I used to teach Operations Security, when I delivered the training, I touched on the importance in the workplace but my examples were mainly that of identity theft, laptop theft, etc. to relate the topic and importance of securing valuable information to the worker.
I feel memorable examples are very important in helping students remember course content. By taking the lecture material or discussed content and actually applying it to a scenario or actual life event of one or all of the students, they develop their own A-HA moment and those moments are priceless when it comes to learning!
Memorable examples are helpful because they help students relate to the course content and when they relate it helps with memory.
Students are more likely to remember life experiences rather that rote material. Any story you can recall from years ago is most likely going to be memorable for others too; whether it's funny, sad, or shocking it will leave an impression upon your students and can act as a valuable teaching and learning tool.
I have learned that student catch on and can relate to the lesson being taught, when they can relate it to different situations. Being a Cosmetologist Instructor, I relate a lot of real life situations to the classroom to show the students the importance of why they need to know different things within their course. The examples also gives the students the ablity to give feedback and relate it to something that they have done, and how it would help them in the future in their career.
Students in the career college setting love to see how class content relates to the real-world experiences they are looking forward to enjoying when they get out of school. They love the colorful "war stories" and sharing them helps reinforce the points I want them to remember about the task at hand.
Using an example or analogy seems to always "lock In" or "drive home" what you are trying to relay. You usually always have "ahha" moments with the students. They "get it" when you can use relateable examples.
It helps them relate new concepts to their own life experience. By giving memorable examples it not only entertains the student and keeps them engaged but it gives them one more way to reinforce their understanding of a new concept.
Students remember what is important to them. Using examples that relate to their course of study help them realize that the material is important. It also helps to use personal examples of you interacting with the material in the field. Lastly provide examples of how and when the students might use the information in their personal lives as well as in their careers.
Application of experience to the content. When a student can apply it, by an example/experience shared, they learn it more intently.
Not only does this give students a real-world example to relate to but I find that if I can give them a personal example it gives them one more connection - to me, the instructor. When you tell a story about someone you don't know it's okay. However, when you tell a story about someone you do know or about yourself, your listeners become more engaged because you are more engaged.
Karen
This aspect of the course content (Using Memorable Examples) was extremely helpful to me. Let me explain: I teach composition courses and it has always been important to me to reassure the students that anything that they write in their assigned essays (and journals) would be held strictly confidential. This way the more private students would be motivated to choose topics about which they were most familiar--namely themselves!
I've found that on more than one occasion I've blurted out aspects of a student's writings when they were relevant to a topic I might be covering in the moment. This hasn't happened often, but when it has, it has gone smoothly. I don't know if I had subconsciously picked up something that suggested to me my blurting would be alright, but invaraibly I would post-hoc ask the student if it was OK and they always agreed.
What our lesson 1 content and this previous classroom experience of mine has led me to is this: I have an invaluable (and bottomless!) resevoir from which I can draw, and I have heretofore neglected it. I will, beginning next term, ask students for permission--individually--to use personal material that they present in their essays. Not only will this allow for a more palpable retention device for content matter, but it will also help bond the students together as a class, a sort of band of comrades with one clear mission...to succeed in retaining course content.
I like to bring students up to the front of the classroom and use them as examples... for instance i have this particular lecture about opposing forces and finding a balance.. I use myself and two students to represent the opposing forces...it works so well...it gets them involved...its is funny and we laugh and carry on. but students remember it. They even remember which student was named which chemical. It does work. I love making eye contact with my students, it makes them feel important and involved. i so agree with this concept and I use it with every lecture.
I find that when I use really outrageous examples to teach concept the student are not only entertained but they never forget the example.
It keeps them interested and excited about things they can expect to encounter and tt gives them "real life" senarios.
I always like to use real life examples whenever possible. I taught my students blood flow of the heart and and many of my students wanted to know why they would need to remember that. I explained to them that not knowing the blood flow of the heart actually kept me from getting a job at a cardiology office. This was motivation for them to learn it and remember it.
Memorable examples are valuable in helping students to remember course content in that it establishes relevance. As my professional career now spans 40 plus years, students can see that I have walked in their shoes.
Life experiences, obstacles, resolve--these are things that we all encounter.
Supplemental personal examples in theory classes makes it interesting; it provides for dynamic, interactive group discussions.
As an instructor in the health care field I use memorable patient examples to make important points. The class can easily relate to patient examples, and the Do's or Don'ts are easy to remember.
Many of my students provide feedback through comments they make expressing the positive result of using memorable examples. For instance, I received a Christmad card today with four student's comments. In a couple of them, statements such as "we appreciate your crazy client stories," and "I will miss your, juicy ones." At times I will prepare students with a comment such as "here's a juicy one," prior to providing an interesting scenerio from a case I may have worked on or read about. Students have also commented that it helps them remember the material better.
When I teach a paralegal class which involves
an area of law I have practiced in my profession,
I use real life examples of the issues discussed
in the textbook. The students express more
interest in the topic, more of the students tend
to participate, and more students are willing
to express their opinions about the issue.
When more students participate, the discussion
usually creates a wider variety of opinions
and students become more open to joining the
conversation. The examples also tend to give
the students a peek into the real world and
the types of problems they will try to solve
upon entry into the paralegal profession.
