It is a general rule of education to build on familiar experiences in other to teach new (unfamiliar) knowledge. Tapping into life experiences of adult learners gives more relevance to the content and will facilitate learning and retention.
It is very important for them to feel like that they have accomplished something. They also need to be given confidence in the classroom.
It's important for adult learners to use their life experiences in the classroom because it helps them to feel that they are successful and they have something to contribute as well.
It is important to use and share their life experiences in the classroom because they bring what is written in the pages to their textbook to life. Their experiences often open the door to other discussions which can greatly clarify or supplement the concepts which are presented in their textbooks or during lecture.
Gretchen,
this is so true & it helps demonstrate that what they are reading in the book can really work in real life.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Reading out of a book is much different than actually doing it. Students want to hear about real life experiences so that they can relate to it, and it humanizes the instructor.
Wesley ,
yes & sharing those stories also helps the adult learners feel valuable & more a part of the learning environment.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Dr. Meers,
Adult learners can use life experiences to benefit thier learning experiences in the classroom. If adult learners can share past stories of careers to current study it will help a student learn the conceptts at hand. Adult learners learn better in my opinion when they can correlate a topic to their own lives or in case experiences
Ron,
yes, these experiences or sharing them are a great way to emphasize the reality quotient.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Too many time there is a difference between theory (what the book says) and practicality (what really happens) and the "real life" experiences can bridge those gaps
Justin,
yes, all students enjoy the stories, but the adult learner actually has similar experiences that they can connect to & that helps them even more.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I have found that adult students relate the best and are more engaged with ideas/things that they have experienced. Also, applying their life experiences to course content can help validate their ability to understand and apply that content into practice.
It gives them something to look forward to. It provides proof that one can be successful in the field.
I think it helps the students learn better. They can see and hear what it is like on the job and what to expect.
They have experiences of age & varied circumstances. The ability to draw upon their lives illustrate unforgettable lessons, discoveries,realizations. These are individualized and so are forever remembered & recalled. Thus,anything connected to them are likewise forever.
It allows them to reflect on what they have done in the past, share the experience, and then feel successful about all they have accomplished. Thsi in turn translates nito being focused and motivated in their schooling and thus feel that they will be successful with that too.
When there is a wide range of life experience in a class I often look to my students as a way to carry the discussion. Subject material becomes more important to them when they relate to their own life rather than my speaking as to my experiences. The students are taking ownership of the topic and explaining it to each other using terms to which they can relate.
I think it allows the students to see how they are going to be able to apply the concepts or actual skills that they are acquiring when they work in their career field. Shows them the practical application for what they arelearning in school.
Many times when we are discussing a subject in the classroom I ask students if anyone wants to share. I feel they are more comfortable with that word and they are with the reest of the class. At first I do not have many volunteers, but as the days go on more people want to share their stories.
It's important because often we have to differentiate between the textbook and how things may actually happen. Students come with many interesting stories that we can compare.
