Christina,
I had an instructor that used a logical arguement to explain the existence of the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy - it made me sit up and take notice - LOL!
Even though this was over 20 years ago and I don't remember which philosophy they used, I still remember how effective it was.
Deborah Balentine
In the health care coursework, showing relevancy is relatively easy. Everyone uses health care services in some capacity. I usually invite students to share an experience in which they had a postitive encounter and an experience in which they had a negative encounter with health care services. It has proven to be a great icebreaker for the first class session.
Deborah Balentine
Guest speakers are a valuable resource for confirming information regarding professionalism in the work place, trade standards and ethical behavior. Student indentify well with individuals that represent their desired field of study.
Relevancy can be shown by having guest speakers.
Hi Patricia,
Guest speakers help solidify everything.
Patricia
Talking about real life experiences and explaining how the course content relates to these situation will help them visualize the use of this content in use. Have guest speakers come in and talk about what there typical day is like using examples of some of the content that is going to be taught in the class will also help the students to visualize the use of this content. Talk about the content while showing visual aids they contain course content.
Many of the replies to this question seem to answer that they, the instrutor, TELLS them in what ways the material is relevant. Atually showing them is at least as effective, especially at the start of classes when the students are still "sizing" you up. My field of instruction is culinary with wine and beverage as my bailwick, and you would be surprised at just how relevant the initimidating world of wine can become when I have the students go to various big-time restaurant websites and have a look at the depth and expense of a serious wine list. In addition, I will direct them to local newspaper columns and important food journals, all of whom devote a fair measure of time and space to wine. Such activities take wine out of the realm of elitism and puts it very much in their real professional venues.
Hi William,
Excel is a great example to use. You can take all types of classifieds out of the paper to show the relevancy of this skill.
Patricia
Hello Stephen,
If they understand how they can relate the concept in the workplace, the student has a different level of interest.
Patricia
Hello Patricia,
It is crucial for students to understand the relevance of the course content. Understanding brings on great excitement.
Patricia
Hello Timothy,
This makes perfect sense. You have to know what the problem is in order to provide a solution.
Patricia
In a vocational auto school,I explain that the information and the labs the students will be doing,is going to give them the information they will need, to be able to diagnos concerns,because if you can not diag. the problem, you can not fix it.
I believe that showing relevancy in anything that is presented to students is critical. There is value and logic when one present the “reasons why”. I have found this method to be the best process for individuals to truly understand and begin to apply their knowledge.
I feel you have to be able to tie in the course content with actual field practices. When you cover a concept or assign a lab project, use an example of how this activity is incorporated in the industry. Point out to the students through industry manuals and periodicals that the school activity is the same as the industry activity. Short films are another way to reinforce the project. Another good way is to test their work to verify that their efforts have met the industry's standards. I feel keeping the industry as the focus helps students stick to their goals and maintains direction and focus.
I relate the skills IT254 covers to my work experience and hopefully to theirs.
I give examples of how Excel is used, cite statistics of its relevance in the workplace, and in job sites such as Monster.com
Hi Eli,
Yes! Students can provide very valuable feedback. Try it, it certainly can not hurt anything.
Patricia
Hi Eli,
Technical skills are highly regarded in the workplace.
Patricia
Hi David,
You're right. I was just thinking if the internet was around when I was working on my thesis, life would have been a lot more manageable.
Patricia
Hello William,
I too promote certifications. I teach the entire Microsoft Office Suite, and I emphasize to my students the marketability of knowing these softwares.
Patricia
As a vocational instructor we all had to become even better experts than we we were when we were working in the field. I share that with my students along with the fact that I would have been even more successful knowing the information I now know and that we're going to learn. I back that up with life experiences both positive and especially negative and how that might have been different with the addition knowledge they will learn in my class/
