I agree that field trips and guest speakers are good for the program. They can focus the students and eliminate myths about the field. I'm in a situation where both are in a short supply. I find that career video and You-Tube are almost as good.
Kevin,
You're right, sometimes even the best students can benefit from a shot in the arm as a reminder about why they enrolled and their purpose for being in the class. And as you say, a good guest speaker or field trip can handle that nicely.
Barry Westling
In my opinion, the benefits of students taking field trips and listening to guest speakers is two fold. First, it allows the student to see their field of study in practice. It will remind students why they decided to enter the field in the first place. Also having a guest speaker is a good change of pace. As entertaining as we may be as instructors, we can become monotonous to students a times. Having a guest speaker can be just what is needed to bring some excitement back into the classroom.
Ashpreet,
Yes, students do get motivated, even to the degree that some weaker students may begin to buckle down and work to improve their grade. That's a pretty powerful motivator.
Barry Westling
Field trips and guest speakers are ideal for all instructors for several reasons. The main reason I love to take part in both is because it excites our students, it allows them to enter the real field and grasp a feeling on it. I have done both. I have had a Pharmacy Student come and speak to my studnets about the different settings she has worked at as a Tech and Student. Students become so motivated to continue their education and start to believe it is possible. Field trips are amazing because of the knowledge they are able to gain. I think at least one of these should be implemented every term.
Jennifer,
I think it's wonderful that your institution requires field trips and guest speakers on a frequent and regular basis. These activities are usually so well received I feel like all schools ought to make a similar mandate. Getting a different perspective and seeing real work setting environments can do wonders to motivate, inform, stimulate enthusiasm, and prepare students for the real world.
Barry Westling
I feel that field trips and guest speakers play a vital role in education. I teach at a career modled school and we are required to have atleast 1 field trip and 1 guest speaker per term. However, most of us, try to have more than just one. It is great to have someone from the actual field the student will be working in to explain exactly what they should expect once in the workfield. They are able to give tips, ideas, etc about the job. The field trips actually get the student out into the actual workfield and they are able to see and experience the atmosphere. I teach dental students and I feel that it is VITAL for the student to see how the actual dental office runs. It is much different to "read" how the office is run in comparision to seeing it happening with your own eyes.
Daniel,
All good reasons to employ the field trip and guest speaker activities.
Barry Westling
Guest speakers allow the students the oportunity to hear from someone other than myself. Guest speakers allow the students to hear from someone with a different perspective in the industry.
Field trips are esential to my field as we cannot recreate every opportunity for student learning in the lab facility. Many activities must be performed in outside facilities.
Donna,
That's great! I too believe field trips and guest speakers are a wonderful way to infuse enthusiasm and interest into the routine class sessions. Often, students will recieve new levels of motivation, buckle down, and see their work improve after an interesting guest or field trip activity.
Barry Westling
I like to do both with my students. The guest speakers really give the students an idea of what is currently going on in their chosen field and I use some former students because students tend to listen more to them than to the instructor when I say to them that I have been where they are, in class. Also, field trips help them to see their chosen field in action by traveling to various places where they may be employed in the future.
Lisa,
Good presenters good potentially be a recent graduate who is working and is also a particurlly good speaker. Also, slaespersons can be potential speakers, or they may have contacts they know that could be a good speaker.
Barry Westling
Janet,
One way some instructors get guest speakers is to ask recent working graduates come to speak. Where they lack experience, they usually make up for in terms of enthusiasm and familiarity with the program.
Barry Westling
If I were able to schedule field trips for my students at my campus, I feel that it would be worthwhile for their understanding. Students should see what takes place in their field, to see it first hand. Textbooks are great, but real-life examples are a plus.
I believe that we can bring in guest speakers, and I will check the policies when I return to work. Upon my research for the answer, the next step would be to find someone that would be a good fit to be a presenter. I would want someone that could bring a positive experience to the class.
LT
Im all for field trips and speakers but its so difficult to get them worked into the curriculum at my school.
I am all for guest speakers and field trips, but at my college its almost impossible to get them worked into class time.
Thomas,
Yes, credibilty can be reinforced when a good guest speaker complements information their primary instructor has stated. And I like how the guest speaker can also add a slightly different spin or perspective to a topic, especially when the students understand that information can be useful to them in the work setting they're training for.
Barry Westling
I have found that taking students out of the classroom and bringing in guest speakers gives the course I am teaching validity. They see actual examples of what I show and talk about in the classroom. There is elevated excitement afterwards and then I can say "See! I told you so!"
Michelle,
I believe in virtually any training program, there are many aspects that can be amplified, and a good guest speaker can bring a freshness, alternative perspective, and enthusiasm to the routine of regular class training sessions.
Barry Westling
There are many benefits to guest speakers. There are many specialties in many industries. Having a guest speaker allows the students to grasp a better understanding of specialities.
