Guest Speakers

Work-Based Learning- Guest Speaker Activity Guide

What Is a Guest Speaker presentation?

Utilized within North Kansas City Schools, the incorporation of guest speakers serves as a structured Career Awareness endeavor. In this activity, students engage in informative presentations, gaining insights into the speaker’s career, the associated business or organization, and the pertinent industry. Through interactive questioning, students contemplate potential career paths within the industry.

Tailored to fulfill specific educational objectives, guest speaker presentations are thoughtfully aligned with the curriculum, delivering valuable educational content. By establishing a connection between classroom learning and real-world applications, these presentations enrich students' educational experience. Typically conducted within the school premises, virtual alternatives, such as Skype, Zoom, WebEx, or Microsoft Teams, can facilitate classroom visits by guest speakers. Additionally, virtual simulations offer the option to access recorded guest speaker sessions online, laying the groundwork for subsequent activities and discussions within the virtual classroom setting.

Guest Speaker presentations are designed to:

Career Exploration: Granting students exposure to diverse careers and job prospects, enabling them to make informed decisions about their future paths.
Realistic Occupational Insight: Presenting a practical portrayal of various occupations and businesses, showcasing their significance within the community, alongside insights into career trajectories and workforce roles.
Bridging Classroom-Workplace Gap: Facilitating a tangible link between academic learning and the practicalities of the working world, reinforcing the relevance of education.
Guiding Career Planning: Assisting students in crafting effective career plans by equipping them with essential industry insights and information.

Guest Speaker presentation are structured to:

Provide Active Engagement: Creating an avenue for students to actively listen, gather information, and pose questions, fostering a dynamic learning experience.
Cultivating Career Interests: Facilitating the initial steps towards students recognizing and exploring their potential career preferences.
Educational Pathways: Amplifying understanding regarding the educational and training requisites for specific jobs and career tracks, guiding students on their journey toward the industry.

Guest Speaker presentation are supported by:

Classroom Readiness: Preparing with industry and participating business research.
Employer Introduction: Orientation and ongoing support from employers.
Reflective Opportunities: Verbal and written assessment of the experience.

Guest Speaker presentation are connected to:

Personalized Career Plans: Tailored development and training strategies for each student.
Upcoming Work-Learning Ventures: Future activities for practical learning.
Progressive Student Advancement: Guiding students toward their next endeavors.
Guest Speaker Engagements: Integral part of real-world experiences in various career-related programs.

Guest speaker presentations are one activity in the continuum of authentic work-based experiences provided to all students engaged in career-related programs or course of study in North Kansas City Schools.

Process for Requesting a Guest Speaker

Pathway Teacher/s identify curricular connections for guest speakers.
Pathway Team/s review the current list of partners (link provided below) to coordinate, schedule guest speakers on planning calendar.
Submit the Guest Speaker Request Form below.
After submission, the form will be processed by your High School College and Career Facilitator or Director for Work-Based Learning.
Approval and/or Confirmation will be sent to requesting teacher.
After the experience, pathway teacher/s will need to have students send a "Thank -you" card to guest speaker.