How Will I Use This in the Real World? Inviting Working Professionals Into the Classroom for Continued Education and Increased Student Engagement

In Fall of 2023, five employees from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) joined a guest lecture given by a USU graduate student for a primarily undergraduate class. The class session focused on identification and ecology of aquatic plants with students and UDWR employees engaging in a combination of lecture materials, hands-on plant identification practice, and a field trip to the campus pond. The field of natural resources, which includes professions such as land managers, restoration practitioners, and wildlife biologists; offers an ideal opportunity for opening the classroom to the professional community. Inviting professionals to attend targeted events in classrooms helps engage our students and supports continuing education for industry workers. By inviting professionals to attend events such as workshops or field trips, we can support networking between students and professionals, engage attendees in active learning, and facilitate knowledge sharing between industry and academics. This talk focuses on the benefits that students gained during the experience and makes suggestions for implementing similar strategies in your own classroom!