I always try to explain how the material I am leading them through is applied to their profession. For example, in my chemistry class for RNs, I explain why I am teaching them about pH and what it means in the context of patients.
I have found that this helps them get motivated to understand just what the concept means and has the added benefit of making it easier to teach because they in turn now actually want to learn it.
Hi all, I teach an elective course, Biology and therefore the topics may or may not be relevant to students' careers. However, it is very likely that the topics will be relevant to their personal lives.
I teach online, and I have an introduction discussion board, in which students introduce themselves to each other at the start.
In this forum, I also ask them to look over the topics on the syllabus, and to say which ones they find the most interesting. In this way, I do two things. I get them to look at the syllabus, but I also am suggesting that there are indeed topics that we cover that will be relevant.
Students can see that others find the material interesting, which motivates the group. And I get an idea which topics are the most popular, and which may not be.
Lyn
In my particular situation, students are in an 18 month program in either the medical or cosmetology fields. I teach English and I remind my students constantly that proper use of English is not only required in today's work world, but an indication of how seriously they take their work. If they dress inappropriately it is the same as speaking inappropriately. They must not only know their content, but they must also look, act, and sound the part. People who sound, look, and act intelligent are usually treated that way. I use real-life examples to give them a visualization of this. I point out things that have happened to me in contact with other professionals as well as with my other students as I teach high school as well.
Hi Nolan,
The library has ton of information that will certainly appear relevant to any field. Everyone understands the importance of the library when it comes to academics.
Patricia
As a librarian, this is something I attempt to do to make my library instruction sessions relevant. For example, evaluation of information is always part of library instruction in composition classes. Sure, I will go through the basics of evaluation and discuss why this is important for college-level research papers. However, I also like to put evaluation of information in context with their chosen job field. No matter what the field - business, medical, legal - evaluation of information is extremely important.
Hi Cheri,
In accounting students tend to get the course relevancy based on tracking financial resources.
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
Yes, money is a motivator. I teach accounting classes and stress the importance of accounting skills in tracting financial resources. It is difficult to plan financial goals without some understanding of how our economy operates.
Cheri
I teach both composition courses and accounting/business courses. Both are challenging because students fail to understand their importance. So I have my work cut out for me. With the communication courses I talk about all the ways in which we communicate including emails and casual conversation. We are often judged on our communication skills. Most communication involves trying to make a point. The better our skills and the clearer we are in comunicating the more apt we are to make our point. Communication is not an isolated event. Everyone communicates. Learning efficient, effective tools facilities our ability to exchange information.
In accounting I stress that accounting is the language of business. All businesses, both profit and non-profit, have accounting systems, some complex, some relatively simple. Personally we all have accounting systems as well to tract our expenses and our cash flow. In order for a business to know whether it has achieved its goal, making a profit, it needs information, in quantitative format. All students will eventually be working for a business. It will be prudent for the student to know something about the financial success of the business.
Accounting and communication skills are essential skills in any business curriculum or really for anyone in general to have.
Hi Bruce,
When students realize that the information is really useful. They understand the relevancy of the course.
Patricia
Hi Michael,
You put it to your students truthfully! I am sure they get your drift.
Patricia
When I tell students they need to learn how to calculate income, expenses, and the cost of a project using math, sometimes I get the horrified stare...oh, no, more math. Then I tell them the more problems they can solve for their employer, the more valuable they are to the business and the bottom line. Initiative and ambition can lead to promotions, raises in salary, and sometimes you keep your job when others are laid-off.
Hi Carolyn,
Super ideas! I love how you keep current events alive in your study. Great example of using the GAP story.
Patricia
Hi Mark,
I understand! It certainly makes one more knowledgeable as it pertains to the planet. I can think of how a lot of people can benefit from geology.
Patricia
Hi Keveka,
I like how you question students about relevancy based on the lecture. When students can see it at the very moment, the relevancy sticks with them.
Patricia
I always give examples of how I use the material that the students are about to learn in my daily work. I think it helps to show them that the information is really used. For example, I always try to include copies of specific state or federal statutes when I talk about the topic.
There are different ways to get this done. It is a little more challenging perhaps in my area of expertise (I am a geologist) to show relevancy as the vast majority of my students are taking geology classes to simply fulfill a gen ed requirement, and not to gain a necessary skill for their career choice. None the less, I talk relevancy all the time as I believe that understanding how the earth formed, how it functioned in the past, how it functions today, and how it will function in the future is all relevant to being good stewards of this planet, which all need to be regardless of chosen career field. Some get this, and some do not. I bring in as many real life examples of this idea as I can. I also like to bring in guest speakers to speak them directly of their experiences, and how geology has played an important role i their lives.
By the way, it is my belief that all college students, regardless of major, should take a geology course somewhere in the course of study! =)
I have the students do something similar but they give the relevance verbally. After the lectures I ask the students how the lesson that was taught can be beneficial to them now and in the future.
I show my students the relevancy of the course (Introduction to Marketing), by asking them to share a "marketing story" from the prior week. These are things they may have seen in the news that have to do with marketing, in general, or something we have covered/will be covering in the course.
Recently, GAP changed its logo, but had to revert back to its old logo because of consumer complaints. We talked about that as it relates to branding and consumers' influence on marketing strategy.
I also share articles with them that I find through perusing the newspapers, periodicals, and the web.
When they see these stories, it connects with what we're learning, and shows them the relevancy of that course content.
Hi Eric,
I agree! I like to show course relevancy by bringing in classified ads when applicable to various skills that will be learned in the course...this is a super motivator.
Patricia
Hi Kira,
I like how you have your students take ownership in their course. If the document their beliefs, the course is already sold to them.
Patricia
