What is the ORIAS Speakers Bureau?
The ORIAS Speakers Bureau is a cohort of graduate students who offer 45-minute interactive presentations specifically geared to students from middle school to community college. Each presentation models important skills, such as analysis of texts and use of evidence to build an argument, while also while building global competence. Most presentations are appropriate for multiple grade levels and subjects because they address broad questions while focusing on specific events and topics.
Presentations
FAQs
How do I request a speaker?
At the end of each presentation description you'll see a link that says "Invite [Speaker Name] to Speak." Click the link and fill out the required information. Your request will be sent to the speaker(s) you request via email and scheduling will be dependent upon speakers' personal availability and transportation. For best results, please try to schedule several weeks in advance. You must submit a separate request for each individual speaker.
How much does it cost to bring a speaker to class?
Presentations are currently FREE to schools, though speakers are paid for each engagement. The ORIAS Speakers Bureau is generously funded by the following offices:
California Global Education Project
Center for Latin American Studies
Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Center for Southeast Asia Studies
My school is not close to Berkeley. Will speakers visit my classroom?
Each speaker will answer this question differently, depending on their own transportation options and schedule. They may be more likely to make a longer trip if you are inviting them to speak to multiple class sections and/or if you are able to help them with transportation (e.g. picking them up from the closest BART station). It is possible to request a virtual visit, but please be aware that presentations were created with in-person interaction in mind.
What are the teacher's responsibilities?
ORIAS asks three things of teachers who engage speakers.
(1) Help the speaker work with your class.
Give the speaker a sense of class size, composition, and atmosphere. Let speakers know about presentation-related technology and be ready to copy paper materials ahead of time, if applicable to the presentation. If your class period is longer or shorter than 50 minutes, let speakers know so that they can adjust accordingly. Last, please work as partners with them, remaining in the room at all times and helping with classroom management as appropriate.
(2) Prepare your class to engage with the speaker.
Some talks require a bit of pre-teaching of vocabulary or concepts, while others simply require guidance about behavioral expectations. All talks include some element of student engagement, so please let your class know that speakers will appreciate positive participation. If you feel a talk will be challenging for your students, please help set their expectations appropriately.
(3) Complete the short post-presentation review.
After a speaker comes to your classroom, you will be asked to complete a short review. This review will help individual speakers improve and will enable ORIAS to improve the Speakers Bureau as a whole. Your review is very important.
How are talks prepared?
Graduate student speakers underwent a multi-step process in designing their talks. The presentation topic was identified through discussion with ORIAS, to draw out the elements of their research that were most aligned with content standards, Common Core skills, and discipline-specific skills.
Speakers then presented draft talks to experienced teachers and made revisions based on teacher suggestions and questions. Teachers who engage speakers in their classrooms are asked to complete a short written follow-up review, as well, so that speakers are able to improve and adapt their talks.
Where can I find more speakers?
The University offers an extensive list of potential speakers for events featuring 40+ audience members. You can find out more at the UC Berkeley Speakers Bureau page.
The Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion also hosts a speakers bureau. Like ORIAS speakers, their speakers offer prepared talks. Click the logo to learn more.
