Personal Experiences
I feel that the time I have spent int he field myself really bring light to the students of what they are embarking on.
Hi Roady!
Absolutely! Most types of hands on programs heavily rely on personal experiences. Once the basic textbook knowledged has been learned, students need the instructors on-the-job knowledge.
Good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
As an automotive instructor, I feel it's vital to share personal experiences with our students. There are many things that happen in the automotive industry that are not in the text books that students need to be aware of, and the students find it much more interesting when you are sharing personal experiences.
This is one of the aspects of my teaching that the students seem to enjoy the most. It is imperative that I don't spent too much time doing this, (as I have seen other instructors do),because the subject matter doesn't get covered properly.
I also teach in a technical institute. I teach medical assistants. As a nurse for near 30 years I can bring many personal experiences that add a personal touch and examples of what may be in the field they are entering
"I send my students to school to learn from the teacher, but they actually learn from each other."
It then becomes their own personal experience. we remember and relate to things on their emotional content. I encourage learning from each other and find sometimes their experiences can teach each other more than I can. Makes it real and not fantasy.
As I teach Criminal Justice in a technical institute all the teachers have practical field experience. Sharing real life experiences with the students, and allowing students to share their experiences, it vital to the learning process. Ralph Waldo Emerson said that (and I paraphrase) "I send my students to school to learn from the teacher, but they actually learn from each other."
I agree. I feel it can also show them how wide the field can be. Many of my fashion students feel they have to be a big name designer and ignore the many other possiblites in the industry. My life stories can help them see that other choices can be exciting as well.
I agree, even though our fields are very different, Im a Surgical Technology Instructor and I do find that students "don't" believe the reality of how it is to work in the OR. They find it very hard to belive that "a Doctor" would realy curse, throw instruments and basically have a tantrum in the OR. That is the Real World that I have to prepare my students for and them not believing me is not helping them come to what their reality will be. On the other hand, they love stories of "the stange and bizarre"cases they will see and do.
Seeing as how its my experiance in the field that got me this position I cant see how sharing personal experiances can be avoided...but is there a line?
I always use my experiences in the field to relate to my student to give them first knowledge on the subject.
Hi Majorie!
Coupled with academic learning, learning experieces provide very important reenforcement of learning principles.
Keep up the good work!
jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I agree that sharing provides a reality check for the students, but sometimes they don't believe what we tell them! A lot of my kids think the food network is reality, and all the stories I tell them take the place of "when I was your age, we had to walk 15 miles uphill in the snow..............."!
Holly Pugliese
Pastry Chef/Instructor
California Culinary Academy
Excellent point Tammy! It's about being able to transfer and apply classroom learning to the real world.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I am an instructor in the cosmetology department. I find that my experiences in the salon environment have been very beneficial to my students. It helps them understand what to prepare for when they enter the field themselves.
Sharing experiences is a great way to show your students that you are human and that you do have experience in the subject that you are teaching. As I think of very often, when I learned in the classroom, I really enjoyed hearing about the teacher's real world experiences and it made what I was learning much more real to me.
Hi Kerry!
I'm convinced that students who sit in a classroom have some expectation that the instructor and other students will share experiences. Sharing experiences provides a reality check for most students.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I agree, I think sharing my experiences and expertise with my students prepares them for their future.
