Guest Speakers and Field Trips
I am a huge believer in field trips and guest speakers. I feel that both give the students an opportunity to see what their career choice has in store for them. In my 7 years of teaching I have had several Medical Assistant students observe an open heart surgery and come out and say this field is not for me and chose a different career path.
Hi Josefina:
True - some classes are limited in their ability to do field trips.
A tip I use with guest speakers is it inform them what we're currently covering, and to reinforce certain points, if they can intermingle those points into their presentation. It's strange, I can stress something over and over, and some students may get it, but not all. But a guest speaker can hint at the same thing and students will be open to it. So, I use that phenomenon to my advantage (for the benefit of the students).
Regards, Barry
I also agree since not all fields can attend a field trip to experience at first hand but a guest speaker can give insite to what's to come and different opportunities available.
My School does not do field trips
I too use field trips and quest speakers and I encourage my instructors to do the same. One of the reasons I like guest speakers is because they bring credibility to your subject matter. They hear the instructors lecture everyday and they get a little numb to the subjects. But when the guest speaker comes in it emphasize your lecture by bringing in real world application.
I agree with the above discussion about students either reinforcing their excitement and commitment to their chosen field by experiencing it on a field trip; I've had students react the same way on some of mine. I also find that if I have a field trip scheduled early in the course, it tends to break the ice a little more and the students have a chance to bond as classmates, which spills over into the classroom for the rest of the course.
Depending on the type of program that is being offered, field trips are an extremely helpful tool in bringing your students to the "real world". In my Respiratory program, students will be conducting clinical rotations throughout there tenure in the program, so the guest speaker tends to work out better with me. I like to have the equiptment vendors (ie: mechanical ventilators, etc..)to come on campus to give our students the latest in-services on changes in modes or software. This allows for a great question and answer opportunity which encourages student participation.
Field trips aren't very relevant in our school but guest speakers are very helpful! I like bringing in guest speakers to talk more indepth on topics or equipment that they have been learning about. I especially like to bring people in from specific equipment companies that I know they will be working with in their field to give them more insite and a better understanding than what I could.
Your example is eye opening to say the least, however the effect is very relavent in todays' world. Schools will be evaluated on their graduation and placement rates. Students are making a huge investment of thier time and resourses. The field trip helps focus thier investment in a career field they will be successfull in.
I use both field trips and guest speakers. I like watching the students react with other presenters.
After they are done I can have a discussion with the class about what we learned together.
