Stories that reveal the profession's secrets
I chuckle when I run into teachers and coaches who put on affectations when in front of a group of students, athletes, or their parents. I pray that I am not one of those instructors. Nothing would kill my motivation more than someone who puts on airs.
Relevant stories, especially those that seem to expose the secrets or realities of the profession, tend to catch the students' ears and increase motivation. Though class time is short, when a student asks a question that begins "What about this?" it's clear that the student is thinking and applying, or at least exploring.
Hi Jane,
Yes, those stories can reinforce the content you are sharing. They hold the attention of the students and give them real life examples of what they are going to face when they are out there in the workplace. Keep telling those stories.
Gary
I think that some of my "real life" stories from the trenches of the food and beverage industry are some of the most valuable things I can give my students...it also helps put something abstract (such as a lesson from the supervision textbook) into a more concrete form, which helps memory.
Telling the students my personal experiences, some good, some not, help them to learn through our lives and encourage them to keep going. It makes links, bridges in between the students and us.
I tell students little tricks and things I've picked up along the way. I also tell of times when things have backfired or went wrong when I tried shortcuts. I can laugh at myself, they can laugh at me, but i let them know that it's not always what went right or wrong but what we learn from it.
In terms of application, I think that stories are very helpful in integrating theories and life experiences.
You are completely right - relevant stories do capture the students' attention and they remember ideas when they are attached to a story. I incorporate how the content that I am teaching is actually used in the work place and they like hearing that. I love to see the "ah ha" look on their faces.
I let students in on little secrets. I tell them the do's and donts when entering their profession. I also give them life experiences where applicaple, things ive seen done that have cost people their jobs, a lot of them are so dumb it gives us a little break to laugh and keeps everone attentive while giving them the sense that i care about them and their success and want to see them hold their jobs for a long time.
Joseph - I do this in my classes. I let them in on a few secrets that will help them become better paralegals and then jokingly (sort of) tell them not to share these with with others because it's good job security. They do remember these tips in their professions. I have had a student report back to me that they have impressed their employers with their "secret" skills.
Colleen
