably the entireity of these students careers. That's what's cool about fieled trips; they offer something unique not found in the classroom or lab setting on the school campus.
Barry Westling
I love field trips. Currently I am teaching Veterinary Technology to our senior students and found this wonderful opportunity to take the students to P.A.W.S. It has been at the forefront of efforts to rescue and provide appropriate, humane sanctuary for animals who have been the victims of the exotic and performing animal trades. PAWS investigates reports of abused performing and exotic animals, documents cruelty and assists in investigations and prosecutions by regulatory agencies to alleviate the suffering of captive wildlife. This is a side of veterinary medicine that the students have not experienced within our lecture material nor personally. P.A.W.S. is not open to the public, however I was able to get a tour set up for our students. I am really excited.
Cynthia,
Right. A well planned field trip or good guest speaker can bring a dimension to instruction that is unlike anything that could be done in the classroom or lab setting. I always find students are excited amd moved by a good field trip. Sometimes, weaker students get motivated to "get down to business" after what they see in the field trip.
Barry Westling
Gail,
Great experience for your students. This kind of experience is suredly memorable and likely stimulates a lot of discussion and interest for students, especially when the presenter is enthusiastic and passionate abuot what they do.
Barry Westling
I highly encourage guest speakers and field trips as they are a way for students to get a real life look into their chosen career path. It is also a way for the students to decide where their area of interest lies. In the Dental Assisting Program there are many different specialties in which the students can seek employment after graduation. How else can they get the exposure needed? Class lecture and lab is not enough.
I take my nursing students to a large cadaver lab where they are exposed to human anatomy and physiology. The students say they love the visual and hands on application. A favorite speaker, who visits, brings her expertise as a wound nurse to the classroom with stories and great slides. She adds the dynamic of reality to the classroom mix
Daniel,
I agree. I reall like field trips as their is no classroom or lab activity that can match the potential outcomes this learning tool can produce. Good guest speakers are in that same category.
Barry Westling
Field trips and guest speakers are perfect ways for students to gain real life experiences and gather first hand knowledge of the way(s) things will function on the job. books and classroom situations are important, but field trips and guest speakers bring more of a reality to the fore for many students.
Kyle,
I don't think ythere is anything rong with preparing the guest speaker with some background, what the students want to know, or even asking that they merge certain key points into their topic. I know we've asked them in for their expertise and special spin, but if it turns out just so-so, we'll have wasted valuable time (and students will notice too).
Barry Westling
As the Director of Student Services at a massage school we teach a Directed Study Project which allows the students to pick an area of interest and research that topic/modality, write a paper on it and present it to their peers. I found that bringing in a variety of guest speakers is of GREAT benefit to the class. Not only does it break up the monotony of a research project but it allows them to talk to subject matter experts, see a variety of different directions their careers can take, and help them with their individual projects. However, I found preparing the speaker is VERY important. This process has also forged a number of good connections.
Carmencita,
This is usualkly the case, especially after a particularly well conducted field trip.
Barry Westling
When I have guest speakers and also offer Field Trips to my students. They enjoy watching others work in the field the are studying to work in.
They get enthusiastic and excited. They come to the classroom very motivated.
Aimee,
Yes, I would imagine visitation is a big part of training, as is mine. We spend 1000 hours in clinical settings, the same type of setting my graduates will ultimately work in. But beyond that, there are supplemental field trips and guest speakers that can contribute to enhanced academic and/or lab classes that add relevance and make classes more interesting too.
Barry Westling
Field trips break up the daily routine and help deliver information in a new way. Teaching large animal medicine to vet tech students is impossible without many field trips. Students always give very positive feedback on this class and comment on the field trips every time.
Brandi,
Cool. I think good guest speakers bring a dynamic to the classroom unlike other activities. As in your experience, students enjoy good speakers, hear a different perspective, and get to ask questions they might not even think about asking in their regular classroom routines.
Barry Westling
My students responded very well to a particular guest speaker I brought in. They said it was one of the best experiences they've ever had as far as connecting the content to the real world.
Juan,
Getting students jazzed about our topics is difficult enough, but I've never seen that not happen with a good field trip or great guest speaker. I'll take that any time!
Barry Westling
