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Week 1

Page history last edited by marina gonzalez 12 years, 2 months ago

Week 1  (Jan 9 - 15, 2012)

 

 

Welcome to the mentoring group of EVO. We know from past sessions that we will have a diverse group of teachers - both beginning and experienced-, teacher educators, and program managers with an interest in mentoring. We are so happy that you have joined us!  This week is an introductions week, both human and technological. It is a chance to get to know each other and an opportunity to introduce ourselves to the technology which will serve us on this journey we take together. 

 

  • In this first week, we will  introduce ourselves when signing in for the group through the Yahoo group. 

  • Then , in the wiki, we will leave a comment on what mentoring means to us (having had experience with it or not) to start sharing and as a kickoff to our final project.

  • In the meantime we invite you to browse our Tutorials section since many activities in the coming weeks will involve participating in webinars and  you need to be registered to take part in them.   Tutorials

  • Remember to contact us  with any help you need or doubt you have or feeling that this is too technological. Check the different communication tools you have available to contact us. They are all  posted on the front page: Welcome to Developing Mentoring Skills 2012 

  •  Our final product will be a reflection on the concepts you have discovered using  a visualization tool such as "glogster", "wordle" or "many eyes".  You can check their URLs in our Reading Library .

  • To guide you a bit further into the final product, and since our idea is that it be our reflections to share with others in the group, we have posted a sample for you. You can see a link on the Wordle sample page of a sample wordle made by Laura on the concepts of mentoring meaningful to her so far...

 

Venue: Yahoo Group,  Wiki

Moderators: Valerie, Laura, Marina

 

Rounding off:

Laura's summary on your interventions In this link you will access a copy of the summary sent to the  YG: Mentoring is a complex action LS W1.doc

Marina's experiments with visualizations: In the attempt to provide you with some ideas on how to create a final product for our exchange sudirng the session, here you can find links to two visualizations A Word tree (showin how one word appears linked to certain others) and a phrase net( a different way of showing connections). Both can be acesed below. you need to allow Java in your computers to interact with them. Hope you find them useful!

 

 

Comments (Show all 68)

maflo05@yahoo.com said

at 11:42 am on Jan 9, 2012

In my opinion, mentoring is about providing support, assistance, or guidance to another person in order to achieve an objective or several objectives over a period of time.

oscar.viquez said

at 2:48 pm on Jan 9, 2012

Which can be also a trick thing if we don´t set a time limit to acomplish those goals , we have to be clear in our goals as MTs as our Teachers are about theirs.

Laura Stoutenburg said

at 8:14 am on Jan 10, 2012

And transparent about those goals?

professionalenglish2006@yahoo.com said

at 11:45 am on Jan 9, 2012

Mentoring is a collaborative process that is meant to support and guide both new and experienced teachers. Mentoring also encourages professional growth in both parties, while strengthening and building effective instructional (best) practices. Collaborative, supportive, constructive, reflective, positive,these are the words that come to mind when I think about mentoring. I hope to develop and evolve to become an effective mentor.

OlenaLysytsia said

at 12:50 pm on Jan 9, 2012

I completely agree with you. I also think that the cultural aspect and previous educational background also matter here.

OlenaLysytsia said

at 12:53 pm on Jan 9, 2012

True :)

OlenaLysytsia said

at 12:56 pm on Jan 9, 2012

This system works for my school. DOSes assign more experienced teachers to control less experienced ones. But I might admit that this system does not always work as the first ones often lack teacher training experience and may be in confrontation with each other giving feedback. Also less experienced teachers might become overdependent wity too much help from their mentors.

Laura Stoutenburg said

at 8:11 am on Jan 10, 2012

Does your school supply mentor training for new mentors?

oscar.viquez said

at 2:46 pm on Jan 9, 2012

Mentoring is a tricky word at least in our cases, because our mentees are assigned not so much chosen as a mentor should be, I have come to the conclusion that it is like a work in progress.
Definitely being there professionally and sometimes personally, it´s rewarding, sharing experiences but also showing alternatives, these might not always be followed! For me mentoring is never prescriptive but always reflective.
Having a controlled and meaningful flow of communication is the key to have them observe colleagues teaching (if they are new), teach their load, comply with administrative procedures and still manage to live their lives and care for themselves and their families.

Ingrid R Razente said

at 9:16 pm on Jan 9, 2012

Mentoring is facilitating learning and helping people grow. In a company or a school, it is the mentor’s job to ensure that everybody in the team is working towards the same goal and “speaking the same language”, but always allowing room for creativity and personalization. It means listening and listening, reflecting and helping reflect, giving and getting constant feedback so that everybody learns and improves not only professionally but also as a person.

Ingrid R Razente said

at 9:22 pm on Jan 9, 2012

I quite agree that it is extremely important to be able to deal with affective factors. It is a matter of trust,isn't it? Without trust there's little chance that there'll be reflection and, therefore, any change.

OlenaLysytsia said

at 7:23 pm on Jan 10, 2012

and confidence, isn't it?

Sara G. said

at 9:57 pm on Jan 9, 2012

Mentoring (to me) is a process of teaching, guiding and learning. It's amazing how much you learn from your mentees and how much they can learn from you. It should never be a one-way process.

Chuck Sandy said

at 8:55 pm on Jan 10, 2012

learning with rather than from :-)

Laura Stoutenburg said

at 8:13 am on Jan 10, 2012

Yes, it is a related skill set to teaching, but requires some extra skills...

Laura Stoutenburg said

at 8:17 am on Jan 10, 2012

Thank you to everyone who has posted so far on what mentoring means to us. By the end of the week, we will have a rich compilation. Feel free to post your ideas, everyone!

Rubina Khan said

at 12:13 pm on Jan 10, 2012

Mentoring is a challenging job.Its demands are great and the mentor needs to be a composed, tolerant and friendly person. It is a two -way relationship and both mentor and mentee grow professionally and personally on this journey .Mentoring leads to leadership growth.
Rubina

matthew smith said

at 3:48 pm on Jan 10, 2012

I think that mentoring has many aspects. In many ways it is similar to teaching. You need to treat every mentee as an individual and find ways to motivate them as well as advise them. You should be like a sports coach, offering encouragement, praise, and where necessary a push in the right direction. To e a good mentor I think you also need to be flexible and approachable..... my list is getting quite long now!

Chuck Sandy said

at 8:54 pm on Jan 10, 2012

I think that thought - that mentoring is similar to teaching -- and to being a sports coach: offering praise and a push. Nicely said

OlenaLysytsia said

at 7:05 pm on Jan 10, 2012

Unfortunately not. But we do have a lot of teacher trainers there and they are basically the people who does the jobs

daniela.loera@gmail.com said

at 7:37 pm on Jan 10, 2012

Mentoring is a responsibility larger than many others. Skill, dedication, as well as deep understanding and patience is needed to provide guidance and support as mentor. A mentor is a role model and, in some cases, idol for another person (student, colleague, etc). Personally, I believe that being a mentor is an honorable yet powerful position. It can greatly impact others' lives.
Having a great mentor is an unforgettable experience - so is being a strong mentor. The power of each side though, needs to be carefully considered.

Chuck Sandy said

at 8:52 pm on Jan 10, 2012

"Your community is full of leaders just waiting to be asked to step forward" says the social activist Bob Stilger -- and of course he means community in whatever way one wishes to define that. When I 1st heard that line in his TED talk a few years ago, something clicked inside me. Since then, it's come to be the center of what I think a mentor really is: someone who's able to not just teach others, but more someone willing to first help people identify what their skills are (and by this I mean what they are really good at, whatever that might be) , then creating opportunities for them to use those skills in new ways within the community, and then most importantly, stepping back far enough to let them shine while being encouraging, supportive and reflective enough to help them grow and become the leaders they can be. Meanwhile, as many others have said, the mentor grows, too, in often surprising ways. It is not a matter of learning -from- others but of learning with others, in a way that both mentor and mentee are transformed. My own roles as mentor are informal and ongoing and my communities are many really: my colleagues in my university department, the communities that come together at PD events I'm lucky enough to be at, and most recently with a group of NNET teachers within the International Teacher Development Institute I'm working on with a group of amazing others who serve as mentors to me as well. I'm less interested in formal mentoring than i am in making the most of informal mentoring relationships which come out of communities of practice both on and offline. I'm very interested keen on becoming a better mentor to those who've for whatever reason put their trust in me - which is the very reason i am here. - Good things! - Chuck Sandy

Chuck Sandy said

at 8:58 pm on Jan 10, 2012

yes building a relationship of trust is essential I think -- and could I add the phrase "a caring relationship" as well? It's hard to get anyone to share their belief systems (which always extend beyond the classroom) unless such a relationship is in place.

Faith said

at 2:43 am on Jan 11, 2012

Mentoring is about relationship. The mentor is involved in the personal and/or professional development of the mentee. The mentors in my life are people I trust, and demonstrate in their own professional lives amazing skill and integrity. They have never told me what to do, but encouraged me to explore my options in order to make educated choices for my professional development.

Laura Stoutenburg said

at 8:13 am on Jan 11, 2012

Thank you all for posting so far! Some participants have also posted their thoughts on the front page - you might like to take a moment to read their ideas as well today....

Ellen Johnston said

at 9:13 am on Jan 11, 2012

The best mentor I had was not in fact assigned to be my mentor. It was a person in another department. He was much more experienced (see older) and held more advanced degrees, but I helped him with simple tech and typing projects and he guided me through the struggles of my first teaching experience. We ate together, laughed together and this was the person whom I feel I've learnt the most about. By sharing our knowledge I in some ways felt like an equal to him. The best metaphor for the mentor relationship would be an older wiser peer. A person who sought out talents and skills in me in equal proportion to the talents and skills I wanted to confer with.

OlenaLysytsia said

at 7:34 pm on Jan 11, 2012

Thanks everyone for your great ideas :))))))

rmmedley@gmail.com said

at 8:58 pm on Jan 11, 2012

I am impressed by all the different perspectives on mentoring. I am finding it helpful to think about my experiences of being mentored by others. What is it that I have appreciated in persons who became my mentors?
First, mentors did not seem to be the ones who sought me out; but rather they allowed themselves to be sought by me. I'd like to be a mentor to some of my students (future teachers), but they haven't responded to me as if they wanted to be mentored. So I need to develop some sensitivity to respond to those who are seeking mentors. I can imagine that my task-oriented, agenda-driven style of working sends a message to would be seekers that I may not be receptive to them.
Second, my mentors were available to talk with me; they listened patiently while I explained myself, and they let me ask questions.
Third, my mentors did not shy away from offering opinions and advice. I guess I was open to their advice and influenced by their opinions because I trusted their expertise and had confidence in them as persons. After all, there was something about them that attracted me, something that other people didn't have.
I'll end with a question: Can anyone become a mentor? Or are mentors persons who have a certain set of gifts that others of us would find very hard to develop, and even then we might not succeed?

Valerie S. Jakar said

at 8:45 pm on Jan 14, 2012

So many ideas, so many concepts, and some wondering, some self-searching and open questions too. You have expressed the range of thoughts a mentor goes through. You have identified the complexity of the work of a mentor, but also you have highlighted the need for flexibility. Your final question is an age-old one.It would be nice to be able to say "Yes, anyone is capable of developing mentoring skills, and making them work." But that may not be so. And it's probably the case that only those who have the will to be a mentor will make themselves available for the sometimes difficult task. One more response: Can we define 'success' as mentors? When you write" even then we might not succeed" I wonder what your criteria for success are. Let's share our ideas!

Roberto Fernandez said

at 6:16 pm on Jan 12, 2012

To me mentoring is all about supporting, helping and guiding someone through a process, through learning, through good and not so good times. Being a mentor also means being always there, available to help, it also means listening, giving advice, giving and receiving continuous feedback. A mentor has a great impact on others' lives, so I think the main goal and secret of mentoring, is to make this impact not only positive, motivating and enriching, but also live changing!

OlenaLysytsia said

at 6:30 pm on Jan 12, 2012

There is always a very tiny space between being confident and over-dependent. Mentors have to feel it and lead the mentees to the first one. This is the most encouraging part of the job for me.

Laura Stoutenburg said

at 8:50 am on Jan 13, 2012

Good morning, everyone (that is, eastern Canada time :-) ). We have had wonderful posts so far this week, and all complementing each other. One of our mentors will draw all the threads together soon, but there is is still time to post. For those of you who have not posted your concept yet. I have gathered together most of the verbs used in the last week to describe what mentors and their partners do in the mentoring relationship. Perhaps you can post just to tell us which of these verbs YOU would use when speaking of your own mentoring experience... or suggest another verb? I have a list of nouns and a list of adjectives, too, if anyone is interested. Here are the verbs - achieve, advise, become leaders, build*, coach, create opportunities, demonstrate, encourage***, ensure, explore, facilitate, feel, give*, grow, guide, guide**, help**, help discover, help grow, help identify, help reflect, impact, improve, interact, join, laugh, lead, learn, learn**, let me ask, listen**, make educated choices, motivate, present, process*, provide*, receive, reflect, respond, seek out, share*, shine, show*, step back, stimulate, strengthen, support*, talk, teach, transform*

Laura Coto said

at 1:40 pm on Jan 14, 2012

Hello everyone!!
From my point of view, mentoring is having the openmindedness to be part of a two way learning process in which both the mentor and the mentee have the inner motivation and the the opportunity to exchange and objectively evaluate ideas, systems, experiences and others in order to reflect on the teaching practices and grow personally and professionally.
The way can be bumpy, specially if one of the two parts is not aware of the importance or the impact of mentoring, but it can also be a very rewarding experience, all depending on the attitude and the way things are approached.

Laura Stoutenburg said

at 1:59 pm on Jan 14, 2012

Thank you for your posts this week! As we post summaries for the week both here and in the Yahoo Groups, please add your own final thoughts as you wish, and then click on the Week 2 page for the next set of topics/tasks. Time to explore seeing and listening!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...

snesska said

at 3:34 pm on Jan 14, 2012

Mentor might be a teacher, friend, collegue or someone from the family. Mentor is a person who is by talking and hanging out with us received a special meaning.
The role of the mentor is to listen to and through the relevant issues and tasks encourage thinking.
With mentor you are equal participant, which means that both can learn something through mutual dialogue.
The relationship with the mentor means support for the "independent bounce to the finish."
I often find a mentor, and sometimes that person does not know that he or she is my mentor. Mentor is my role model and controller and gives me incentive to try to achieve it.

Magdalena Sel said

at 6:23 pm on Jan 15, 2012

I like snesska's informal view of mentoring that includes one's friends and family and the idea that a mentor might not even know about being one for someone else. My definition of mentoring (so far) is: facilitating growth.

Laura Stoutenburg said

at 10:27 am on Jan 16, 2012

I like Snesska's comment, too. It is certainly true for my first mentor, who didn't officially take on that role but definitely fulfilled the role in reality. So we have the entire spectrum here from informal mentoring of those close to us, to mentoring of students, to formal mentoring of colleagues.

Ayoub Rezaee Samarin said

at 4:24 pm on Jan 16, 2012

I read most of the comments for the first week and I am deeply grateful for the thoughts that course mediators and participants shared here. As I just joined the group I would like to add another comment to first week page and I will do my best to keep up with the group from now on.
For me, mentoring is a way to show your friends, colleagues, students and your community that you care about them; you wish success for them as you wish success for yourself and you are ready to help whenever they need help. I think naturally we do best personally and professionally when we know that someone with a good will cares about us. Another point is that for being a real mentor we need to become sincerely interested in people around us; you will never find an arrogant person who is a great mentor in the same time.

Laura Stoutenburg said

at 8:59 pm on Jan 17, 2012

This is a lovely addition to the week's comments, Ayoub. Some things don't get said that really should. Thank you for posting!!!

Verónica Arena said

at 5:49 pm on Jan 20, 2012

I'm a bit late, but I'd like to add my definition of mentoring as well. I feel that mentoring is a responsible behaviour towards other professionals who might have the potential to contribute further to own's own mission in life, and thus make that mission their own.

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