Mitchell,
Great perspective! Students want to transfer their academic learning to employment-related activities. Some say that any knowledge that can't be applied somehow is less valuable. Don't know if that's necessarily true but being proficient in the work setting because of skills and knowledge learned in school can be a valued and lifelong experience.
Barry Westling
Aneisha,
Yes, skills and knowledge are essential. I also would add attitude, behavior, and professionalism specific to or applicable with the work setting they are preparing for would be important as achievement goals.
Barry Westling
The goal of educating students is to provide them with practical knowledge and the tools to take what they have learned in the classroom and be able to apply that knowledge a practical way in the field, sometimes in ways neither your nor the student could have foreseen.
Metaphorically speaking, it is to provide them with the language of their field so they can succeed in the real world and have professional communication using the appropriate language but their own words.
The goal of educating students is to ensure that they are prepared to enter the field with valuable knowledge and real world skils.
Chuck,
Yes, there are many unique goals for educating, some with emphasis on the facilitator, some with emphasis on the learner's outcome. Perhaps the common thread is that there must be change of some kind for education to occur. The change could be in knowledge, behavior, attitude, skill, perspective, or ideas. If so, then how that change is to come about would probably define the goal for that specific learning environment.
Barry Westling
As indicated by the numerous responses, there are a variety of perspectives re: the "goal(s)" of educating students. I think (it) is also differentiated and dependent upon the context and setting (informal v. formal educational settings, University v. Career/Professional/Technical School, etc.) as well as based on either personal values and beliefs and/or those of the institution's respective Mission and/or accrediting bodies which proscribe the educational (i.e., learning) mandates/outcomes such institutions need to produce. It is my experience and belief that any goals as such are driven both explicitly and implicitly by external forces.
For instance, a baccalaureate Social Work degree program's goals are based upon preparing and graduating competent and principled social work majors at the generalist practice, entry level of the profession for service, advocacy, and leadership, and to prepare students for successful graduate education. Subsequent goals (too numerous and elaborate for the purpose of this discussion) need to be reflective of and take into account not only the student's backgrounds, needs and goals, but also serve to prepare them for serving the people and communities with whom they are likely to work and live, including the global community. It should be noted that these goals are informed both by the University's own history and identity (i.e., it's "Mission") as well as by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).
Are the goals of a private, career/technical school likely to be the same as compared to those of a public medical school/university? I think on a fundamental level education serves to affect change, whether it be for the individual (student/learner) to acquire vocational skills as a measure of realizing their true potential, or perhaps a bigger-picture goal is to better and change in some part, the world in which the individual is a part of. Of course, a critical theorist perspective would argue that (formal) education merely serves to perpetuate existing political/sociological ideologies and/or social/economic structures...
Paul,
Good point. We want students (graduates) to be able to think on their feet when they get employment in the work setting. Integrating critical thinking skills into the lessons is a good goal to achieve because these skills can help them in both their work and personal lives as well.
Barry Westling
The goal of educating students is to teach them specific actions so they can replicate tasks. In addition education should help students acquire the ability to think beyond what they have been taught so they can affect change in their careers and lives.
Thor,
Yes, the application and coordination of all the facts really determines when a student has mastered all of the steps, facts, or processes involed with a particular topic.
Barry Westling
Lisa has a great point.
I am a culinary instructor, and like pastry it is important for students to understand the foundation techniques alone, and then learn how to make them all work together seamlessly.
Mike,
Yes, understanding is the key. I've found students can memorize information, but better instruction involves both doing and understanding.
Barry Westling
To me, the goal of educating students is to take a person who has little or no knowledge of a subject, and turn them into a person with a basic understanding of how and why that subject is important to the career field that they are pursuing. If a person does not understand why the subject matter is relevant to them, they are less likely to comprehend the lesson, therefore starting a path towards a potential failure. And it is my opinion that the failure is not on the student in this example. It would be the failure of the instructor.
Candace,
Yes. Also, discussion, pair-share, student-led presentations. Things like this get students involved and almost guarantees engagement, and therefore, better student learning outcomes.
Barry Westling
Often the topic is dry but very important. Keeping the students interest can be a challenge for the instructor. Overheads and opts are important to hold interest
LeJean,
Confidence and competence, presented through a caring, approachable instructor will get results most schools want to see. With these attributes, our students will leave with the knowledge, skills, behaviors and professionalism we desire.
Barry Westling
The Goal of educating students is to provide the information needed for their learning of the course content. This requires an instructor to be well prepared, and offer a variety of ways to present the information so that all students can achieve success in the learning process. In addition, it is important that a student can do "critical thinking" and apply the information from the classroom setting into the "real world" via problem solving and outside of the classsroom setting! That is when an Instructor knows when "Learning" has been accomplished!
Marianne,
Yes, we provide basic information that helps students get their initial jobs and hopefully, they will take this information further, grow, teach others, and become experts themselves, in their own ways.
Barry Westling
The goal of educating students is to provide the foundation for a career in which they become life long learners,enabling them to continuously grow in their careers.
Marianne,
Right! Skills, knowledge, behavior, attitude and professionalism. With these skills, most students will be ready for both work and even help in their personal lives.
Barry Westling
My goal on educating students is to teach them the skills they will need for their career of choice when they are finished with their program.
