Hi Maria,
Guest speakers are magical. They always touch at least one student during their presentation. In the education business to impact one life is to impact many.
Patricia
Sometimes students get discouraged with the work they feel is "not relevant". When I bring speakers in I ask them to emphasize the importance of these skills or tasks.
I teach Massage Therapy and one of the challanges
is that the students tend to fall into doing "cookie cutter massages". This leads to boredom. I bring in speakers who can speak about the differant types of clients they have and the many differant modalities they must use.
I also have them demonstrae their techniques so the students see there are many differant ways of accomplishing a desired affect.
I try to incorporate a guest speaker in several classes that I teach so that students can see what it is like in the workforce and how to apply what they are studying to real life.
Most of my guest speakers are willing to return term after term to speak with various groups of students. They do this to network plus some of them are required to speak out in the community.
This way the students benefit and so does the guest speaker.
To students who are discouraged or about to quit, hearing from people who is in the business and talk highly about, sharing some advices and good experinces makes the student get excited and give them courage to be motivated in finishing the course. A guest speaker can able to talk smart and full of encouragement.
Guest speakers usually give hope to students letting them see the future of what they can accomplish. Discuss with class currently what's available for them upon graduation.
Having a previous student that has succeded return to the school to elaberate on their experience of the challenge of school and then rewards of accomplishment is a great incentive for the class
The value in bringing in a guest speaker in talking with students who are discouraged or about to quit to course, especially former students would impact the current student the most since it is the peer group who actually suceeded. However, it is difficult to bring in former students who is working in the field would be a tough situation.
Besides the obvious benefit of motivating students who may be discouraged by hearing someone's story of success who may have walked in their same shoes, I believe arranging for a guest speaker also tells students that the instructor believes in them enough that he or she made that extra effort to do something that would encourage and hopefully excite them.
continuing ed students are working in the work force and have the knowledge of what it is like possibly in their field
Hi Steve,
A guest speaker has much to offer. You are right, they can really put things in real perspective to students. My favorite guest speakers are graduates of the school.
Patricia
They can be a great value however, the guest speaker should have excellent preseance. If they bore the class or don't have a "story" it can defeat the purpose.
A guest speaker can help students see how course material is related to real life. It also helps reinforce the message that real life successful people endorse and support the mission of the course.
Hi Dawn,
These resources are certainly invaluabe. Studens love having guest speakers. It is good for our students to hear from other experts other than us all the time.
Patricia
Guest speakers are an invaluable asset to a course because they provide real world experiences. Discouraged students use these experiences as motivators to finish the course, or, hopefully, their education.
I think that a guest speaker can bring interesting insights, especially if it comes form the filed in which students want to focus their careers. A guest spearker will motivate students with his/her success but also should focus on rehiterating the importance of knowledge aquired in school and it helps in developing a career.
Hi Angelia,
Super idea! You are on point! Our students have a plenty to juggle, and they do need motivation from more than just the instructors. Community experts and graduate speakers are excellent ways to share the knowledge and get students excited.
Patricia
Hi Bonnie,
Yes. I always have each student prepare 2-3 questions for the guest speaker. When a guest speaker is available, it is a great time to pick their brain.
Patricia
We attempt to bring in experts from the community and newly hired graduates to speak to new Vocational Nursing students and students in their last semester. From these experiences we have had positive outcomes, established and maintained credibility. Students tend to be receptive to prior student’s comments and feedback; tend to pay more attention to the course material and communicate more openly with instructors. We are creating credibility that can be so easily lost when students feel overwhelmed by life’s stressors
It gives them an idea of what the future holds for them. It gives them a chance to ask questions and have a better understanding of the road ahead.
Hi Robert,
You're right! Students do not need guest speakers who speak above their heads. A guest speaker is of no use, if they are speaking in terms where the students are unable to understand.
Patricia
