A guest speaker who has successfully completed a career college program can share his/her struggles and successes as a student navigating family, work, transportation issues, and other stresses. Seeing someone else who has had the same concerns and managed to overcome them can be a big inspiration for a "ready to quit" student. Seeing is believing!
I can see the value of having a guest speaker come and talk with students who are discouraged or about to quit because it can help them see that they aren't the only ones who have felt this way before. It will hopefully encourage them to keep battling and trying.
I am always thinking of how I can contribute to retention. I have never thought of this!! It has brought me so many new ideas, I can't wait to start developing a new strategy that will help the student experience and contribute to keeping kids in class!
Hi Beverley,
Guest speakers are priceless, and they serve as great reinforcers. Guest speakers validate what we teach.
Patricia Scales
I once taught a class about career choices in veterinary technology and I used guest speakers as a way to reinforce the career possibilities as an R.V.T. It was nice for the students to have someone other than myself instructing them on career choices in the veterinary field. I also noticed that the guest speakers helped to keep the students engaged in the material that we were covering during lecture.
Guest speakers can give a real world insight into the students chosen career field. Guest speakers can excite students and refocus those that feel discouraged. Graduates who struggled a bit in school, but are now successful in the field can transmit a "can-do" attitude to students that are ready to call it quits.
Having taught at a career college in the past, I have seen many students who can't see the forest for the trees. Bringing in a guest speaker who can show them, "Here is the end result" will go a long way towards encouraging the discouraged students. In fact, all students benefit from seeing one of their peers having success in their chosen field. It is a great motivator to keep going.
Using a guest speaker can help students to see how they can apply course content and reinforce they can be successful in the chosen field after hearing from others who are successful in that career.
Guest speakers are a great resource, they represent the opportunities students have after graduation, it validates the need of a college degree. Guest speakers can also be used to engage students.
It is of great value to have a guest speaker come talk to students who are discouraged or about to quit the course. Guest speakers are usually subject experts and therefore have the potential to provide a fresh perspective, motivation, and the power to change a student's outlook on the course. Even if the guest speaker is not a subject expert, they add variety that may otherwise be lacking.
Hi Jean,
I agree! Guest speakers are very inspiring and motivating! Students need to hear it from someone else that the struggles of becoming educated is worth it in the end.
Patricia Scales
I think the guest speaker can motivate students because they will see s successful person, in the career of their choice. The guest speaker often speaks of challenges they faced in order to meet their goals. The students can recognize, while others face the same challenge, the end result is worth it.
They bring fresh perspective to the content for the students. If they are a graduate they can help the discouraged student see that they are not alone and that they can see a clearer path to being successful.
This is a good idea as long as they don't talk over the students heads.
Hi Maryl,
I agree! It is nothing better than to have a guest speaker who is a graduate of the college, and they are in the position to hire. Most graduates who are in the position to hire will look out for those who are from their school.
Patricia Scales
I think having someone come in breaks the mundane routine. It spices things up and can help re-motivate students. I thinking having somoen come in that's lively, entertaining, and full of information helps students see their potential, and what they can accomplish if they stick with their goals and do not quit on themselves or their educational program.
My favorite guest speakers are former students, who have overcome the adversities, completed their education, and obtained a their credentials, and gotten a great job. Discouraged students really listen to someone who was in their shoes a couple of years ago.
My other favorite guest speakers are hiring managers from local facilities. It's good for the discouraged students to know that the local facilities are hiring. The *absolute best* is when I find a former student who is also a manager or supervisor, and they want to come and give a hand up to the next class of students. They understand what it was like to be a student searching for their first job, and know that I have given the student what they need to succeed.
I will begin my first lecture in less than a week and am very excited about the guest speakers I have lined up. I know how much guest speakers motivated me when I was a student. I cannot wait!
Guest speakers tend to help the students gain a better real world understanding of the value of their courses and education. I have found the students want to support each other and guest speakers are no different. It gives the idea that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that their education is worthwhile.
Guest speakers can help motivated students who are ready to quit, as they can bring real world examples to the classroom. In addition, many times guest speakers have been in the same situation as the student, thus giving the student the ability to relate to them, which can help to motive them.
