Inviting guest speakers who are experts in their field and who have a good working knowledge of how to take what is being covered in the classroom and apply these lessons to the real world. This is extremely beneficial to students.
Yes guest speakers can bring a sence of reality to the subject being presented.
The advent of technologies in the classroom environment especially on the IT side has become a merry-go-round that teachers/instructors must get off and then back on to keep prospective of its place in the learning challenge. Not only the media i.e. cell phones, laptops, etc. but what source of information providers are supplying and to what basis the justification may lean. As we all know, information providers my lean political, religious, environmental and one of another thousand other ways to further their given viewpoint. My challenge to my students in the information age is to have them use at least three media outlets and compare the different views and apply what is called in the Law as "Preponderance of Evidence".
it depends on what resources that are being taught to the class, with technology you can add some computer games to help learn the course
I am able to use internet, magazine articles, even lecture notes and videos - from other classes that pertain to our course. These resources expand the variety and educational focus.
I have found that I have to take a bit of caution when using the internet or youtube for information. That information can be very opinionated and not based of facts. This can get very confusing for the learner.
Richard,
Excellent suggestions! Instructors should be in a constant "research mode", in order to identify new materials that will enhance their courses.
Tremayne Simpson
Debra,
I agree. Guest speakers provide a "change of pace" for the students, and gives them an opportunity to witness learning from another voice.
Tremayne Simpson
I work in a military environment in which we are governed by regulations and directives. It is imperative that the students know the resources so they may reference the documents once they leave the classroom environment.
I like to use multiple means to aid all learners and keep students engaged. This includes various technological tools such as Web 2.0, interactive software, etc.
Mr. Simpson,
Resources can come from the simplest places. Your desk, ideas from other questions being answered. I have added lecture notes from watching documentaries. People watching and seeing their reactions to certain situations are another great way to add a resource.
Have fun,
Rich Maeda
I love finding new resources to engage my students and to add variety to the usual lecture/lab scenario. There are a lot of wonderful interviews with well-known designers and I use clips of them to introduce students both to the thought-leaders in our field and to reinforce some concept that we are covering that day. I have also taken pictures of various gallery shows and events that I've attended and have taken students on a "virtual field trip" to show examples of design and typography that are relevant to what we are studying. Sometimes I have even found some cool, interactive websites and I show the students something just for fun to break up the class time a bit and get them recharged. Often this will turn into an opportunity for them to show me something cool and interesting that they've found on the web and we all get a chance to know each other a little better and have some fun learning about a relevant topic together.
Guest speakers are great! They can tell the students how things "really" are in their chosen fields. They also seem to pay more attention to someone who is doing what they want to be doing. Also I have noticed that it is difficult for students to stay off their smart phones in class so instead of fighting it, I am going to try to find a way to include it in some way. At least that is my plan.
I love having guest speakers come in. There are great to get the students excited about the possibilities in this industry.
Plus, having guests demo new procedures and products are always a hit.
I have found that it is exceptionally interesting to see how students react to a guest speaker that is already in the field. They usually are very attentive when it has to do with someone who is experiencing now what they plan to experience in just a short amount of time.
Instructional resources can be as simple as a picture in a textbook or a recipe card to follow. It can easily go more high tech with the use of power point presentation, internet search engines, and even social networking can present an opportunity for instructional content. Diversifying your instructional delivery methods by utilizing multiple resources can bring excitement and increase interest in the subject matter. Human resources are a good way to bring relevance to the classroom. A guest speaker can motivate and reflect standards of the very industry the student strives to enter.
I require each of my student to use the multimedia tools that come with their books. These tool have proven to help them with their final assessments.
I like to integrate current events from the field. It helps gain student engagement and interest.
I find that technology resources, although fun, are a disaster if the technology fails. It creates lost time, student behavior problems and takes the instructor "off his/her game." Good quality guest speakers in an appropriate field are great additional resources to any lesson plan.
As a hands on vocational school getting our students out into the lab and shop areas is always a good opportunity. Just having the long class times broken up with a bit of lecture in a classroom then walking next door to the shop is enough to break up the 3.5 hour class time into interesting parts. A little lecture and books then hands on application is very helpfull.
