Learning from the Experience of Others

Setting the Stage

Learning from the experience of others can help us identify potential pitfalls, ensure we have accurate information, and can provide us with strategies and knowledge we might not otherwise have. Among the ways this can occur are through job shadowing, mentoring, or from interviews with workers.  

Material & Preparation

• Arrange for computer and internet access for students working in pairs or groups.
• Download the Learning from the Experience of Others Reproducible (1 per student) [Google Doc] [Word Doc] [PDF]
• Download the Key Ideas Round Robin Reproducible (1 per student) [Google Doc] [Word Doc] [PDF]

What to Do

Provide students with the link to the Let’s Talk Science careers website. Direct them to find profiles for 5 individuals who are in a career or sector that is of interest to them. Provide each student with a copy of the Learning from the Experience of Others Reproducible to record the advice from each person.

After students have found and read their five profiles, provide them with a copy of the Key Ideas Round Robin Reproducible to record the top three pieces of advice they got from the profiles they read. Pair students and have them share their top three pieces of advice and select two pieces of advice they agree are the best. 

Then arrange the pairs into quads. Each group of four will share their respective pieces of advice and choose one that they all agree is the best. Refer to the Key Ideas Round Robin learning strategy, on the Let’s Talk Science website, for more ideas of how to use this strategy.

Have each group share their top piece of advice with the class. Teachers could lead a discussion on the pieces of advice provided. Is there one piece of advice that comes up from more than one group? Is there one piece of advice that the class agrees is the best? Do any of the pieces of advice share any common characteristics? Has anyone offered them career advice? If so, what was this advice? Do they agree with the advice given and plan to follow it?

As a personal reflection, teachers can have students complete the reflection question at the end of the Key Ideas Round Robin Reproducible.