I teach Math, and for every topic I try to explain it’s most common uses in day-day life and in the student’s career path.
Example: Ratios, proportions, fractions are most commonly used in nursing to calculate medicine dosages.
In accounting, percent’s are most commonly used.
It is important that students are able to make that connection.
I have made a point of discussing practical applications for the course information. Such as drawing their attention to products on the consumer market that are selling very well (with a substantial mark-up) which they might now make for themselves more economically.
Kathy
Hi Chelsea,
Sometimes we have to help our students see the big picture. When they can see the big picture, they have a better appreciation for the course.
Patricia Scales
Hi Christopher,
Making the classroom setting apply to what your students will see/be doing once they begin their career is awesome! I bet this setup deters cheating as well.
Patricia Scales
Give an example of big picure use of this knowlege that is be learned and how they will use it.
I teach security electronics. I have set up cameras and alarms throughout my classroom and this ensures they never forget what they are here to learn. It also provides quick access to many different systems when a question arises.
Hi Michael,
Awesome practical experience! Our students love hearing our stories as how to how they apply the course content. Experience is certainly the best teacher.
Patricia Scales
Hi Wendi,
I concur! Adult learners need to know the why, and they have more of an interest in what is going on. They have to understand the benefit.
Patricia Scales
I worked as an executive for a large US corporation and then spent 20 years as a management consultant overseas. As such, I have a large array of examples that I share with students as to how their training can be used to good advantage and how easy it is to screw things up. I can usually relate most aspects of the course to something I've seen or experienced.
I like to relate the activity being taught to the reality of what students will be doing in the field. I encourage students to ask questions and become efficient with the technique because in a few short months they will be performing the task at a job site. When students understand why they are being shown a procedure they often become more engaged.
Hi Cassandra,
We must thoroughly prepare our students to confront what is ahead of them. It is our sole responsibility as instructors to get our students ready for the real world.
Patricia Scales
Hello
I feel as if that is also part of our jobs as instructors to prepare them on all fronts. It gives them a sense of accomplishment to meet the challenge head on and succeed. What motivation to learn more and a great confidence builder!!
Hi Cassandra,
That's right! The real world is definitely going to hold them accountable. If students do not learn how to accept responsibility for their own action they are going to be in for a rude awakening once they enter the real world.
Patricia Scales
Thank You
I think we do them a disservioce if we do not force them to accept responsibility. The real world expects it of them
Cassandra
Hi Cassandra,
I love how you make learning apply to the real world and how you put the responsibility back on the student for their education.
Patricia Scales
Hello
I try to give examples of how the course material and skills will serve them in a real work environment.I put them in the driver seat of having responsibility of handling the pateint's results as well as how would you want work to be performed on someone that you cared about.
Cassandra
Hi Amy,
Yes, we have to give our students a purpose. Students have more of an interest when they know what they are learning will be utilized in the professional work environment.
Patricia Scales
Students need to be reminded daily of how what they are learning, be it soft or hard skills, translate into the professional work environment.
Hi Denise,
You live and learn. The more you teach, the more you learn. Students can really teach us a lot.
Patricia Scales
Yes. I didn't always do it that way. All it took was for one student to tell me they are not like everyone else for me to change. In this case, the student was 100% right.
