Get Your Students Hired
I teach Anatomy and Physiology to many students. My Medical Assistant students see the relevance of my course, however, I also teach many Criminal Justice students also. My CJ students often wonder "why I need this course." I try to make its relevance evident throughout the quarter. If I don't, I am sure to lose the students early on. When covering the material, I not only apply it to a medical perspective, but also a criminal justice point of view also. I.e. blood typing an ER patient and blood typing a suspect to match the DNA to a crime scene. Overall, I don't lose the attention of many students.
The adult learner is one who wants information which will be applicable to his/her career choice. Instructional content and delivery can be relevant to student expectations by providing real world examples of how the course content can be applicable to their career choices.
Hi Dixie,
You are on the right path with your planning and activities. I hear the same speech from my students. The more you can do to show application and relevancy the greater their appreciation of English skills will be. I collect as you do stories about what has happened as a result of poor communication both oral and written. I share these with my students at key points throughout the course. They like the stories and make the connection about the need for effective communication.
Gary
I'm an English teacher, and as several others have noted, we're constantly having to explain the relevance of our course to our career-focused students.
I like the question, "What language will you be using in your career?" But my students are quick to say, "English, but I just have to talk, not write."
I hadn't thought about deliberately using Fear as a motivating factor, but I do have stories about people losing the job or the contract because of poor writing skills.
Fortunately, we have many credible sources testifying to the value of written communication skills in the professions. To make the statistics more vivid, I have stories from my consulting clients about the difference improved writing has made in their career, including testimony from bosses about their frustration reading badly written reports and their gratitude when the reports improve.
In some classes, I ask the students to interview someone in the kind of job they'd like to have, asking about what kind of writing has to be done. Then we tailor as assignment or two around those expectations.
Hi Mark,
Student love stories about your past don't they? So the more examples you can give them from your background in relation to the topic being covered that day the greater the connection is going to be for the students.
Gary
Hi Mike,
I am a big fan of guest speakers, field trips and case studies. These activities help to make real what you are teaching and show relevancy to the students. Keep using them as much as you can.
Gary
In culinary education I like to recall examples of my experience in the industry to show relevence to the lessons they are learning that day.
I teach at a culinary arts college, The students sometimes lack confidence as to what they have learned and if it is relevant.Guest speakers, field trips and realistic exercises, alleviate fears and provide confidence almost immediately.
Hi Charlin,
Good for you. Students as you know really like to hear examples and stories from their instructor's experiences. This helps to make the content they are studying real.
Gary
Hi Linda,
Right you are. Adult learners for the most part know what they want out of their educational experiences so it is up to us to learn what they want and then provide it.
Gary
Hi Franz,
These stories help the students to connect the dots between the classroom and the real world. This is an important educational step for them so the more you can share with them the more understanding they will have.
Gary
Hi Luke,
Good way to bring practical applications into the classroom. Students like to hear stories from their instructors about different situations and how they were handled. Makes the course content more real.
Gary
Adult learners need to know how the skills fit into the career or end goal of choice. For instructors, designing or choosing the most appropriate material will produce satisfied and skilled students.
I take bits of information an relate them to real world experiences. I use specific things I have done in my past to succeed. And what happens when you don't use the proper methods. I think it is good to see both ways so they can get a bigger picture.
I use relevant stories to relay information to my students, especially when talking of 'less than exciting' topics. I present foundational information in small time bits and use funny or extremely relevant stories as to why the information is applicable. The learners usually remember the funnier stories and more pertinent instances and then associate the information to the topic.
Hi Daniel,
This is making it "real" for the students as you connect the dots between each of the sections of a successful restaurant. Good job of helping them make this application.
Gary
I teach restaurant service at a culinary school. Most students mentally separate the food production they have been exposed to in other classes related to culinary success from the front of the house activities and contributions. By the time they have completed this class they see that no one will experience their efforts if the customers in the dining room aren’t offered the cuisine in the proper manner. Speaking of Ah Ha moments. They can draw on their own experiences that caused them to reject or frequent other restaurants that they like and now they know why
Getting to know the students on a basic level will help refine and contribute to a lesson plan for information transfer. Most of the students are hands on learners and I use alot of pass arounds to help with the learning experiance.