I used a guest speaker several times in my class and I think it really inspired my student(s). It seemed to motivate the discouraged student(s) as well and help them to see future career oportunities.
Hi Susan,
Seeing is believing, and hearing adds a lot of flavor as well. Students need and want guest speakers to be a part of their curriculum.
Patricia
I think it would get the students excited about their new career possibilities, and hopefully retain the discouraged student(s). Hearing and seeing a person who is happy, and enthusiastic about their job/career would hopefully give the student(s) new motivation.
My best teachers and employees are former students. I bring them in as subs or to assistant teach. Students flood them with questions. They see themselves in these successful students who were once in their position.
when a student sees thet what they are doing can lead to success (and lets face it money) then it is a bit more motivation for them to stick with it.
I think the guest speaker has a few values. 1.) It’s not you, sometimes students think we have to say what we say or we have no concept of what goes on in the real world. 2.) They help the students see the final goal of working in their field. 3.) The guest speaker can relate stories of their time in school, the student can make the connection, “Hey, I’m not the only one who struggledâ€. And 4.) It can be a break from the daily routine.
I always have quest speakers in the classroom. It charges the atomshpere an makes the subject more interesting.
Diane Allen
Hi Cynthia,
Use them more often, as you can see they are great motivators to the strugglers and non-strugglers! The speak from a whole different perspective. They can relate to the students from their experience as a student.
Patricia
I have only ever used one graduate as a guest speaker. It was during a dificult course and one student was getting really upset and the more I tried to help the more frustrated this student became. He was looking for answers but the answers he was looking for didn't seem the right ones coming from me. So, I asked one of my former students to come in and talk with the whole class not singling out anyone. The speaker was very straight forward, honest and ansewered all the questions about the course and program, and what dificulties they had had. It proved to be a real eye opener to the other students and helped to clam their anxities .
I am an Adjunct Instructor who mainly teaches Beginning Accounting classes but this term I have accepted a Business/Customer Service class. I work full time at LexisNexis a company who provides legal and news information to attorneys, schools, and court systems. The company has a wide range of Customer Service Representatives for the different entities we provide service for and I have asked individuals from the Customer Service Department and Collections Departments to come in and speak to my students about their experiences in Customer Service. One of the guest speakers is also a favorite teacher who also works at my company and teaches part time at the college so the students are really looking forward to her visit. This is my first time having guest speakers and I am trying to figure out how to schedule their visits and their topics of discussions to best serve my students attention and their overall benefit. The students are suprisingly looking forward to the guest speakers and I am excited seeing their eager anticipation and hope it is beneficial to their individual career needs.
In our school we use guest speakers regularly. From our retention coordinator, to outside people from the field and it works phenomenal. would not change it for anything
Hi Carrie,
"Sticking it out" is important for students to realize. Anything worth having is worth working for. Guest speakers definitely should be added to students network.
Patricia
Hi James,
It really gives students something positive/great to look forward to by having field trips ad guest speakers.
Patricia
I have had geust speakers as well as field trips in my class over the past 7 years. At the start of each new class the new students are already aware and are looking forward to my class because they hhave been told from other students obout the feild trips and geust speekers.So they are excited from day one.
I believe that this allows the students to see what can be accomplished if they "stick it out." It also provides a mentoring opportunity or network opportunity. It gives them ideas that they may not have identified with and provides a break in the lecture.
Speakers are great. The students always get excited about it. Mostly so they can ask all the scary questions about what to expect in the "real world". One thing I would say is give the speaker a quick summary about your students, what your currently studying, things like that to help them relate their experience to your class.
Hi Tracy,
You are on point! Guest speakers can really add validity to various class concepts. Students enjoy hearing someone else's perspective other than the instructor.
Patricia
Once a year a graduate comes back to speak to everyone that is in my major and to let them know what it is like in the real world. The value coming from a grad working in the field is awesome. The students then can see themselves out in the field and working everyday. It also helps for them to hear that they are not the only ones in the world to ever suffer from a home life, school, and a job and not knowing how to balance it all but that it can be done.
In my opinion having guest speakers come to your class is a great idea. Graduates who return and speak to my classes are excited about being in front of the classroom and the students enjoy hearing all about what really goes on "in the real world."
Guest speakers help students get a feel for the working world. They get to ask questions about their desired field to somone who is working in it now. They also are excited to hear about their field of study from another view then class instruction.
