A guest speaker can help students to understand that they are not alone in having multiple outside forces making demands on their lives and time as they negotiate their way through school. That speaker can serve as a motivation ~ success inspires success.
Hi Diane!
I completely agree. The students become more engaged and motivated when someone (a former student) shares their experience with the class. As teachers, we also share our experiences, but for some reason we don't have as much of an impact as someone who viewed as a "peer"
Hi Matthew,
I agree! Guest speakers are no doubt very resourceful. Students become more energized after hearing a guest speaker.
Patricia
Hi Terri,
Guest speakers are like batteries they can certainly charge/recharge students interest.
Patricia
Hi Diane,
I agree! Students REALLY believe what the instructor has told them when they hear it again from an outside source. Guest speakers add great flavor to any course.
Patricia
I have done this several times and the students really enjoy this. No matters what I tell them, they like to hear it from someone else.
Guest speakers can renew enthusiasm especially when they are having difficulty staying motivated to complete the course.
it can help them to see real world applications for what they are learning, give them something to strive for. it can also help them too see that they are not alone in any problems they might have.
Guest speakers are highly valuable. In classes I have taught before I have used guest speakers from various applications on the campus, as well as, from the field of study. Typically the on campus guest speakers talk about the library(ies) and ways in which to use it successfully for research assignments. The Field of Study guest speakers have typically been from the local area and have had a recent influence in the field that would greatly benefit these students for future avenues. Both types of guest speakers are highly accepted and regarded by the students through the follow-up assignments that I require in reference to the lectures. I will keep using this as a part of my class and look forward to even inviting others as the academic years progress.
Guest speakers can be very motivating. They can tell the students about the real life struggles that they may have encountered while trying to get their education. They can say how hard it may have been and how ready they were to quit. That being said, they can point out the great reasons why they stuck to the grind and finished what they started. They can describe the personal satisfaction that they felt when they landed the job, got the promotions, and made good salaries. They can talk about the invaluable experiences thay had and how they helped them to grow personally as well as professionally. Guest speakers can enlighten students who are ready to quit by letting them know that there is more out there in the world that they are striving for than just a passing grade in a class. They are preparing for their lives and the hard work they put in will pay back many fold if they just stick with it. These benefits are also to be experienced by their families as well.
A guest speaker may talk about previous experiences with other students who were about to quit the course and then were motivated to succeed. They can talk about real life scenarios about students who became very successful in their chosen career.
Guest speakers can share wealth of knowledge and experience to students.
Hi Jordan,
I totally agree! I love guest speakers, especially graduate guest speakers. Graduate guest speakers can really relate to the current students, and the current students can really relate to the graduate guest speaker. Graduate guest speakers can shed a lot of light on various things about the course and school in a positive way.
Patricia
The guest speaker can motivate students who don't see the relevance of the coursework at hand. Guest speakers bring enthusiasm and "real - life" success stories into the classroom.
It allows them to get interest by giving them acccess to real world stories
If the guest speaker is a dynamic, motivating speaker with relevance to the course, this can have a tremendous impact to a discouraged student, and could potentially "bring them back". Once again, careful attention and effort must be made to ensure the speaker is the right fit for the course and the particular spot in the course you as the instructor are in. Thanks
A guest speaker that went through the same course the students are presently taking can share the positive points that enabled them to complete the course.
I have, on occasion, brought in successfull graduates that inspired the present class with success stories regarding the practical application of the knowledge learned from the class.
The reaction of students was positive and those that were concerned whether or not they would pass seemed to regain confidence that they too could get through the training.
For the above reason it is my opinion guest speakers can have a positive impact.
Hi Kara,
I do the same in my Professional Development class, I invite the Placement Coordinator to speak about resume writing, and I invite the Director to speak about interviewing. The students get really excited when we have the guest speakers present. The guest speakers also add validation to what I have already presented.
Patricia
Hi Jerry,
I have experienced that there are even some students that have the same problems as others, and I have had students talk to each other to share how they overcame the problem; students care really share things in a positive light with other students.
Patricia
I really like the idea, and had never thought about it before. Having someone come in with troubles that a student may be experiencing is a great way getting a student to realize it is not "only" them that have problems and if the can do it so can I attitude will build.
