Experiential learning has been an important part of education for many years. It lets students teach themselves with the help of an instructor, rather than passively absorbing information in a lecture without applying the knowledge. Hands-on learning also gives teachers opportunities to see and correct student mistakes while they’re still learning in a safe, controlled environment. A Barnes & Noble College report found that more than 50% of Generation Z students said they learn best from experiential learning, making hands-on learning aids a great tool for recruiting students to your classes.
Why Experiential Learning Is Important
Experiential learning engages students by having them complete tasks, solve problems, and/or make something. This type of learning leads to better retention and bolsters critical thinking as well as problem–solving skills. Hands-on learning also often involves group work, which improves students’ communication skills.
Why Experiential Learning Aids Increase Student Enrollment
Generation Z grew up with all things digital right at their fingertips. Because of this, they’re more real-life focused and they remember more with experience. This is a generation that does well with the challenging, deeply engaging environments that hands-on learning aids provide. Hands-on learning aids facilitate problem solving and encourage students to put their knowledge to the test, making them great recruitment tools for challenge-loving Gen Z students. Today’s students enjoy personalized learning experiences that employ several different educational mediums, from videos and lectures to projects and hands-on training.
In the Barnes & Noble College report, Getting to Know Gen Z, students were asked how teachers could make school more fun. Hands-on learning and incorporating more technology were at the top of the list. As one student stated, “Being hands-on or using interactive devices is the best way for me to learn.”
5 Great Hands-On Tools for Recruiting CTE Students
RealCare Baby® 3 Infant Simulator
RealCare Baby® 3 (formerly known as Baby Think It Over® or BTIO®) is the world’s most advanced infant simulator and many students love working with Baby in their childcare classes.
In a case study on Baby, Melissa Priester, a Family and Consumer Science (FCS) teacher in Illinois, stated, “For many of my students, this [Baby] project is a highlight of their year, their high school experience.” Students love how interactive Baby is.
Lori Brumbaugh, an FCS teacher in Minnesota, told us that her students “are so excited to sign up for the class so they can check Baby out.”
Baby is a great experiential learning tool to get students enrolled in your childcare courses.
Animal Models
Realityworks’ highly detailed animal models will bring your anatomy lessons to life.
Denisa Espinosa, a Vet Tech teacher in Texas, had this to say about her new animal models:
“The first time we used them, and the students realized they opened up and have organs in them, they were so excited! … They’ve really thrived learning from them, and they don’t even realize they are learning – they’re just having fun.”
Espinosa uses her models to recruit new students as well. As she stated, “They’re such great visuals! They draw people to our table, start conversations.”
Another proud owner of our animal models, Melissa Barnett, had her students speak to local elementary school students about the opportunities available to them at their career center. The students selected some models to show off because, according to Barnett, “they wanted to show the other students the cool things they will have in high school when they get here.”
Our animal models are sure to get your agriculture and animal science students excited about learning – or enrolling in courses that use these models.
guideWELD® LIVE real welding guidance system
The guideWELD LIVE real welding guidance system enables users to transition from the classroom to the welding booth more efficiently. It uses the same video game-like guides as our guideWELD® VR welding simulator, giving students another opportunity to reinforce muscle memory and techniques before welding live without guidance.
John Paulus, a mobile manufacturing lab technician in Wisconsin, uses this system to give students in middle and high schools a chance to gain firsthand welding experience.
“We’re trying to get these kids to get these kids excited about getting skilled and getting into manufacturing careers,” he shared. “The [guideWELD system] is enhancing our ability to do that.”
Realityworks’ welding guidance system is a perfect hands-on learning aid for recruiting students to your welding classes.
RealCare™ Geriatric Simulator
This award-winning, wearable RealCare™ Geriatric Simulator lets users personally experience several age-related physical challenges such as stooped posture and restricted range of motion.
Rebecca Park used this tool as a precursor to start her nurse aide training program. Her students’ reaction? “The students LOVED it!” she shared. “Empathetic training at its best!”
Our geriatric simulator is sure to draw students to health science and nursing classes, encouraging enrollment in these courses.
Contemporary Entrepreneurship Program
With Realityworks’ ready-to-use Contemporary Entrepreneurship Program, students learn how to be an entrepreneur, produce an idea, conduct market research, consider legal and financial issues, and write their own business plan. The unit ends with a Shark Tank-like Product Pitch Day that you can invite local professionals to.
This is a program that can be used in any career and technology education (CTE) pathway. In the Getting to Know Gen Z report, they found that more than one-third of Gen Z students currently own or plan to own a business in the future, making this an excellent recruitment tool for your program.
Additional Resources
Looking for more information on experiential learning and recruitment? We suggest:
- Our infographic on experiential learning features information on how experiential learning works
- Our blog post with information on using guideWELD VR to boost enrollment and why educators choose guideWELD VR over other welding simulators
- Our 2022 New CTE Products page is full of diverse hands-on learning tools you can use to recruit students to your programs
