Life experiences are important because it is a part of their knowledge base. They can relate the experiences to the current topics they are learning.
Using life experiences helps adult learners to apply what they know to the situation/topic at hand. It helps them to feel accomplished as well, which improves the motivation factor for the student! I encourage all students to discuss specific examples they've encountered through work that relate to the topic we are discussing. For example, I teach Medical Law & Ethics for the Medical Assisting program. If one of the students has healthcare experience, it is beneficial to let him/her share his/her experiences not only for that student but for the rest of the class as well.
It helps a student realize by applying past successful expeirences could/should help be as successful if not more so, than in the past. It helps strenghtens their identity as a student by drawing on past experiences, good and bad, helps them relize, "I can do this!"
Ultimately, we are trying to prepare our students for the real world outside of school. They need to understand what they are gong to face and how to deal with those things. Providing real life examples only helps with this. They also get tired of hearing examples from the teacher, so if you can elicit examples from the students in the class it only hleps to sloidify what is being learned.
Being able to discuss life experiences helps the student better understand what is being taught in the classroom. It enables the student to make connections between what he/she already knows and what he/she is learning.The life experiences will help stimulate conversation among others in the class.
I often tell my students that they are already experts in one thing: their life and what they have learned from that life. I also will say things like: "The School of Hard Knocks is still a school and it teaches you lessons."
My point is that I try to empower my students right at the start, and let them know that their life experiences are meaningful. With some clever lesson planning, you can usually create space for students to share their life experiences (only if they are comfortable doing so) and thereby allow them to add to the lesson.
Feeling empowered and relevant will go a long ways towards increasing and sustaining student motivation.
If a student can relate a life experience to a new concept it will stay with them better and others can see the connection also. In our classes we have many students who are not "just out of HS" and have a lot to offer in terms of experience. Sometimes the trick is to channel these experience into the framework of the class.
Adult learners like to feel that their experiences and knowledge hold value and that success in one area means they are capable of success in new career areas.
They need to have some points to relate to in order to make their experiences better.
When we share our experiences and allow students to share life experiences it allows the students to see the information in our classes as relevant. Connecting new ideas to past experiences also helps students remember the content being taught.
Life experiences are invaluable! It seems that every term I have at least one student who is changing careers. Some are confident, they bring the literacy of previous experience in higher education, while others are nervous, basically walking into class with the words "I was never good at this" already spilling from their lips. I enjoy telling the latter group that maybe they weren't "good" in English before but they'll surely feel good about it by the end of the term. This is just how it works out.
Previous life experience AND the relevancy of English composition in their future as chefs are reinforced daily in my classroom. And it is so rewarding to see students blossom who did not think they had the ability. It's all about making a subject relevant and letting students see that their experiences, ideas and opinions are vital. I tell them that I learn from them--because I do learn from them. They open up whole worlds for me and it seems that in doing so, they open up doors for themselves without even knowing it. :)
Hi Kimberly!
I fully agree! Experience is the best teacher then add that to the classroom experience along with critical and logical thinking, student successes can only soar.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Using life experiences of learners in the classroom serves several purposes, first, it helps the learner feel more connected; second, it helps them to grasp a particular topic being covered by applying it to experiences; third, it helps them to feel a sense of success.
It is important because adult learners can compare their life experiences to what is being taught and learned in the classroom. They will be able to make a connection.
Everyone has life experiences! Doesn't matter who you are. I feel it can help our students realize they are not the only ones that have had situations and can overcome bad things!
life experience is real!!!!, saying you got shot in the leg...yeah right...show them the scar, the story to go with it. I have injured myself and had 2 lower back surguries, I show the scars and the students see how I walk and grown when I bend. This tells them to be careful, "I don't want to end up like that".
the use of life experiences the class helps students to understand the future application of their knowledge, the motivation to move forward, it is important to raise self-esteem and integration of unlived experiences as their own
Using their life experiences allows them to feel a sense of accomplishment and relevance. It also helps them correlate the content of the class to something they have already experienced, which helps them absorb the material they are learning a little easier.
I think it helps them feel like they are bringing something to yhe class and that they do count!
Life expeiences in the classrooms are important because if a student find his/her self in a situation in class similar at the one they had they will know what or what not to do to resolve the problem.
