Susan,
The more the students can connect the dots between school and the work world the more motivated they will be. Your comments are right on in terms of how you are helping them to make these connections and see value in what is being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students are much more interested if they feel as though the information is relevant to them, and also if they see how they can apply it in real life, and/or the workplace. They also will then retain the information because they feel as though the information is useful to their lives and career.
Robert,
So true. We need to show them relevancy and application in what is being taught. When this is done retention will increase just as you mention.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As we all know students have to relevancy in what they are doing and learning or there will be minimal retention of the transferred skills.
Damon,
This is when it starts to get real for students. When you help them see relevance and application of content then you are connecting the dots for them to their coursework and their career development. Once they see this they really take off in their learning and professional development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree. Often students lose focus during lecture material. I enjoy showing them through demonstrations of material presented to them and how it applies to the field they will be entering.
Robert,
Right you are so this is why we need to work very hard to show both relevance and application in our instructional delivery and content. This is how we will engage our students and keep their interest for the duration of our courses.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students, and particularly career college studednts don't want to have their time wasted. If they understant how an assignment is relevant to them, they will be motivated. If it is not relevant, it will be seen as busy-work.
Travia,
This is what gets students fired up about their classes and their career potential. They see how they can apply what is being taught as well as realize that it is relevant to their future success. This is such a fun time to be an instructor because you know your students are getting it!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is motivating for students to see the relevancy and application of learning because, it gives them bettter understanding of the things that they may face in their work environment.
When students can see how to apply what they have learned they start to see themselves in the role that that are studying. It makes them understand that the long nights of studying and the struggles they might have had were worth the efforts. There is nothing like seeing the Aw hah moment when it clicks with a student. It is one of the most gratifying experiences of my career as an instructor.
Nutisha,
We need to reinforce relevancy and application in every way we can throughout the duration of our course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Relevnacy is important to students because they dont want to feel like their time is being wasted with things that is not pertaining to their field.
Andrea,
The two words that need to be a part of our instructional planning are relevancy and application. You have captured both in your title and I know you make them a part of your instructional delivery.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Because it makes then see why what they are learning important. Then they don't see what they are learning as "fluff" work.
Dorothy,
Relevancy and application are two essential ingredients needed for teaching and learning success. Your point about application is a good one and we need to remember it as we prepare our instruction.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If students see that the material that is learned in class will be applicable to the real world. The student is more inclined to be motivated to learn more because their effort and time is being well spent. If they feel they are learning what they will never use, this will unmotivate them.
Paul,
Relevancy and application needs to be a part of our instructional process. The more they can see these two the more value they will associate with course content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To me the student will have more motivation if they see a relevancy; this will lead to a greater buy in. We can tell them all day long that this is the way it is to be done but unless we link it to professional experience they believe that we are just blowing smoke. They sometimes need the realization that some things are done a certain way for ease or correctness of completion. Things have been being done for many years and we learn by mistake. By a professional giving their thoughts or by the student actually doing it there is a practical completion portion that helps that Ah Ha moment.
Holli,
Students to see that their previous experiences can actually help them be successful in the class. Building on these experiences shows them that they have a foundation upon which they can build their knowledge and skill base.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
