Guest speakers have become an important part of the educational experience for students. They expose students to real-world life experiences from the position of someone who has been there. Students get to see the insight and perspective of the guest speaker’s particular field.
One important benefit that is derived from having a guest speaker is the enhancement of the students’ educational experience. They essentially get a glimpse into the everyday life of the speaker, which they can’t get anywhere else. Another added benefit is the link that students get to make between what they learn in their textbooks and what they learn from the guest speaker. Research indicates that it helps students build important connections between what they are learning and the real world.
Guest speakers offer something that you can’t offer your students; a different perspective. Have you ever been teaching a subject, and then all of a sudden you realize that the students just don’t understand what you are trying to say? A guest speaker supports a topic that you may know little about and can offer your students a different point of view, one that they may better understand. It gives them the opportunity to learn something new, while it gives you a break. You may find that you end up learning something new in the process.
A professional, experienced guest speaker can really make an impact on your students. They may be able to drive home a concept that you just couldn’t nail down. For example, if you were using classroom management to teach your students about texting and driving and the ramifications of it, but you found that they really didn’t grasp what you were trying to say, you could get a parent who has lost a child to a texting driver. Hearing a story from a parent who has lost a child could really make an impact on your classroom.