Good idea on guest speakers. I have usually tried to get a guest speaker that is an expert in the topic of the course. But, now I realize the benefits of having someone who has worked in the field be a guest speaker is actually more beneficial, they don't have to be an "expert" but someone who understands what the students are going through and can help them by giving them advise on how they handled situations.
The value of a guest speaker in talking with students who are discouraged or about to quit my course is that guest speakers are able to add another perspective to the subject. The guest speaker can also show students how the subject is applicable to real life. The guest speaker can act as evidence that learning the subject is useful. Furthermore, the students might be able to relate to the guest speaker more. The guest speaker might also spark new interest in the subject through personal experience stories that the student can relate to.
I plan to utilize multiple guest speakers in my class for quite a few reasons! I think it's a great way to change the norm and create interest for the students. The guest speakers will talk about what they do on a daily basis, and it directly relates to everything we've been learning. It's like a realistic job preview that ties course material to career success.
I really like using guest speakers to help refocus students and gives them the opportunity to see what is in store for them in their new career. It also helps re-enforce what we teach and tell them.
Guest speakers in a class which prepares students for job searching, interviewing, etc. is extremely effective, especially when the speaker has the ability to hire graduates.
Guest speakers talk about the importance of the course and give even more insight on what employers want, adding value to the course in general
Good points. Guest speakers can add a whole new dimension to your course. What do you think of inviting someone to your class virtually--(ie: skype them in to your classroom). I have thought about doing this due to the logistics of travel and scheduling someone to to drive to the campus. Any thoughts?
I think one of the best resources is a guest speaker who is a graduate of that school. There are some individuals who have achieved great success after graduating and should serve as an inspiration and role model for your students.
Using guest speakers and other people that in the field that is being taught opens up there minds. Example of that is that I teach Veterinary Asst. I bring guest speakers in for front office, as well as DVM's and other parts of the field. That way they have an over view of the whole field. I find that effective for the students and they love it.
Guest speakers give real life experiece and help encourage the students to remain focused on the end goal.
Guest speakers are a good way to motivate students so that they can ask questions and here stories of how the field is practical.
I think this is a great idea, most of my current students want to hear from past students and how this education helped them get a job after completion and how they felt while going to school and juggling home life with school, I will use this more often as this was a good reminder to me how this is much needed in class at times.
Hi William,
You have it! Guest speakers are really like a breath of fresh air! Students get refreshed hearing from a guest speaker.
Patricia Scales
If the speaker is energetic and positive and is good at instilling motivation, it might bring about the spark that these students need to start performing better and give better results. If that speaker happens to come from the same background as the current students, the speaker's words will have a greater impact and be more likely to bring about positive change.
A guest speaker usually serves as a great motivator for the students. He or she brings an outsider's perspective to the class to which the students can relate to. These speakers play a very important role in encouraging the students to do their best in getting their career set up in the right direction by providing a "been there, done that" scenario. This is specially helpful to the students who are getting discouraged because of various adverse circumstances in their lives. Listening to an outsider about how they overcame their adversities puts new spirit in these students to work harder and not give up.
Hi Christopher,
Guest speakers are amazing! The can bring a dying student back to life!
Patricia Scales
Hi Taiya,
I love the humor of the silly string. Guest speakers add great flavor to the course.
Patricia Scales
I think this is a great resource! Sometimes, the student just needs to know that someone else out there (like them) succeeded at this! Even though it can be scary and discouraging at times (a bad grade), knowing that someone else was once in their position and made it.
The guest speaker can relate to the student, inspiring students who are on the verge of quitting to "stick through it" by providing them with real-life examples of how they endured
Guest speakers are a fun and informative way to break up the classroom routine and spark interest in students. We had a speaker come in during breast cancer awareness month who really opened the students' eyes to diagnosing and early treatment of breast cancer, she even shot a couple of them with silly-string!
Hi Jacqueline,
Guest speakers are priceless! Guest speakers bring classroom theory into real life.
Patricia Scales
