Because they have many success stories that they can share with others. Sharing those stories can leave them feeling successful.
Students often find life experiences help to make the material clearer and they are able to develop their own personal examples. Some learners need the experiential component to understand how it will apply to their careers.
Using stories about when I was in the field, helps the students connect with what they are learning in the classroom with what will be required of them out in the field. It also lightens the mood in class, lets everybody relax a bit before we hits the books again.
It is important for adult learners to use their life experiences in class because, its helps provide insights on how things are done in a practical world and this skill also gives them a heads up in understanding theoretical applications of systems and processes.
In an adult education situation I believe that the more a skill, situation, or bit of useful knowledge is shown to be worth while the more it will be learned retained and put to use. In other words if someone used it, it worked and they succeded I will do the same.
Hi Jeanne!
I can't think of a better teaching environment to use real life experiences. As you said, everyone has had or known someone who has had a medical need.
Good job and I know that you are teaching people to be sympathic and empathic.
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I find using life experiences when I am teaching nursing classes really helps many of my students to grasp some concepts. Even if they have never been employed in the health care field they have usually had some access or their friends and family have had contact with health care. I try to show them some of the perspectives from the health care provider view and and then the perspective of the client. I teach early in the course so I try to build in my students the desire and motivation to build good nurse-patient relationships and nurture these so we can develop a positive and therapeutic relationship.
Hi Nathan!
I couldn't agree more! Learning occurs all the time.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
It's much easyer to "set the hook" of the lesson by reveiwing a real world scenario. If the goal is to truly teach something, it needs to be retained for more than just test time.
Greetings Elizabeth!
I would really enjoy being a student in your class. I can tell from your post that you are truly interested in student outcomes.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Using life experiences helps students relate the topic at hand to life! “How will I use this information in the real world?†or “Why am I learning this?†I use my life experiences all the time when I’m teaching. I think it helps the students to see that “YES people do need to know this stuff†and that’s why I’m teaching it. Many of my students have told me that they like to hear my life experiences while in the work place because it helps them to envision/picture how the topic works or how it should work.
They are then able to connect on a personal level with the information they are being presented with, and this helps them to stay focused and motivated. The somewhat vague "big picture" of a chosen educational field becomes much more clear and easy to understand when you have already experienced things in life that you can relate it to. Success then seems that much more natural of an ending to your education and beginning to your future career.
Life experiences will have taught them safety and when or where to push the limits. Drawing on those experiences helps them to make, hopefully, better decisions.
Hi Allan!
If you think about it, text books are life experiences in a binding!
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
life experiences many times offer an example to other students about a topic which helps them learn concepts. They can understand how to apply the exsmple or topic to enhance understanding
Hi Ruth!
It is wonderful to witness the light go on for students who realize that they really can make it. I find that so many people don't have a positive self-image and instructors really can help facilitate a change in attitudes.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Jessica!
I can't emphasize enough how important it is for students to share/apply real world experiences in the classroom. And - I like that you allow your students to share both positive and negative experiences.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I have over 30 years of experience in the field and have taught the same professional courses in two other community colleges, so I have alot of experience to share. It really livens up the "old, stuffy theories" we are required to teach and helps students understand those theories, skills and techniques alot easier.
I definitely share some of my life experiences in my teaching method. I have found that by giving them "real world" examples they tend to have a clearer picture of what they will be experiencing in our profession (culinary arts). I also welcome students with field experiences to share them with the rest of the class, so others will have another perspective besides mine. Students that have not worked in the field but have experiences that could relate to the subject, can also be very beneficial.
Every student needs to feel that they are making a contribution to the classroom experience. Adult students are no exception, and they can do so by using their life's experience.
