I've had some difficulty in a history class relating to their careers, but I really do focus on the idea of how sophistacted world views are necessary for career success... How do you successfully apply it to their careers?
As speech teacher, I am constantly seeing students who question the relevancy of this area in becoming a chef, but through uniquely challenging them each individually in some way with each assignment, they are motivated in the end by their own application.
Hi David,
This is such a great complement to your abilities as an educator. You are creating a legacy in your field and helping to prepare a next generation of professionals that care about your field. Keep up the great work that you are doing.
Gary
Last quarter I received some very humble feedback. Several of my students thanked me for the energy that I brought to the class. They all said they were confident they'd be able to take the skills we discussed back to their home countries and put them to work, and would be more successful in their future roles because of the knowledge we shared. Examples of every day hard work, commitment, and practice paid off.
The motivation comes from the ability to see how they can use the material to either further their careers or to be able to use their new skills on the job. this in turn can make them more valuable as an employee,or plain and simple,to be able to make more money.
As a graphics instructor I find many students bringing their experience in internships to class and asking "tell me more". I often can relate my business examples directly to their recent experience. And most of the time there is a positive reinforcement. Some time we have to find a way to bring differences of opinion into the discussion. Often visual problems do not have right and wrong answers; but sligt variations on "good".
Great point about general education courses. In courses related to their career, students have a positive attitude right from the start, but if they have to "buy in" at sometime, it will be more difficult.
It brings them closer to their goal and career path. The greatest aspect of learning is to be able to use and apply recently learned skills.
Career students what to know they made the right decision to atend a culinary college. When they see they are learning products and processes they see in the marketplace they are encouraged.Many students will tell me about the bread they had at a restaurant and then tell me how it could have been made better. They are using material they have learned.
Hi Joseph,
Your last sentence really captures it. They need to see application and relevancy to what they are learning. If instructors can show them these two things then their engagement in the course will increase.
Gary
"Why is it motivating for students to see the relevancy and application of what they are learning?" Partly because the opposite is true as well. Many students despise math, because they just don't see the relevance of learning how to solve for x when x=y^7(z/29). I wish I had a nickel for every time a student said "WHEN will I ever need to know this in life?". When they fail to see the relevance, they have little interest in learning the material. Hence, keeping the material on track with their career goals, keeping it relevant, is a motivating factor.
Hi Francis,
Good point. This is why we go back to the classroom day after day. The "ah-ha" moments that our students give us when they get it.
Gary
Students, especially adult students, need to see that what they are learning applies to them. They need to be able to connect the dots between what they are learning and how they can apply it to their chosen career. Some of my most rewarding moments in the classroom are when I can see that the students get it. I love it when I can see them thinking about how they can use what I am sharing with them in their chosen field. To repeat a really overused phrase, it is like a lightbulb goes of in their heads.
Hi James,
Right you are. ROI is critical for students to understand if they are going to stay engaged in the learning process.
Gary
I believe relevancy and application is important in the subject matter, because the student who is training in the trades field that I instruct in wants to be able to apply it in the lab classroom under saupervision, than be able to take it to the real world, and implement. When they are able to apply or implement in the class, this takes some of the unknown, and not so sure factor out of applying it in their field. relevancy is also important, since we instruct mostly skill sets that will be used in their trade. along with other skill sets that they may use. They will be able to draw on there experience ion the classroom and lab, and feel more comfortable in implementing their skills in the field. I always try show give examples of relevante skills sets that are used in trhe everyday work place.
I think that most students are looking for an ROI. Especially in the areas of career switching. When a student can see that the investment that they are making gives them the resources to apply the knowledge that they learned in school in the job environment the next day they are getting their ROI. As such it provides edification for the learning institution in regards to neophyte students.
Hi Jennifer,
This is a basic for most educational endeavors. ROI. What will I get back by investing in this class and educational program. By you showing them that and how they can increase their incomes the students start to see the value of what they are doing. Though sometimes it takes a while for the "ah-ha" moments to occur.
Gary
I agree. Sometimes it even comes down to money. IF they think their mastery of the material will earn them more money then they tend to work harder.
they, the students want to be able to take the knowledge and apply it, to their field. students want to take this knowledge, and be able to "test it: so to speak, so they can see that it really does apply in the real world. Some of the students may already be using somew form of the knowledge in the real world, and wish to apply it to the next step in utilizing it for their job
Being able to apply skills outside the classroom is likely one of the most important factors in the desires of a college student. When college denizens learn practical application versus theory, their conceptual outlook becomes brighter as they can immediately utilize those skills and see the immediate gratification from the skills in their daily work routine.
