Using life experiences in th classroom gives the students the connection of what concept you are teaching with how it is important in the real world. If the students do not make this connection with the real world, they will have a hard time retaining the concept.
Using life personal life experiences in the classroom can help studeents relate to what is being taught especially if those students have similar experiences. This helps students to also relate to the instrucor as well as the material being taught.
Dionne,
yes the power of real life experiences & connecting this to the course content is very powerful.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Dionne,
yes the power of real life experiences & connecting this to the course content is very powerful.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Adults already have some degree of life attainment and experiences that give them credibility and standing, not necessarily in their field of study, but as a human being. And that human connection can often create the difference in engaged motivation or disenfranchisement.
Listening to other students life experiences not only creates new learning experiences for the listeners but forms a bond when often similar experiences are shared. This way they hear both new things and collaboration begins that will help them in forming groups.
Adult learners love to know the revelance of the subject to the "real world". They like to hear stories about what they may be exposed to once the are actually working in the field. It also give a sense of importance to the topic.
When you draw on your experiences, you bring the class content to life. Students need to see how the knowledge isa applied for a person's benefit. Experience is the best teacher and experiences that are shared help all to understand. I am fortunate to have many adult learners with vast experiences in my class. I often ask them what they have done in similar situations and we all assess the outcomes.
I see a lot of career changers and for them to take a liftime of knowledge and experience and condense that to 2 or 3 bullet points on a resume is a hard pill to swallow. Using their life experience in class eases the transition and makes them feel like a contributing member of the class and hopefully in the career as well
They are able to relate and remember these better.
They are usefulin motivating the student to think that they will be successful.
Other students can also learn from the experience of others.
It helps connect the course content to real life application and decision-making.
Leon Guendoo
Anything which can get students to open up and participate is great.
Deborah,
yes these examples & stories can help bridge generational differences as well.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Deborah,
yes these examples & stories can help bridge generational differences as well.
Dr. Ryan Meers
William,
this is definitely true in my experience as well. They provide those mental pictures for the students to recall in the future.
Dr. Ryan Meers
It is important to allow students the ability to apply their life experiences in the classroom becuase it helps them find relevance in what their learning and apply it to what they already know. A great way to keep them engaged!
By using life experiences, the student now becomes a valuable asset to the learning environment. This will keep the student focused on the need and relevancy of the course and stay motivated.
Adult learners seem to open up once they realize there are similarities with other students. I also add my personal experiences to the discussion going forward students seem more apt to participate.
Using real life experience tales works beter than any book I know.
David ,
yes & allowing the adult learner to share those experiences is very important.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I share real time experiences with my students, especially emphasizing examples of correctly spelling words in SOAP charting and other forms of written reports, it makes a difference professionally and legally in many instances. Everything is not done by a computer and if it is manually written, it must be proof read. This will generate awareness of possible adverse consequence.
