When I am teaching coding and we are looking up codes in the book I tell them that this is knowledge we will use and I have office simulation that I practice with the students. They role play and practice the skills that they will be using
It would teach you about theories of learning, learning styles, learning disabilities and the like.Course materials, discussions, and activities can be used as a way to develop high quality lessons, interdisciplinary planning, and strategies to improve the quality of instruction.
The information being taught in the course can be used in many aspects of life, no matter what field the student decides to pursue.
Teaching a Clinical course in health care it is important to be able to tie the course work into the application, and to be able to show at bedside how the work together.
Hi Cathleen,
I am sure your students understand the relevancy when you mention the development of their writing skills. Our students need all the practice they can get to improve the writing skills.
Patricia
I teach Grant Writing, which is hard to show relevancy to students in vocational studies. I do emphasis that Grant Writing is an excellent skill to have no matter what job they take on in life. Grant Writing is marketable in almost any field- and learning to develop their writing skills is another angle I take when 'selling' my course.
Hi Michelle,
Very smart of you to show how one class relates to another...I can see how students can really see the relevance in that. Students should understand that writing is simply the way of the world.
Patricia
This is challenging for me, since I teach general education writing classes at a career college. But what has been successful recently is that I require the students to bring copies of their writing assignments from other classes to my class. The students have to share what the assignment was with the class, and then we talk about how what we've been talking about in writing class will help them do that assignment. I also talk to the professionals in different fields who are our adjunct instructors and get as much information from them as I can about what types of writing will be required in the major fields. I share this information with students whenever I can. Doing these activities has seemed to help make my class more relevant--although showing relevancy is a constant battle!
Hi John,
The first day presentation is crucuial. Let them know on Day 1 why they need to take the course and how they will benefit from taking the course.
Patricia
Hi April,
Seeing is certainly believing. Very motivating!
Patricia
That is a great idea!! I am sure they were raring to go once you showed them the ads.
I currently teach at a culinary school, but the course I teach which is Interpersonal Communications, students are not as enthusiastic. I have found that telling the students what areas of their professional and personal life this class will affect, assists them in getting to the course.
Again I find Foundation classes in Culinary easier than Food Safety, Because they came to Culinary School. Then Again by being pasionate and forthcoming you generate interest in the food safety course. you have to get them to understand how important and critical food safety and sanitation is on the first day of class.
Hi Teresa,
Students need and want practical concepts and experience as to how they relate to the real world.
Patricia
Hi Colleen,
Students get it whenever they understand the relevancy as to how a concept, lesson, skill, etc. will relate to their career.
Patricia
Hi Mohd-Ibrahim,
Anytime you can share real life applications with students you really get their excitement level up.
Patricia
Hi Ricky,
Yes, students like to hear success stories.
Patricia
clips (videos) real life application on related subjects
By providing real world examples of the application of the knowledge gained in class, students should realize the relevancy of the course content. A good way to show this would be to have brief case studies dealing with the diagnoses or body systems we are discussing that day.
I actually do incorporate Shakespeare into my literary unit. I always use Sonnet #29 - "Fortune and men's eyes....." It is a sonnet that the students can readily relate to - being an outcast, envious of another person, feeling inferior, "from the sullen earth" to love, "singing hymns at heaven's gate." They have all experienced it. Shakespeare is actually quite modern, and embraces our eternal issues.
We read it once, then go over the meaning of the poem,line by line and then I have one of the students read it again aloud to the class.
They always get it!
It is great introduction to Shakespeare, and, it helps the students with analysis, connotation, critical thinking, and figurative language skills.
The icing on the cake is the pride they feel, in deconstructing and understanding the Bard for the first time!
___________________________
Nancy Lorenz-Vega
Concorde Career College
