demonstrate your expertise in your field
I can always get a students attention when I am able to demonstrate why I am the instructor. It gives a sense of to the student of why I am the instructor. It confirms your alpha status.
Shawne,
We were all hired because we had the experience, education, training, and background determined to be beneficial to students in the courses we teach. But there is no substitute for experience. It's been said, "you can replace a person, but you can't replace what they know".
Barry Westling
I like sharing my experiences because it may help the students have a better understanding of how things go in the real world. Then when they get out there and maybe have a certain situation, they can think back on what I said and handle it the same way or something close to it.
Amber,
Great! First, students like stories. Secondly, anytime we can bring the work setting into the discussion, students are going to pay attention and participate more (and perhaps retain more). The old saying "what's in it for me" really is true, and if we can personalize things more, students will benefit.
Barry Westling
I agree. I find that telling my students about my own experiences out in the field show them not only the types of situations that can occur, but also show them how what they are learning in the classroom does in fact play a role in what to do and how to respond in the field.
Brian,
I think that stories have been used for hundreds of years to teach, convey traditions, and form the basis for culture and societal foundations. Our classes are really no different. There is the therory and practical. Stories help merge the two into a practical application for work.
Barry Westling
I too use short stories from the field both good and bad.I talk of some of the bad things that have happened to me for the purpose of showing how a positive attitude could usually turn these bad things into a positive learning experience.
Jodi,
First, I think students like stories, in general. Secondly, I think stories that pertain to the work setting are more interesting and capture students attention. Thirdly, as you describe, sharing experiences demonstrate that it's not book learning they're getting, but first-hand experience from the surgical suites in hospitals.
Barry Westling
I like to share my past work history with my students. this way they understand I can also practice what I teach. In surgical technology there are many ways to get to one goal, and many names for our instrumentation... Because I have worked in defferent parts of the country I like being able to let my students know that in different parts of the country/world they will need to know the names of instrumentation in that area, and be able to adapt to how set-ups are in that area. I think me working in multiple regions really has helped me expand my own knowledge so I can share with my students.
Charles,
Concurrent work in the designated profession is a definite plus. That said, I think creditbility is established by the competence, confidence, honesty, and integrity of the teacher. Holding to these traits can establish and demonstrate the value of what a teacher has to offer.
Barry Westling
As an instructor at a career college, being employed in the discipline that you are teaching is particularly important. It really is the only way to establish your credibility, and garner the respect of your students.
Dwayne,
People like stories. What we have that students don't is past situations, or examples that illustrate why we do (or don't do) certain things. One thing is having students learn to think critcally, and that comes by asking questions where the answer is not in the book. So like sharing case studies or past experiences, asking "What would you do (or should do)?Keeping the focus on the end goal is most advantageous.
Barry Westling
What are some ways to bring your work experience into the classroom? I can tell them about my work experience but that becomes monotonous after a while. What are some other ways to bring your real world experience into the classroom setting?
Christopher,
Part of why our employer hired us is the education, training, and experience we bring to the classroom. As a facilitator, much is taught that can never be put into a book.
Barry Westling
Thomas,
Stories are good because students can put themselves in the situation, or in some way relate to what is happening in the story. Once we can achieve that, we have the attention and focus to transition to more pertinent topic related to the course study.
Barry Westling
I agree, in order to gain my students respect showing my work experience is something that I've found to be very important.
In addition to my work experience I share tips that I've found in the field that tend to not me in the books.
Students enjoy seeing their instructor as a functioning member of the workforce in the field of study. For instance, the students enjoy my stories and anecdotal adventures as a practicing geologist while discussing the interactions of soil, rocks, and the living environment.
Francis,
I think students like stories. Sharing interesting, facinating, unusual, or phenomenal experiences from our past can nearly always grab the attention of students, which we can then merge into the current lesson or discussion.
Barry Westling
