I agree with you Patricia! As a nursing instructor, I love bringing back new grads or coworkers in the field that students are interested in to see there is a light a the end of the tunnel :) Students then see that getting their license is in reach and that they can do many wonderful things with it. The speakers I bring in have guidelines I give them to follow with their speaches and I have had nothing but great results so far!
guest speakers disrupt any perceived monotony and lend credence to the course's value
Guest Speakers can be a great resource as long as the students can relate to the speaker and the speaker can deliver the material in a way that can be understood by the students.
Many times the students can relate to a guest speaker, especially if it is a former student. The speaker can help the student see the end result of their education - being in field working.
This is a huge incourgement to the students with the right speaker for them to see,
an outsider speaking about everything we spoke of helps seal the deal
This person can share the process she went through to completer her education. This can inspire a hesitant student to persevere and visualize the goal of completing the course of study.
I have used guest speakers in a few of my classes and have found that the students really enjoy listening to someone else tell them things about what we are studying and how they will use the information in their actual field. I have seen a speaker make something that is tough to understand and make my students go ah, ha!
I definitely recommend using guest speakers whenever you can.
I teach an economics course and usually will have a Financial Planner come in and speak during one particular section of the class. I get more compliments on that part of the class than any other! Why not let the expert explain it!
I believe that guest speakers are essential to the success of those that feel overwhelmed and discouraged. Someone who has gone through what the students are going through now can provide them with some kind of hope and assurance that they too can make it. I think sometimes that what students need is to know that just because times are rough or their situations are too much to bear that does not mean they won't succeed. The story of a veteran is what all students need to hear.
Hi Matthew,
Guest speakers certainly add flavor to those discouraged students as well as students that are motivated. Graduate guest speakers are definitely a plus because these speakers can speak about their experience while at the institution. I like the idea of a one-on-one meeting, if there is a need and agreed upon by the guest speaker. I am sure the meeting will prove to be very helpful.
Patricia
By bringing in a guest speaker, a recent successful grad or someone else in the field the students hope to enter into, it will show them that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully this will encourage them to push forward with their studies because they will have seen it can be done by someone similar to themselves. I would add that setting up individual meetings between the guest speaker and the discouraged students could allow for a more specifically targeted discussion that could help. Of course, this is obviously dependent upon the guest speaker being willing to help in this way. As instructors, we should try to make and maintain relationships that promote guest speakers willingness to engage with students at this level when appropriate.
Hi Kevin,
Students typically enjoy guest speakers. Guest speakers have proven to motivate students.
Patricia
Guest speakers in general help to reinforce what the students are learning in class. They give expectations and requrements for the career that the students are entering. I have found the best guest speaker is a graduated student. The graduated student comes back and can tell the students exactly how what they learned in class is really aplied on the job. It is more substantial than a speaker that did not go through the same process to get his or her job.
Guest speakers can be extremely valuable in motivating discouraged students. A guest speaker may be a subject matter expert in a field or may have experienced a real life situation that can drive home the importance of the course.
Hi Stephanie,
You are right. The guest speaker needs to be hand picked, and you personally know that this person is going to do an outstanding presentation so that the students will benefit from it. I always choose guest speakers that fit the characteristics that you have mentioned so that my students can have a great experience.
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
Students love having guest speakers. It is important for students to hear from other professionals other than their instructors. Guest speakers are very motivating for our students.
Patricia
I think guest speakers are extremely valuable. They can motivate the students, give them great real world view point, and give them valuable information, not only on what to expect in their chosen field, but what employers expect from them.
The guest speaker needs to be carefully chosen though. If you have a speaker come in that is not prepared, not a great speaker, or just rubs the students the wrong way, this can have very negative effects on the students view of not only the field they have chosen, but the value of their education.
The speaker needs to be positive, upbeat, knowledgable and personable as to not make the students feel that they have made a mistake, or second guess their situation.
I had this happen at one point and really had to back track with my students.
Guest speakers make a positive impact on our students. We often have a current employer, medical professional or a former graduate scheduled for this presentation. Students can relate to a graduate that may have had life challenges to overcome while in school but did not give up. Medical professionals often lecture on professionalism and employer expectations, this helps to enforce the soft skills that instructors implement.
Hi Patti,
Yes it does. It can also be great reinforcement based on what was discussed by the instructor. Students really enjoy guest speakers. Guest speakers can validate theory heard in the classroom.
Patricia
It lets the students learn from other resources in the business who may have a different perspective on the issue being taught.
