Rethinking the Guest Speaker Experience: Making Real-World Connections in Your Course

Brett Christie, Ph.D.
VP, Educational Innovations & Inclusivity

One of the most effective ways to revitalize a college course is by bringing in a guest speaker who can offer real-world insights, industry expertise, and fresh perspectives beyond the instructor’s own experience. Midway through the semester, student motivation and engagement can start to decline, making it the perfect time to inject fresh energy into the course. A well-planned guest speaker session not only helps students see the direct applications of what they’re learning but also provides a needed change of pace.

Why Guest Speakers Matter

Research highlights the transformative impact of guest speakers on student learning. Kuh (2008) identifies guest speakers as a High-Impact Educational Practice that enhances student success by exposing them to diverse professional experiences and networking opportunities. Kolb’s (2014) experiential learning model emphasizes the importance of real-world connections, reinforcing how guest speakers help bridge the gap between theory and practice. Beyond providing content knowledge, guest speakers also encourage interactive engagement—Barkley (2020) stresses the importance of shifting away from passive learning toward dialogue-driven participation, which fosters deeper comprehension. Similarly, Prince (2004) demonstrates that active learning methods such as student-led discussions and structured Q&A sessions significantly improve learning outcomes, making guest speaker sessions an opportunity to apply these evidence-based strategies effectively.

To maximize the benefits of guest speakers, the way a session is framed can significantly influence how students perceive and interact with the experience. Research highlights that shifting away from traditional, one-way knowledge transfer toward interactive engagement yields better learning outcomes (Barkley, 2020; Prince, 2004). The term guest lecture often implies passive listening, whereas a more intentionally structured session—incorporating discussion-driven activities and student-led questioning—can foster deeper engagement and critical thinking. With a little creativity, instructors can shape these sessions as dynamic, interactive experiences where students actively participate in meaningful dialogue with an expert.

Creative Ways to Frame Guest Speaker Sessions

Rather than simply titling the session as a “guest lecture,” consider naming it in a way that invites curiosity and engagement. Here are some examples across different disciplines:

• Business & Marketing: Inside the Industry: Real-World Insights from a Marketing Innovator
• Environmental Science & Sustainability: On the Front Lines of Climate Action: A Sustainability Expert’s Perspective
• Healthcare & Public Health: Beyond the Diagnosis: Public Health in Action
• Engineering & Technology: The Cyber Battlefield: How Security Experts Stay Ahead of Threats
• Psychology & Social Sciences: The Mind at Work: Applying Psychology to Everyday Decisions
• Arts, Media & Communication: Storytelling that Matters: Journalism in the Digital Age
• Law & Political Science: Navigating Global Affairs: A Diplomat’s Perspective

By framing the session with a compelling title, instructors can set the expectation that this is more than a lecture—it’s an interactive discussion that will give students valuable industry knowledge and a chance to engage directly with a professional.

Making the Session Interactive

To move beyond passive listening, instructors can integrate a variety of strategies to ensure students are actively engaged with the guest speaker. Here are some effective techniques:

1. Require Pre-Session Preparation

Before the session, have students research the speaker’s background, read a relevant article, or review case studies related to the speaker’s expertise. This will allow students to ask informed, thoughtful questions rather than generic ones.

• Assign students to come up with at least one question based on their research.
• Use a shared document (e.g., Google Docs, Padlet) where students can post and upvote questions in advance.

2. Structure the Session for Interaction

Rather than a full-length talk, break the session into segments:

• Opening Insights (10-15 min): The guest provides key insights, an overview of their work, or a personal story.
• Moderated Q&A (20-30 min): The instructor or a student moderator leads with pre-selected questions.
• Student-Led Discussion (20 min): Open the floor for students to ask live questions or participate in an activity.
• Wrap-Up & Takeaways (5-10 min): The speaker gives final reflections, and students share key takeaways.

3. Use Polls and Live Engagement Tools

For online or in-person sessions, platforms like Slido, Poll Everywhere, or Zoom’s built-in polling can make the session interactive. These tools allow students to submit questions in real time, respond to quick polls, or vote on discussion topics.

4. Assign a Reflective Follow-Up Task

After the session, ask students to reflect on what they learned and how they can apply it:

• Have students write a brief reflection post on the LMS discussion board.
• Assign a short response paper connecting the speaker’s insights to course concepts.
• Encourage students to connect with the speaker on LinkedIn (if appropriate) and draft a message summarizing what they took away from the session.

5. Gamify the Q&A

Make the Q&A session more engaging by:

• Offering a small incentive (extra credit, a fun badge) for the best student question.
• Having students work in small groups to generate the most insightful questions.
• Using a “reverse interview” approach where students pose challenges to the speaker.

Next Steps

Guest speakers have the power to transform a course by connecting students to industry realities, career pathways, and diverse perspectives. By moving away from the traditional guest lecture model and framing these sessions as interactive, discussion-driven experiences, instructors can maximize student engagement and ensure that these real-world encounters leave a lasting impact.

To further explore strategies for maintaining student engagement, instructors can access our recorded webinar, Avoiding the Mid-Semester Slump: Strategies for Engagement and Motivation, which provides additional insights on keeping energy levels high throughout the semester. Additionally, our teaching optimizer Plan an Engaging Guest Speaker Experience to Enrich Learning in Curie can help instructors efficiently design a dynamic and interactive guest speaker experience tailored to their course goals. With the right tools and planning, these sessions can become a pivotal part of student learning, sparking curiosity and strengthening the connection between academic content and professional practice.

References

Barkley, E. F. (2020). Student engagement techniques: A handbook for college faculty. Jossey-Bass.

Kolb, D. A. (2014). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Pearson.

Kuh, G. D. (2008). High-impact educational practices: What they are, who has access to them, and why they matter. American Association of Colleges and Universities.

Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223-231.