Using life experiences will build your credibility as well.
Using life experiences helps the adult learners focus on positives in their lives when sometimes they seem to be negatives and as they share what they really can and have done they realize what they really have done. Also they see similarities with other students in the class and make some new friends as they share. They realize they are not alone.
As we share experiences the focus is on where they where they are going and how far they have come to get there. I teach the classes as they begin their school life and I need to get them to change their mindset from what they can't do to what they have done and can do.
Several of my students have a variety of work experiences to share. This is why they are back in school because they were not satisfied with their situation. They can add experiences both positive and negative; students respect their answers because they are their peers.
Hi Melissa!
When you see lightbulbs go on, you know students are learning. And - when students share their knowledge - learning on continues.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
It allows them to feel comfortable with others.
It helps to relate to the student through the field of study. It makes them feel like they can make it through the course and build their own experiences too
I think adults using life experiences, in addition to promoting their success, can also lead to a sense of acceptance and value. As adult learners see their input being valued it generally results in them reacting the same to other's experiences.
Experience gives students something personal to share and an association with the vocabulary and concepts that they will never forget. Once that association is made, they can explain the concept to others in their own words and pass on their knowledge!
Good post, served as a reminder to me!
Relating it to today or their future is the key
It is a way of linking the material to their future. I find students are interested in us as people and they want to like us. It is OK to talk a little about "back in the day" but most experiences should relate to today or their future.
It's important for adult learners to be able to use their life experiences in the classroom because it helps them to relate the material to their own situation. It helps them apply the information. This will help motivate them and it helps to individualize the course for the students. It also helps keep the class more active rather than passive.
Sharing my life experiences lets the students know I'm human, that I too have made mistakes along the way. My main point here is to make them understand that I have learned from these mistakes. Sometimes making a mistake can be a good thing if you learn not to make that mistake again. I have found that the students get a better understanding of why we tell them the things that we do by seeing the results of their mistake. Its also not just sharing life experiences but how you tell them, I seem to have this gift of story telling that the students seem to love and give me their complete attention.
Hi Robert!
I find using life experiences is an incredible learning tool and is very valuable when used appropriately in the classroom. Good job and keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
It is important that the adult learners feels that they are adding something to the lesson. They learn better if they can connect with the subject on their level.
I have found with my experiences both personal and medical, that I can use this in the classroom to make open discussions on differant topics that we are learning about. By giving the students examples that are actual life experiences it helps the topic be more memorable, but more easily understood and relatable. Students tend to be more intersted in the topic by telling them a personal experience of one of your own, or maybe another student. It breaks up the lecture, and can make it easier to understand the topic, especially for students who do not do well with reading. But so with listening.
Dear Mr. Hollowell,
As we already know it is great to have students use their life experiences as a prerequisite to understanding and evaluating their career goal choice. I also find it valuable for the student to also listen to my past vast culinary life experiences and how they related to my life choices and goal successes that they too can achieve and process for successful goal applications.
Bobby
Everyone has experiences that, at times, may be reflected in the study topic. It is nice to see how students respond to these personal experiences.
Hi Michaelle!
Interesting that you would say that we learn more from negative experiences. I just read something today that goes like this "you can't be braave if you only have wonderful things happen to you".
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Discussing and reflecting upon life experiences is an excellent way for learners to put course material into "context" and understand the significance of what is being taught. It is also a great way for other learners with little or no experience to comprehend and make associations with materials and real life.
When you have a mixed aged class it helps the older students feel part of the group as they have something to lend. There is a lot to be learned from life experiences of others.
