James,
Right! Transfer of applicable knowledge along with critical thinking and problem solving gives students a good start as they begin their career.
Barry Westling
To be able to use what they have learned in unfamiliar situations; to be able to transfer knowledge and skills in situations they encounter in work and life.
Cassandra,
On a more philosophical note, successful career program completion can provide, safety, security, and hope for a better future. But the knowledge, skills and behaviors are part of the key that unlocks these traits.
Barry Westling
To give the students skills to have a successful career in their chose in field.
To give them skill to be able to have a career in their chosen field.
Erin,
Also, providing some degree of soft skills such as attendance, communication, and professional behaviors amplifies the technical or career instruction the student receives.
Barry Westling
Equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed or navigate in their next level of education or career field.
Eugene,
Yes, the employer is our final customer, and our student-graduate the product. Each customer wants the product for their unique and specific purpose, but the basic elements have to be there for "customer satisfaction". Knowledge, skills, and appropriate behaviors must be successfully transferred from the instructor to the student in order to have "order fulfillment".
Barry Westling
The goal in educating students is to provide them with enough of a fundamental background and inherent thirst to apply what they have been taught so they can enter the work force with enough knowledge to provide their employer a piece of clay which can be molded and taught the finer details of their career with a more hands on approach. Techniques and reasons for those techniques open their thought process to being able to absorb real world changes to those techniques under varying situational changes in application of the foundations they learned while in a school setting or in a more controlled environment.
John,
Retention is good. Application is also a needed outcome, and the ability to solve problems and think critically would be higher level outcomes.
Barry Westling
To put theories and facts to practice in different yet relevant ways so that the students can effectively retain the knowledge.
eirzaad,
Yeah, we can provide the technical skills and knowledge, but without the soft skills and behavior associated with a professional, a successful career may be less likely. One way is by being a good role model. Also, consistent adherence to class and institutional policies can reinforce the importance of compliance.
Barry Westling
The goal of educating students is to equip them with the tools necessary for them to succeed in the real working environment. As a dental hygiene instructor, this will include didactic and clinical skills as well as other traits that would be associated with any other professions such as good communicator,being professional as well as having a sense of integrity.
Arlene,
More often than not, we are hired because of our experience, something that no textbook or instructional resource can replace. Imparting that knowledge and steering students to the appropriate applications can definitely be something to be proud of.
Barry Westling
We educate the students, with the skills needed to obtain a job and retain this position. The skills and knowledge they learn form us as instrutors is something they will have for a lifetime.
Jamie,
Since most of the participants in these posts are in career colleges or technical classes, providing the professional behaviors along with the skills and knowledge needed are the minimal standards. But good communication (verbal and written), math, critical thinking, and attitude all contribute to outcomes employers want to see.
Barry Westling
Goals are decided by the students according to how a program is sold by the admissions process and more importantly the exact expectations of the instructional staff themselves. Standards are easy as they fit the career field. I believe that we should always begin the education with the students view of these goals and make sure they are aligned with what our objectives and end goals will be. My students expectations are sometimes misaligned and my job is to educate to real needs and end results.
William,
I read that more employees lose their employment for the non-technical (failure to conform with the soft skills required in a work setting) than lose work because of technical incompetence. To the degree this is true, it underscores the importance of trying to shape students attitudes and behaviors while they are in our charge.
Barry Westling
Along with everything that we teach, get them to think, and show them how things work, problem solving is very important. Getting the student to see how things work, and how to correct the problems. Also to teach them work ethics, be on time, stay all day, work hard.
Lea-Anne,
Great! Many students share this hoped for outcome. If the skills, knowledge, and personal behavior to be successful on the job is provided within the scope of the course, that'd be the biggest help we could give them for their desired outcome.
Barry Westling
