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Guest Speakers
Guest Speakers
A guest speaker activity allows students to listen to a presentation to learn about the speaker’s career, business or organization and industry, and then ask questions which will help them consider whether they might like to pursue a career in the industry.
A guest speaker activity allows students to listen to a presentation to learn about the speaker’s career, business or organization and industry, and then ask questions which will help them consider whether they might like to pursue a career in the industry.
During these activities, students have the opportunity to engage with and be inspired by industry professionals, learn about career options.
During these activities, students have the opportunity to engage with and be inspired by industry professionals, learn about career options.
Why Guest Speakers Are Important
Why Guest Speakers Are Important
Designed to meet specific learning outcomes, guest speaker presentations are educationally rich, tied to the curriculum, and designed to help students connect what they’re learning in school with the workplace. Presentations are usually conducted in the school, but in some cases, guest speakers may “visit” a classroom electronically via Google Meets or some other technology.
This opportunity is intended primarily for students who are beginning to explore career pathways, but may also be used to deepen students’ knowledge depending on the content of the presentation.
Guest speaker presentations provide a realistic picture of a business, its role in the community, and the career paths and occupations of its workforce. The activities are designed to:
Provide exposure to potential careers and jobs.
Help students make the connection between school and the workplace.
Inform career planning.
Structure
Structure
Guest speaker presentations help students build knowledge about the education and training needed for a particular job, career path, and entry into the industry. The activities are structured to:
Enable students to begin identifying areas of career interest.
Allow students to listen, receive information, and ask questions.
Format
Format
Guest speaker presentations are supported by three formats that deliver unique experiences to students and employers. The activities are organized through:
Classroom preparation, including research on the industry and participating businesses.
Employer orientation and support.
Opportunities to reflect upon the experience orally and in writing.
Outcomes
Outcomes
Guest speaker presentations help students learn about future workplace opportunities through engaging with representatives from local businesses or organizations. The activities are connected to:
Individual career development/training plans.
Future work-based learning activities.
Tools & Materials (coming soon)
Tools & Materials (coming soon)
Checklists
Checklists
WBL Specialist Guest Speaker Checklist
Student Guest Speaker Checklist
Tips & Fact Sheets
Tips & Fact Sheets
Teacher Guest Speaker Tip Sheet
Employer Guest Speaker Tip Sheet
Employer Guest Speaker Fact Sheet
Implementation Tools
Implementation Tools
Guest Speaker Research Activity
Guest Speaker Student Reflection
Work-Based Learning Activity Evaluation (for teacher, coordinator, or host)
Work-Based Learning Activity Evaluation (for student)
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