The overall impact of having someone in the field for which they are pursuing reveals the ultimate rewards for accomplishing their classwork.
Have you encountered these guest speakers, even graduates, charging for their time? This has been a recurrent challenge for our school. We do not necessarily have the budget to compensate for guest speakers. Is it common practice for guest speakers to charge for their time?
Guest speakers come into the class and speak about current events in the chosed field. The speaker can give information that the discouraged person just might need to hear from someone else than their instructor. The guest speaker can be encouraging to the "quitters" by helping them understand what relevance they will have in their chosen field.
Hi Margaet,
Guest speakers are fabulous. They shed a lot of light on the in-field experiene. Guest speakers can spark a lot of curiousity and answer may questions.
Patricia
Hi Karl,
Graduate speakers are the absolute best! They are really inspiring to current students. Students get to visualize themselves in the graduate's place.
Patricia
Hi Liza,
Yes, guest speakers! They really validate what we teach in the class, and students stop wondering if they will ever use what we are teaching them.
Patricia
At times I've used recent grads as speakers to help emphsize the value of the material as related to sucessful employment
Well, as an instructor in surgical technology, I believe it is imperative to bring in guest speakers, especially if my speakers are surgeons. The students find out/learn how important their future jobs are. Not only are the surgeons a world of knowledge but fellow surgical techs in the field. The students realize what we/I teach them is truly what they will be doing once they graduate and not a waste of time and the question, "will we really do that?" stops.
So, guest speakers?? Definately!
I think having guest speakers is a wonderful way to motivate students for the field they will be going into. Also, it allows the students to engage in listening and learning from someone other than you which will give some variation to the program.
I really believe having guest speakers can be very beneficial to the students. I teach in the health care field, and like to bring in speakers from different areas of health care (nursing homes, hospice, memory care units, etc). This helps the students with their decision on where they might like to work.
Utilizing guest speakers can have a major impact on students that are discouraged or about to quit college. Hearing information from others as it relates to education and jobs can be a great motivational factor for students.
Hi Robert,
Guest speakers are no doubt motivating and inspiring. They give students a burst of energy. Students need to hear from another professional other than the instructor all the time.
Patricia
Hi J. Wright,
Guest speakers are a valuable resource. They shed a lot of light based on what is happening in field in the real world.
Patricia
The guest speaker if scheduled at a time that
matches the flow of the class can provide a
break from the topics being discussed and
provide a fresh perspective. If possible the
speaker should be someone who has recent
experience in the field so the students can
visualize some practicality in the topic they
are discussing.
If the guest speaker is a former students and graduates,he will be an excellent example to the students ,he could reflect his experience to the new students and that will encourage the students very much
Guest speakers in algebra are wonderful. Giving kids and adults a chance to see where they can actually use the material of the class in the real world (most of them do not believe they ever will regardless of how often you give them examples and situations) is a great motivator for them.
Hi Kathy,
Great use of a student guest speaker in field. I use this practice a lot because students that are on their externship can shed a lot of light as to what's going on in the field. I also get the placement coordinator involved whenever students become so narrow-minded about not exploring their employment opportunities.
Patricia
I have several older students in the pharmacy field who believe that the only way to increase their status is to work in the hospital. Due to the negative rap that retail pharmacies have, these students seem to be ignoring potential employment options because of their views. I had a student who was in her externship come in and speak about her experience in the long term care pharmacy and she really opened up their perspective on what is out there and how limiting their sites really could hinder their success. I believe having a speaker come into class and excite student's interest is extremely beneficial to those who can't see the forest for the trees.
Hi Susan,
A guest speaker can certainly shed a lot of light on what is going on in the workplace as it pertains to the career field. Students enjoy having guest speakers, and they are truly a valuable resource.
Patricia
A guest speaker can make the student realize that they are not the only ones with issues to face and overcome outside of school. A guest speaker can be an example of achievement despite difficulties and obsticles. The student also can have a vision of where they could be after graduating.
