Real Life Business Experiences
I find that students enjoy and really learn from personal business experiences that relate to the topic being discussed. As a CPA, I have many client stories that I can share with my students to bring the real world into the classroom. These "experience" stories give students a reference to help them remember the concepts discussed. I find that this also encourages students to share their real life experiences with the class. It is always a good idea to find ways that connect to the material being studied, both on the part of the instructor and the student. This, to me, is what makes a facilitator out of an instructor.
Jean:
I agree, students do like to hear stories about your work life experience. And you are correct, it opens up further discussion on the student's part. Excellent point here!
Janis
I believe you have the correct approach.
In addition to didactic instruction I believe it is our job as instructors to put the topic of discussion into the context of the real world.
This lesson indicates that students feel more comfortable knowing their instructors academic and professional biographies. Experience does little good unless we can use that experience to make a practical application of the information the student is expected to know.
I agree. I learned long ago that students will enjoy a well-told and detailed story, versus a "lesson" that they must absorb and respond to. Tell a compelling and interesting story and include a "lesson" in an entertaining fashion, and you have the best of both worlds!
Real life "stories" are sometimes the best "learning tools" that we can provide to our students. In some respects, telling a story is almost like providing a "visual" or picture because the reader's mind will often reconstruct the "images" of the story that we are telling- without them even realizing it. If the story happens to make a connection that the student can identify with/ relate to, an additional "experiential" component is added to the learning process.
One point that I think we must always remember is that we really do live in a "small world". With online learning, students can be located virtually anywhere. Being a small world, you never know who knows who, etc. So, I try to use a "the names and places have been changed to protect the innocent" type of approach; always being cognizant of the fact that discretion and confidentiality are important.
A quick story. I once had to attend a business meeting on the west coast. It was being held in Las Vegas casino and we were staying at the casino's hotel. I walked up to the registration desk and the person behind the counter greets me with "Mr. X, your VIP suite is ready for you". I had never been to Las Vegas, let alone that casino. So happens, I have a cousin on the west coast whose name is identical to mine except for the middle initial initial. Sure enough, he was the VIP and not I. And I wasn't quick enough to catch on so that I could stay in the VIP suite. :) Sure was a small world that day.!
