Dont know about a business but,classroom you must be able to manage.They count on your experience and knowledge to get them through the course and out in the field were they have to apply it in order to be suscessfull.
Both of these need a qualified manager, a competent worker base and a marketable product. In class the success can be measured in student numbers, grades, retention, and job placement opportunities(actual jobs). Like a business, the class benefits from their efforts: better knowledge, better skill development, professionalism, and upon completion better pay opportunities. Success means competent teaching, correct lab activities, and effective evaluation tools. Just like business, school takes hard work, commitment, and perseverance.(Passion and a Dream!).
I think that there is a very close parallel between the class enviroment and business enviroment. I have had my own business and I fall back on that experience and apply it to my class room course enviroment. I let my class know that we will be running the course in a Shop enviromental way so to give them a touch of what it will be like in their chosen endevor. I work hard to get them to understand that a test question are just like working on someones vehicle, its a test to fix the vehicle right the first time, on time, and with the cost extimate. I explain that all tasks must be completed in a timely manner just as you would have to do in the shop enviroment. It seems to help them understand that in order to be successful they must apply themselves both in classroom school enviroment and in the workplace shop enviroment.
I tnink there is a close paralell between class and business management. I mention to my class to think of there earned score as a paycheck and any class rules as the same as would be found in a company handbook. I also explain to them that if they are not here, they will not get paid for that day. Also tasks must be completed in a timely manner just as you would in the field.It seems to help them understand that in order to be successful you must apply yourself both in school and in the workplace.
Similarities include structure and organization. Having everthing planned out so the class run as efficient as possible. Differences include adjust class structure to optimize learning.
Most definately! Having similiar structures and organization will allow the students to rely on set forth rules and guidelines. Having these set forth will allow them to succeed. This is true to an Employee as well as a Student.
Steve--
Great question. In many ways, they are very similar. Successful businesses are also learning laboratories where processes and knowledge and continually refined for maximium effectiveness. We need to continually learn.
Classrooms should also be learning laboratories for the same purposes. The leader/manager and the teacher both need to facilitate that process.
Susan
