Guest Speakers and Workplace Visits
(Educator Guide)
Approximate amount of time
Approximate audience size
Guest Speakers and Workplace Visits
Students learn about specific industries/organizations by either visiting worksites or hosting a guest speaker in school. These opportunities allow time for students to learn from professionals by asking questions to learn more about the workplace.
These visits can be done in-person or through a virtual platform under the direct supervision of a teacher or approved school staff member (if students are underage).
Guest Speaker/Workplace Visit Outcomes
Expose students to the wide range of career options available in a company / organization
Provide students the opportunity to learn about the training and schooling necessary for entry into various careers
Provide students the opportunity to gather information and learn about the expectations of a professional workplace (dress code, workplace culture, etc.)
Teach students various questioning techniques so they can learn more about getting hired and advancing in different careers
Have guest speaker share with students who helped them get to the job they have
Introduce employability skills to students
Preparing to host a Guest Speaker
Determine learning objectives for the guest speaking or workplace visit experience. Share these learning outcomes with industry/community partner prior to the session or visit.
Share learning objectives with students and design appropriate instructional materials to ensure learning objectives are met
Suggested Resource: Perkins Collaborative Resource Network's Employability Skills Framework and the Employability Skills Framework Lesson Planning Checklist to design employability skills lessons. (https://cte.ed.gov/initiatives/employability-skills-framework)
Discuss presentation/visit outline with industry/community partner
Coordinate with presenter(s) to ensure that examples, vocabulary, and any planned activities are age appropriate and aligned to what is being taught in the classroom
Arrange any media needs with the industry/community partner in advance
Assess site and document that the workplace meets safety requirements for an in-person visit (if applicable)
Following-Up after a Presentation
Gather additional student questions/feedback to share with industry/community partner
Have students share reflections, learning, and gratitude with industry/community partner(s)
Debrief with industry/community partner to share feedback and collaborate to improve experience in the future
Arrange for other ways that the school and organization can work together to support student interest and learning along the WBL Continuum
Examples of Guest Speakers and Workplace Visits
Coming soon
Other Resources
Virtual Student Experiences
The Virtual Student Experiences (VSE) is a pro bono initiative spearheaded for students by students. VSE holds and records live webinars with leading industry professionals so that students can learn about different career pathways. For students that know what they want to do, VSE encourages, allows, and connects those students with professionals. Through VSE, students are given the chance to decide if their career of choice fits their personality, skills, and overall interests. Most VSE webinars are recorded and posted on the VSE YouTube Channel.
For more information: About Us | Virtual Student Experiences
Nepris (NOW PATHFUL) - Paid subscription for schools
Our ecosystem has a diverse set of participants: Corporations, Non-profits and Post-Secondary Institutions with a common mission to provide equity of access to students through career exposure and adding real world relevance to curriculum. We provide each of these partners a platform to scale their education outreach.
For more information: https://pathful.com/
Typically one-time experiences at school or through a huakaʻi or field trip to build student awareness of the wide range of career, college, and community options available to them
Exploration activities go beyond brief exposure of awareness-building experiences by extending the experience through multiple interactions or more rigorous student participation
Preparation level experiences strengthen student content knowledge and skills through coursework linked to extended interaction with community and industry professionals
Training experiences are extended interactions that require the application of the learned technical, employability, and academic knowledge in real-world industry settings