Inviting a guest speaker into your class might be an effective strategy to bring an author’s first hand experience into your class, to discuss a recent development in your discipline with another leading expert, or to bring in alternative perspectives on a topic.

• You might consider inviting:
• a guest with a specific field experience to share with the students
• another faculty member or researcher
• graduate student(s)
• someone currently working as a professional in the discipline
• an author

Inviting a guest speaker goes beyond demonstrating collegiality to your students, there are a number of reasons you might consider inviting a guest speaker. Guest speakers can:

• provide alternative perspectives to topics and issues in your course
• bring insights from the field into the classroom
• demonstrate a skill or process
• provide further expertise on specific topics
• share key findings from a project or initiative they have worked with
• supplement and enhance resources available in the course
• co‐teach a case study
• provide feedback on student work via a Judging Panel
• just-in-time information and skills

However, you should keep in mind that making the most of a guest speaker in your classroom requires careful planning. One of the first decisions you will need to make is how you would like the guest speaker to participate in your class (e.g. as a presenter, a discussion facilitator, a recording, etc.)

WebEx – The University of Saskatchewan has a site wide license for this web conferencing application which allows you to: stream live audio and video, use chats and collaborative whiteboards, and share presentations.

Blackboard Collaborate – The University of Saskatchewan has a site wide license for this web conferencing application which allows you to: stream and record live audio and video, use chats and collaborative whiteboards, poll participants, and share presentations.

Skype – This free* mobile and desktop application

Google Hangouts – For instructors and participants who have a Google account, Hangouts allows up to 10 participants to conference with live audio and video, chat, share screens, etc.

YouTube Live – For larger groups with less interaction from the audience YouTube Live allows you to stream audio and video, record sessions, and share the live broadcast publicly or to specific people.

Screencast-o-matic – This free* desktop application allows you to record audio and video to a file. This tool works well for recorded lectures which could be used repeatedly. It can record the presenter’s screen, the presenter, or both.

Preparing your guest

Consider discussion the following with your guest prior to their session or recording:

• what are the learning objectives for the module and for the session or recording?
• what are your expectations for the format and duration of the session or recording?
• are handouts required/will students need a copy of the presentation?
• what instructional strategies could the guest employ?
• what setup or support is required?
• will the session be recorded? (why or why not?)
• provide adequate lead time
• obtain a bio for the guest
• describe your class size and characteristics
• determine roles and responsibilities
• can/should students be able to contact the guest ahead of time or after?

Preparing your students

Consider discussion the following with your students prior to the session or viewing the recording:

• what are the learning objectives for the module and for the session or recording?
• what are your expectations for the students?
  • e.g. prepare questions, check for understanding, related task
• how will you facilitate discussion between students and the guest?

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