Overview
Welcome to Mentoring! During this course you will be asked to reflect on your practice, to work collaboratively with others, through the construction of a community of practice. We intend to support you in a non-evaluative manner during your first years of your profession. You are expected to work with a mentee through an online learning environment. This course will be held on a timeframe of 4 months of 8 modules. Each module will last two weeks. You are expected to participate on diverse activities and apply them to a face-to-face meeting with your mentee. After sharing with your mentee, you will be encouraged to bring your experience back for discussion through the construction of a journal. As an ongoing activity the journal will be the space of reflection about your learning experience through a online environment and a face-to-face setting within your mentees. The details about the journal will be explained in the Interactivities section of this module.
Focusing Understanding
There is no agreement about the definition of Mentoring in researchers and practitioners. However we would like to define this concept as assisting instruction through conducting and monitoring interactive activities that supports professional and personal development, and advising and encouraging reflection and learning.
According to Palloff and Pratt (2007) online learning environments offer active learning processes by developing open and supportive relationships, facilitating learner-centered education, and allowing asynchronous and synchronous discussion to potential frequency of discourse.
Through this course you will have an opportunity to develop mentoring skills supported in an online learning environment. Specifically you will:
- Develop skills to work with a mentee in a variety of professions.
- Reflect on constructivist ideas and develop a professional community of practice.
- Learn through an environment supported by technology
Reflections
Through this lesson we intend you to reflect on your role in your profession, how you see yourself as a mentor, what challenges and expectations do you wish to fulfill in this course.
Wong and Premkamur recommended introducing and clarifying the use of emoticons and providing training in netiquette as two ways to improve online interactions. Both mentors and mentees need awareness of online communication protocols, procedures and etiquette. Examine these articles and websites to familiarize yourself in these areas.
After you have reviewed this information, share some of the important elements with your mentee. Be prepared to share your insights in the General Discussion Forums. Post any questions in the General Discussion Forum – Questions.
1. Common emoticons and abbreviations that can be used during communications.
Cultural Differences in using Emoticons: found at http://hdl.handle.net/1805/2351
2. Information on netiquette – etiquette while using the internet.
Netiquette: found at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
3. Tips to help mentors to better communicate and respond to email found at: http://www.emailreplies.com/#rules
Interactivities
1. To start this course we invite you to think about your practice and the context of your workplace. Think about the significance of your role and your expectations about this course.
Go to http://www.worditout.com
Explore the site and follow the instructions to create your own word cloud and represent your reflections about your practice and your expectations of the course.
REFLECTION TASK – Share your word cloud with other members of the course by posting it in the section Module 1- All About Me of the Discussion Forum. State a brief explanation of your word cloud.
2. As an cultminating activity for the course you are encouraged to create a shared journal that describes and reflects on your experience with your mentee during this course. Create a document at Google Sites where you write about your experience with your mentee. Post the reflections of your journaling experience on the Module 1-Mentoring Reflections Journal of the Discussion Forum.
Conclusion
In this first module we got to introduce each other, know about our practices and define our roles as mentors. During the next modules you will work with your mentee in different topics related to mentoring, professional skills, and constructivist learning.
References and Resources
List of References
Palloff, R, & Pratt, K. (2007). Building Online Learning Communities: Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
List of Resources
Netiquette: found at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
Cultural Differences in using Emoticons: found at http://hdl.handle.net/1805/2351
Tips to help mentors to better communicate and respond to email found at: http://www.emailreplies.com/#rules