Adding Real World Information
It's important to incorporate as much real world information into the classroom as possible to show how the information that is being conveyed is applicable.
I agree,
this is essential in my teaching approach. I need my students to be able to put a real world connection to the information, as it seems to help with information retention.
You can't prepare for the real world because who can say what the real world is for any given idividual. It is different for everyone. Experience, age, skills, family interaction, peer guidance, ect all develop our life, not our world. Not everyone will take everything and use it the exact same way. All students will achieve to their own level of success. Steve
I agree. Sometimes I will bring up what I experienced on the job to help engage the students in discussion. I usually try to do it in classes when students can't see the relevance of certain material.
Hi Michelle,
I am sure they do. Students like stories about the field because it helps get them excited about what they will face when they are out there. Stories as you know as good motivators. Keep telling those stories.
Gary
I have worked 12 years in the field of pharmacy and my students love to hear what they might face in the field before they are placed in the work force
lessons learned from real world stories hopefully can help students not make the same mistakes
This is especially true in when teaching nursing, this provides the students with concrete examples of the course material that they can draw from when they need to recall information. Students are always very interested in the various example I have given them of my different experiences in nursing, and the more graphic the better.
Hi Jimmy,
I like your thinking. I think you are taking the right approach to setting up your students for success. They do need to hear how it is out in the real world. Food Network hasn't done your field any favors in terms of how they have taken the behind the scenes work away and only show the exciting part of the field.
The students need to know what really is all about for every field so the adjustment is not too great when they enter their careers.
Gary
I am troubled by that suggestion. As a student I thoroughly enjoyed hearing real world stories. I have, however, also heard of instructors being reprimanded for telling too many "war stories." At the culinary school I struggle between letting the students know how it is out there in the field and how I am suppose to teach the students because in the field we don't always have the luxury of doing consomme from scratch. The way I have resolved the dilemma is to think of myself as teaching a foundation, how it is traditionally done, and in doing so I'm arming the students with the knowledge to improvise and expand upon the traditional.
It sure does help apply the real world!
Hi Lorraine,
You will find that many students are enrolled in career areas in which they have little or no interest as well as aptitude. These students are in need of assistance in terms of career guidance. They need help in selecting a career that is realistic for them.
I agree if they can't make it in the course they little hope of making it in the field. It is a dis-service to these students to let them squeak by when they do not have the knowledge nor skills to be successful.
Gary
I believe that the purpose of these classes is to prepare students for the real world. They are not going to be in class forever, so just having them learn how to maneuver around the class setting,is not really preparing them for what their bosses are going to expext. If they cant cut it in the course...maybe it is not really the career for them? Isnt that unfair?
I think that in some instances it is better to let the student experience the "real world". that is often how they learn to handle ethical situations.
Absolutely!
I like to bring in newspaper articles to relate to what we are going over.
I also relay real world studies from others-- lessons learned, and success stories that others have relayed over the years. It helps to supplement my own experiences, especially when I am teaching about an area of the field that I've only minimally touched in recent years.
All of us have at least one or two interesting stories from our careers in the field. Bringing these stories to your classroom not only gives your students insight to what lies ahead for them but it also can create a fun environment.
I think it is very important to give examples of things that really happen in the field. Therefore, the student will not be shocked by the reality of there working environment
The application of real world experiences enhances the students' understanding of the course content.
I agree. One of the biggest issues I had in school was wondering how I was going to apply my schooling in my professional career. Now I see it and wish I had paid more attention to detail regarding some certain areas of education.
What I will say also is that by showing what is important to one, it may not be important to others based on desires of work, but at the same time informing the students of the negatives of not learning something is important to stress the importance of basic knowledge of skills.
