Peer Mentoring Programs in Online Courses
-
Upload
ewelch8199 -
Category
Education
-
view
412 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Peer Mentoring Programs in Online Courses
Peer Mentoring in an Online Learning Program
Ray SchroederAssociate Vice Chancellor for Online LearningDirector, Center for Online Learning , Research and ServiceUniversity of Illinois Springfield
Carrie LevinAssistant DirectorCenter for Online Learning, Research and ServiceUniversity of Illinois Springfield
Emily BolesSenior Instructional DeveloperCenter for Online Learning, Research and ServiceUniversity of Illinois Springfield
Need for Mentoring in Online Programs
Need for Online Mentoring
Informal student-to-student advising On campus we have plenty of places where
students congregate and communicate – there are time-honored networks that thrive on campuses
Recall your days as a student – from whom and where did you receive informal advice?
Need for Online Mentoring
Where/how does that informal advising take place online?
Commonly we create a “coffee shop” or a “pub” in the discussion board
Does that serve the conversation between students as they walk into/out of class – as they chat about …. “Are you kidding me, or did old Prof so and so really mean we should………?
NO…. Because old Prof so and so sees that conversation!
Need for Online Mentoring
Academic Issues For online students, who fills the role of the
senior student – the one down the dorm hall who has taken this class?
In an online class, who models best student responses? Where do you find a student who has taken the class who can look over your paper?
Need for Online Mentoring
Non-Academic Issues Many not purely academic issues arise for
online students: Why is he always picking on my postings? I am in a family crisis – too embarrassing to
tell my professor directly; falling behind English is not my first language and I just
don’t understand what she is writing
Need for Online Mentoring
Confidential communicant One of the under-recognized, yet highly
valued roles of the department secretary is as a confidential filter for student concerns
Is there a liaison person who filters student concerns and raises them anonymously to the instructor as a departmental secretary might?
So, what is an Online Peer Mentor?
How is a peer mentor different from a supplemental
instructor?
What role do online peer mentors have
with grading?
What training do Online Peer Mentors
have?
How are Online Peer Mentors chosen?
What qualities make for a good Online
Peer Mentor?
What are the advantages for the
instructor?
What are the advantages for
students?
Do Peer Mentors work?
ILCCO/UIS 2007 Research
Participating Institutions
Black Hawk College Elgin Community
College Illinois Community
College Board Lake Land College Moraine Valley
Community College
William Rainey Harper College
Triton College University of Illinois at
Springfield Waubonsee Community
College
Research
Seven Illinois community colleges each identified two “problem” online courses in which student completion rates were low.
These instructors then selected former students to become peer mentors in their courses.
Assessment
Assessing the program itself Success of the program requires monitoring How do we measure success?– Course completion rates– Student performance – as in grades – Student satisfaction– Faculty satisfaction– Learning effectiveness
Assessments should be shared with mentors Assessments should feed back into class
development cycle
Results
The non-completion rate in these courses was reduced by 3.48%.
More significantly, though, student success improved.
The number of failures was reduced by 3.28%, while the number of A grades and B grades increased by 7.20%.
Summary and Conclusions
Peer mentoring enhances online classes Peer mentoring involves close communication
with both faculty and students Assessment and change is essential to success If one student per class is retained (tuition
retained) the cost of the tutor is covered – and all benefit! win-win-win!
Establishing a Peer Mentor Program
Establishing a Program
Getting Started Incremental start is wise
• Identify a handful of successful faculty members• Begin with classes where success is most likely
Develop best practices Refine compensation plan for mentors Initiate training program Establish an assessment program
• Assessment program should loop into training program
Establishing a Program
Coordinating program - supporting mentors Organizational structure possibilities
• Center for teaching and learning• Online learning center• Advising / tutoring center
More content-centric than techno-centric Hosting unit
• Must support meetings / training– Some mentors may be at a distance
• Provide assistance with challenging issues
Establishing a Program
Selecting peer mentors Relationship to faculty member is essential
• Level of trust must be established• Continuous flow of communication• UIS effective practice – faculty members choose
Content knowledge is important Compensation issues may arise
• Graduate Assistants may not be able to receive additional compensation
Establishing a Program
Training peer mentors Intake training will be required Senior mentors may “mentor” others ☺ Tutoring and counseling staff may make valuable
contributions Assessments of the program should flow into the
training Don’t forget to assess the training itself
Establishing a Program
Compensation for peer mentors In order to rely on peer mentors compensation
should be a part of the program• Tutorial/independent study credit a possibility
– Particularly for those who seek to go into teaching
• Compensation should reflect the time expectations– Eight to ten hours a week may be appropriate– Should be monitored by the faculty member
• $1,200 at $8.00/hour covers 10 hours a week for 15 weeks
Establishing a Program
Confidentiality Important aspects of the mentor’s role Faculty members need to rely on the
confidentiality of the mentor• For exam material• For some class strategies
Students need to rely on the confidentiality of the mentor
• For personal problems• To protect against possible retribution
Center for Online Learning, Research and Service
University of Illinois at SpringfieldOne University PlazaSpringfield, IL [email protected]