Same-class Mentors
As an instructor, I have witnessed that the true and effective mentors are the more mature/older students within a class. They quickly get into the routine and encourage the younger learners to work toward their best capacity. The mentors keep everyone on pace and give the other students something to strive for. They automatically begin to serve as tutors and develop "parent" relationships with their peers.
Ted,
Is mentoring a formal program at your school or is this in your classroom?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I always have student mentors. One can usually tell which students will have more respect from their peers. These are the students that usually step up and help out.
Linnie,
Screening and training mentors is important to the success of a mentoring program.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I think "screening" your potential mentors is a must. Assuming adult students have the maturiy we expect adults to have is, in my experience, is an assumption that,more often than not,is wrong!
I agree, by doing this way they will get more information and motivating them on their first day and help them bond with each other to learn more.
Kevin,
Please provide a specific example if you can?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
My experience has also been that mixing students up, in terms of age and experiences, helps everyone the most.
Patricia ,
Very well put. Thank you for your post.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Agree, it doesn't always depend on age but of the willingness to want to help others be successful. This is what counts. In general alot of these students are older but I have seen some younger students be great mentors as well. I don't think we should assume.
Harold,
Mixing strenghts has a real benefit when you assign learning teams. Take care in doing so.
Dr. Larry Banks
I agree,that most lab groups will work out well by letting the students pick who will be on their team or lab group. The younger ones seem to gravitate toward some with more maturity to have in their group.
pamela,
You got i. The key is to link and implement the concept.
Dr. Larry Banks
I agree. The students who are the most passionate about their education and attend every day make great role models and can spread their enthusiasm! Sometimes it is the older student who is returning to school, but often it is a younger student who sees his future as bright and his career choice as exciting!
I think this is generally true, but I think you must be careful in assuming your older students are going to be GOOD mentors, good being the operative word. I have had experience where my older students who were "set in their ways" were the last ones I would want to serve as peer mentors!
I think this is generally true, but I think you must be careful in assuming your older students are going to be GOOD mentors, good being the operative word. I have had experience where my older students who were "set in their ways" were the last ones I would want to serve as peer mentors!
You know... mentors are key. Mentor sessions should focus on career themes so that students get the "whole picture."
Dr. B
I agree that mentors or advisors can be key to a student's success. The advisor can be a neutral person that can listen to the student. The advisor also needs to balance being an advocate for the student and helping the student know when he/she needs to take responsibility for his/his success. A good advisor looks at "the whole picture" and helps the student make good decisions that will lead to success.
I have found that it is often the younger student that ends up mentoring the older, more mature ones! At times the older ones have been out of school for a while, or think they don't have to study. A very interesting twist!
They do, don't they. Linking them together helps both the young and old to learn and stick.
Dr. B
