Writing Abiltiy in Career Focused education
I often focus my exams and evaluations on content application not rote memorization of terms or concepts. In order to demonstrate that they have understood the concepts I have covered I ask questions related to the material and ask my students to relate it to their own experiences or career goals. This works as an excellent way for me to get to know my students aspirations more personally so I can better tailor the educational experience for them. However, I am finding it difficult to find a balance between grading for content of the essays and being distracted by lack of grammar, spelling, and basic sentence structure. I started the term more lenient and have become increasingly more nit-picky about the aforementioned things. My problem, I am finding, is convincing my students that knowing how to structure an essay or even write a coherent sentence is important to their future careers, which are mostly hands-on trades. Any suggestions?
I try very hard to find a mentor or positive role model that will speak to the students individually and collectively about the need for proper communication skills in any work field.\
When this isn't possible, i relate personal stories of people in similar situtions that had the career and job skills but the mistakes cost them the job.
The career college I teach at is primarily medically based careers. I remind my students that doctors and nurses are learned people and expect those they work with to be the same. Additionally, patient contact is always paramount in the medical field and if you can't relate to the patients orally as well as writing instructions in a way that can be understood, then you won't have your job long.
Trying to find writing assignments that are relevant to the classes I am currently teaching is not difficult. I am an instructor in a Business program.
Creativity in writing assignments and problem solving is paramount.
The one area of lesser choices in this regard is in certain software application textbooks; the exercises are not as relevant. This is when I divise and design those that are.
Students need to see the relevance of assignments (proper grammar, spelling, word usage) no matter the situation or activity. A grammar error or spelling error is not acceptable no matter what the context.
Sadly, I think this is becoming a very common problem. Try to find a writing assignment that is more contextually relevant to the career they are going into. Even Graphic Artists are going to have to put toghter project proposals. Good luck!
