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.
Students essentially get to ask questions face to face to get answers that might not be available online. Another added benefit is the link that students get to make between what they learn in the classroom 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.
A guest speaker can also support a topic that educators may know little about and can offer students a different point of view, one that they may better understand. A professional, experienced guest speaker can really make an impact on students and it gives students a chance to make connections about the soft skills needed in the professional world.
