They can get the student remotivated.
A guest speaker is always a great way to recature the interest of the students.The students see a person from the career they want as someone who was once where they are now, and it gives them motivation to keep going toward the goal. A guest speaker reassures the students that they are on the right path. I think having guest speakers come to class is an excellant idea and I do have guest speakers come to my often.
Hi Rebecca,
Guest speakers can provide extremely valuable information in various areas! They are great to have in the classroom.
Patricia
An outside speaker can provide guidance on how to balance school and the demands of life. It is challenging to balance school and other factors such as work, and creating a balance with family life or relationships. Sometimes, students find it almost impossible. Having an outside person provide insight is a valuable tool.
I think there are two main values from guest speakers:
1. If the speaker had similar struggles they can highlight the success of their journey and
2. the fact that just about everyone struggles with school at some point.
Hi Steven,
Guest speakers are awesome! I especially like it when guest speakers share the good, bad, and ugly. There is so much for students to benefit from by having guest speakers.
Patricia
Guest speakers are invaluable in our curriculum. They can espouse their experiences and most can identify with the student body. They share their experiences, both good and bad to the students so that they may not make the same, sometimes career changing decisions or mistakes. They effectively bring home the point of the instructions and techniques discussed and demonstrated in the classroom environment to the students.
I believe have guest speaker brings in new light to students and will make them more aware
I think having guest speakers come into class is amazing. I have students that have gone out and completed externship and who have gotten hired come back and talk to the class about their personal experience. That is when you can really see the "light" go off. Its an amazing feeling.
Guest speakers are very valuable to students who are discouraged. When they hear the guest it seems to have more of an impact to them than hearing the same information from the instructor.
Having past graduates as guest speakers works very well too.
I never have thought of using a guest speaker in this way. I think that it is a great idea to use them for motivation, and not just for giving information. I think contacting graduates who I know have struggled with their education and life outside of class and asking them to come back and talk to classes will be on my list.
Jackie White
Hi Karen,
Great points! I agree whole heartedly. Graduate speakers are super!
Patricia
Hi Bethanne,
This is the ideal situation for interns. This serves as an excellent motivation piece.
Patricia
It serves as a sort of "light at the end of the tunnel." I have students in the clinical site at the same time as former students who have been employed at that same site. That serves as a great motivator for all of the students, but especially the ones that are discouraged. I usually request my former students to pop in and introduce themselves and offer any advice. The former students enjoy this, as it renews their sense of accomplishment and the current students see that they are very close to being employable.
I teach at the middle of their time at school and have students return to visit all the time. Having them talk about what it is like to do an Extern and how what they learned at school comes up every day in their job really helps students to become more focused on what they are doing.
For those that are thinking of quitting, sometimes I have that visiting student talk one-on-one with the discouraged student to have that "been there, felt that" talk. Most of the time that talk will do wonders for an discouraged students.
Hi Norma,
They are many graduates who are successful in their field, and they will be more than willing to share their testimony with students. The testimonies are so engaging and motivating.
Patricia
Hi Lisa,
Having a guest speaker is a great change. Students need and enjoy variety. The guest speaker has a lot to add to any course.
Patricia
Yes, an energizing change is a good way to explain what can happen with a guest speaker. I use guest speaker with a specific intent in mind that expands the learning for that class session.
I try to get speakers with either content expertise or personal experience expertise.
I think this is a nice energizing change, that would help all students not to mention the ones who have trouble focusing.
I have had former students who are successful in their field and the student get excited to see and hear about their own personal experience.
