WIIFM – Carolyn Nesbitt-Larking
Intersting prompt. When I think about WIIFM from a student perspective I see it from three various levels.
Primary level- I’ve got to do this “stuff” meaning assessments, homework, readings, showing up to class, etc. to meet whatever is required from the professor. This can often be regarded as perfunctory, something that just needs doing. I think this is a fair comment as many of us can feel that way at times. At times, these can be mere process activities with little thought to any bigger picture. So WIIFM is a sense of checking an item of a list without much thought.
2nd level – the student has a particular interest in a particular course, or particular module of a course or program, and they have a personal interest, or it comes relatively easier for them to engage in material because they have the interest. So WIIFM is a connection to material on a personal level and I can engage in class discussions and complete assessments with a relatively strong sense of success.
3rd level – I can see how the knowledge from each course will benefit me when I graduate and can show I have some “expertise” in the skills and knowledge an employer might be looking for. So the WIIFM internalizes to the student.
I tried this activity in class a few days ago with students who are in their final semester of the program. We talked about the WIIFM concept and I let the entire class talk amongst themselves to come up with a list they could write on the board.
It was interesting to see the various responses. Some put what I called the “grocery list” of specific skills they will walk away with. I said that’s great but how can we put that grocery list into something more personal. We came up with the word expertise. As we went through the remaining thoughts put on the blackboard we came up with three words: Knowledge, Expertise, Experience. I finished this activity talking to them about the knowledge part and the cool thing with gaining knowledge is that it is something that no one can ever take away from someone. They liked that idea, was able to personalize/internalize it.
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