Level Up Your Science Class with Virtual Guest Speakers in the Classroom

Guest speakers in the classroom is a great way to bring the WOW Factor!

Classroom Guest Speakers

Inviting guest speakers into your science classroom is a great way to engage your students in science material. The reality is, they love you; however, it is always super exciting to hear science material coming from someone else, especially an expert in the topic.

It’s a win-win for both you and your students. You get to “relax” and learn something new. Your students get a chance to learn material from an expert on the topic…not that you are not, but you know what I mean!

Whether you are teaching in an in-class environment, or even a distance-learning setting, virtual guest speakers can be an awesome addition to your lesson!

Applications that You Can Use to Invite Virtual Guest Speakers in the Classroom

There are different applications that you can use to invite virtual guest speakers into your classroom. Some of my favorites include Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

Google Meet 

Google Meet allows you to do a video call, phone call, or a message. You can use the video call feature to bring a virtual guest into your classroom. If you are a Google school, this will be an easy application to learn and use.

Zoom

This communication tool seems to be the hottest communication tool to use right now due to many people moving meetings online, but this still will be a useful communication tool to invite guests virtually into your classroom in the future as well as the present. Zoom seems to be a little harder to manage, but that just means there are more features!

Microsoft Teams

So, as of May 5, 2025, Microsoft will retire Skype, and move its users over to Microsoft Teams. The features that we all love, including free calling and messages, will still be there, but there will also be great additions that will be perfect for bringing guest speakers into your science classroom, including all the good things that come with Microsoft Teams.

You can also look for speakers in Nepris, Skype a Scientist, and Webex. Know of any more? Leave a comment below to help out this science teacher community!

Tools that You Need for Virtual Guest Speakers in the Classroom

To be sure that you are ready to bring in a virtual guest speaker, you need to be prepared. If you do not have the tools required and a plan of action, bringing in a virtual guest speaker can quickly become chaotic.

Be sure to have these tools:

• a communication tool (listed above)
• good internet connection
• a device with a built-in camera or webcam
• a microphone or a built-in microphone in the device
• classroom management plan
• excited students!

Ideas for Guest Speakers in the Science Classroom

I think that it would be a neat idea to bring in guest speakers for every domain that you teach. For example, in NC 7th grade science, the domains that are covered are Atmosphere, Forces and Motion, Energy, Living Organisms, and Genetics. So, pick your favorite topic from each domain and bring in a super cool guest for your students!

Here are some ideas: 

General Science

• museum staff
• parents in the science field
• science teachers from other schools
• college professors
• motivational speakers

Earth Science

• meteorologists
• foresters
• geologists
• biologists
• paleontologists
• archaeologists
• soil scientists
• botanists

Life Science

• doctors and nurses
• immunologists
• animal trainers
• athletic trainers
• zoologists
• geneticists
• dental hygienists
• pharmacists
• biomedical engineers

Physical Science

• electricians
• pilots
• astronomers
• chemists
• ship and boat captains
• sound engineering technicians
• audio equipment technicians
• video game developers

Advantages of Virtual Guest Speakers in the Classroom

You can bring in a virtual guest for free.

Bringing in a virtual guest is usually free. Many experts are very happy to share their knowledge with future leaders of the world! It’s usually a great experience for both parties. Although you may not be paying a virtual guest to talk to your class, it would be nice to at least send a thank you card.

The guest could be from any location.

You can definitely bring in guest speakers physically to your classroom, and I suggest it, but one advantage that bringing in guests virtually is that you are able to bring in a virtual guest from any location. For example, maybe you’d like to talk to an engineer from NASA, and you do not live in a location where this is feasible; however, because of technology, you still have the opportunity to bring this guest in virtually.

Your students can interact with the speaker in real-time.

There is no better way for students to get their questions answered but by experts in the field in real-time. Students are able to ask their questions directly to someone that knows the topic very well.

The meeting will be authentic.

This gives students a chance to see science in action. Students have the opportunity to see what science experts are currently working on and this gives them an opportunity to see how the topics they are learning about apply to real-life. In addition, this is also a great way for students to explore STEM careers.