Guest speakers show relavance to the material/work you the instructor are presenting in the course. They also show the student the employment opportunities that can await them.
I have found that by bringing in a graduate/or extern student is very motivating. This seems to allow the sitting student to really relate.
Hi Eric,
Yes! Guest speakers are priceless! Our students have so much to gain from guest speakers. Guest speakers are very inspiring and motivating.
Patricia Scales
Guest speaking are a wonderful asset to the classroom. They bring in real life experience and wisdom that students really get into. It allows them to see what is out there and what they have to look forward to.
When I first started teaching I had a few experiences with students that were not very engaged in school, and they ended up being very successful in the industry. Having them return and speak to my current students allows for relfection on the alumni's part to see how they could've gotten more out of their educational experience. It also allows for my current students to see that school can be challenging but you can still succeed if you apply yourself.
By having guest speakers come in it helps the students with their confidence levels. If they go through a challenging time they can reflect on what the speaker said and learn how to persevere. The speakers are very inspirational people!!!
Hi Vanessa,
Graduate guest speakers are the absolute best. They have a lot of light to shed on different situations/experiences. They are very motivating and inspiring.
Patricia Scales
I will be using a recent graduate who was hired on externship as my guest speaker. I have about 8 new students in this term who I am sure are still in question as to whether they are in the right field or can handle the amount of work and study required of them. I feel like this particular student exemplifies persistence and a positive attitude which in my opinion will serve them better than memorizing every term used in their field.
very good post .. It is very good , to have a former student, as a guest speaker.. It will always motivate the entire class for success....
Great Value.... the graduate student that has been a guest speaker for me was a single mother of three teenage girls. She was working full-time, going to class in the evenings... Graduated top of her class and was the student speaker at her commencement. Students love to hear her story.
Student need to relate to their peers; bringing in a former student who overcame so of the same challenges they're facing. It gives encouragement as well as motivation to complete what they started.
This is the same concept as using a star athlete to talk with disadvantaged students. It shows them that there is more to life than a game.
Hi James,
Yes, these students make some great guest speakers. Students enjoy hearing from their colleagues about their experience.
Patricia Scales
Hi Donna,
Yes! Guest speakers certainly bring in a spark of energy. Students need to hear from professionals in the real world how things are on the job.
Patricia Scales
The last step before graduation in our school is an externship in the student's field. I like to have these students speak for a few minutes about their externship experience and how they have applied the knowledge that they have accrued during their previous quarters in school.
Guests speakers add a new flame to a sometimes dwindling fire. They encourage and uplift and remind the student why they chose their career path.
On occasion, I have guest instructors come to my classroom to inspire my class. This lets them look forward to a goal and to imagine a concrete future.
When I relay my real life work experiences to my students, I find that I don't hold their attention as much as a fellow peer.
I have invited guest speakers who were previous graduates that are now successfully working in the field after they became certified. This real-life application awakens curiosity and gives more value and meaning to what they are learning when they listen to a successful peer in their chosen field.
Hi Bonnie,
Yes. Guest speakers are priceless. They really can give students insight about the profession in a true sense instead of just what the book is saying.
Patricia Scales
I have found that having a speaker from the field of future employment get the interest back up in the class and open more input in the class.
