I think it makes them realize we are human as well. We are not just teaching out of a textbook, we are out in the field experiencing what they are about to. They get to see our enthusiasm for the field as well.
Sharing life experiences in the classroom is a valuable non lesson planned activity. The diversity of the class lends itself to multiple experiences and examples from all ages and walks of life. At times, these examples are far more vivid than the textbook scenerios, and students comprehend their peers and instructor in "dialogue sessions" quicker than the textbook examples more often.
Sometime life experiences can be motivator mean they have tackled that part of their life now they are ready and able to move on to something better. Example maybe a student has been a bus driver for the last 10 years now they are ready to move on to a different field. Through their life experiences that have learned how to work with different people and attitudes and this can be shared in the class room as a learning tool
It helps them show how they can relate what they know from life and a previous career to what they are learning now. They like to share what they know already with me as their instructor and fellow students. It also helps draw analogies to concepts they already understand to things they don't understand.
This ties them in and helps to ease thoughts of inadequacies. It helps them to become motivated and focused learners
Everyone likes to share a story. If it is expecially related to the topic at hand. this helps other students to think of their own stories and share it with the class.
In using their life experiences in the classroom, the adult learners can transfer some of these skills to their classroom experience, helping themselves and others to learn, and they can also see how some of the experiences can relate to their field of study. Not all experiences will apply, but some of them make a good foundation to build upon. By sharing some of my life experiences and explaining how it relates, I can get them possibly thinking in new directions and see what they can use from their own experiences.
I also believe that experience is a good teacher. The students can definitely learn from the teachers experiences in his field of study and the teachers experiences in the work place and society as a whole. This gives credence to what the teacher is teaching. The student’s experience can also be beneficial. The class can learn from the experiences of other students and the students who are relating the experience can become more relaxed in the class by being able to talk about their experiences.
(Sharing my life experiences lets the students know I'm human, that I too have made mistakes along the way)SO true... I was taught by somevery good older tech as I was growing up who showed me the correct way and also the short cuts they knew. always telling me to share what I have learned I explain to my student some of the tings I did grownig up working on who evers car so we could have a ride, how I was taught, and mistakes that I made with a little comedy it goes a long way. But it gets my student to interact now knowing I to made mistakes
I agree using life experiences it an excellent tool in the class room it helps the younger students see the end result
I feel people are able to relate better through personal experiance, it brings a group closer together, and builds relationships.
I always share my life experiences and encourage the students to do the same because of the mental image. An image is much easier to understand than just a concept on paper.
Life experiences are a very helpful tool in Career Colleges, are students are unique because they do real life experiences from the work place and life in general. Allowing adult learners to use their life experiences makes them feel part of the class and that their life experience counts for something.
The students have so much to offer by sharing their life experiences that contribute to the learning of other students.
I have my older students work with my younger students because I like all different view points in my class. Each student brings different life experiences and I feel that makes for a most better class. I have students who are 42 years old working with 18 year old students. It makes class fun!
Allowing adult learners to share their life experiences allows them to feel like they are "teaching" the class as well. It gives them a sense of being included. Their life experiences are something they know well and it helps them feel comfortable talking in front of the group.
I feel it is essential to offer real life experiences in the classroom. Students gain a better understanding of what it will be like outside of the classroom experience. I agree with the comments regarding our experiences. I too talk about errors I have made, and how it impacted my job and what corrections were made to avoid it in the future. Sometimes when sharing, students have their own experiences - especially with healthcare, that we can discuss and get answers to real life questions.
Adult learners wish to make what they are learning relevant to the life they have already created. Using and sharing their personal experiences in class is one way for them to forge a connection between the particuoars of their life and the content of the course.
When sharing my life experiences, I will ask students if they have had similar experiences and what they took from those experiences.
It gives others something to reflect on. It may motivate them in their future career.
