It gives a real life prospective; allowing the students to hear and know that their struggles were felt by others and success is possible
I have found that this is not only extremely helpful to the students but it also helps prepare them at times for the future. In massage therapy I have a friend that has a prosthetic leg and by having her as a guest speaker it helped extremely in speaking and learning about phantom pain.
Guest speakers help with these students because they see that there is an end to the program/education requirements, and that others have been successful. this helps them to realize that they too could succeed.
Hi Alice,
Guest speakers add a lot of flavor to the classroom. Students like hearing from other professional other than the instructor all the time.
Patricia Scales
Using Guest speakers will ignite some excitement in the students. They will hearing a different voice. They will see another successful person who is working in their chosen career field.
In addition, they will hear how someone else got where they are. Sometimes, I think students can get bored just hearing one voice all the time. They need to hear a different voice who gets just as excited as the teacher about the subject they are studying.
They can get the students who are bored excited again about the subject matter and they can see how this all works for someone other than the instructor.
Sometimes, in the heat of everyday education and class management, we forget that other people get tired of us, no matter how entertaining we may be :))
(For the record, I mean this in a purely non-egotistical / humorous manner)
Point is this ... our students often find that some different stimulation via a guest speaker is often a welcome and useful break in the routine of a class.
Hi Paul,
I concur! Guest speakers are like a breath of fresh air to students.
Patricia Scales
The value of a guest speaker in talking with discouraged students that might be contemplating quitting is they can provide inspiration and motivation to them. Having a person come to the class an give their personal experience of the hardships and rewards that they went through during their training and career, can provide a boost to the students that are having troubles.
Having a different voice repeat the same message given by the instructor lends to credibility as well as making it stick better. Anytime I can find reliable and usable video resources that reiterate class content or show examples from the field, I love to use them!
Even better is a guest who has gone through the difficulties of getting the degree as an adult learner with children and responsibilities on top of education and is now doing well in a field that he or she is thriving in.
Q&A session with the speaker can allieveate fears, help students see the value of holding the course and counting the cost of both success and dropping the course.
Hi Paul,
You are on point! Guest speakers can really validate what we have been teaching our students. Students love hearing from other professionals other than us all the time.
Patricia Scales
A guest speaker may be able to present the benefit that they found after completing the course. They may be able to paint a picture to the discouraged student about how they also felt that way at one point but there is an end benefit to complete the course and do their best.
Having a different voice reaffirm the same message is impactful and adds credibility.
It gives the student the opportunity to have a different opinion that validates what has been taught in the class.
When I invite a guest speaker i always do so with the intent of the class seeing where they can be after they finish school. Im very picky in who I let into my class they must be outgoing and must be knowlegeable in there answers.
I find it important to have outside information brought in from people in the industry. I mention that I will have a guess speaker in after the students read the syllabus and what area interests them. We have a group consensus and I find someone who is knowledgeable in that area.
Guest speakers, escpecially if they are graduates or have taken the course, an validate its effectiveness in their real life experiences.
Hi Karen,
Guest speakers are priceless, and it is good for students to hear from other professionals other then the instructor all the time. The guest speaker can give students a real good idea as to what is expected on the job.
Patricia Scales
I think its a great idea to use a guest speaker. Being a student can be both discouraging and encouraging. Meeting someone in the field gives the student a reason to continue to pursue his/her education. This allows students to see that there choice is the right one for them. All students need some positive encouragement and insight into the chosen field.
As mentioned in the module, this tool could help to motivate students that feel overwhelmed and are contemplating quitting school. To have someone who has gone through similiar obstacles share their story and success could make a huge difference in keeping or losing a student.
Guest speakers could re-enforce the importance of the course you are teaching, sometimes students feel that they can do everything else but do not need your class, especially if it is a general education class and not directly related to their field of study.
Hi Sherry,
Great points made! Guest speakers certainly add a lot of flavor and great positivity to the classroom.
Patricia Scales
