Mentoring Matters

1
Mentoring Matters

• Gbolagade Adekanmbi
• University of Botswana
• Gaborone
• Beverley Crooks
• Brunel University
• London

2
Minutiae

• Mini Intro
• Meaning of lifelong learning
• Meaning of mentoring
• Mentoring in lifelong learning
• Mentoring motives
• Mentoring message
• Mentoring models and methods
• Mentoring materials
• Mentoring musts
• Mentoring experiences
• Main conclusions

3
Mini Intro

• Traditional classroom practices no longer
  adequate for nurturing all learning relationships
• Progression and ability rates on graduation
  becoming increasingly important HE goals
• Mentoring is increasingly becoming a way of
  ensuring achievement of lifelong learning
  pursuits
• This paper focuses on meaning, message, models,
  methods, musts, materials and experiences of
  mentoring

4
Meaning of Lifelong Learning

• Education which takes place throughout life
• Encompasses formal, non-formal and informal
  provisions
• Its context is the community
• Improving the quality of life is its major goal
• Lifelong learning strands presuppose existence of
  missing links which mentoring can help address

5
Meaning of Mentoring

• Existed from the beginning of time
• Greek Mythology Odysseus
• Friend Mentor
• Tell him all you know
• Using selected individuals to provide guidance
  and training to protégés
• A more experienced person(mentor) acts as a
  guide, role model, teacher and sponsor of a less
  experienced person (protégé) The Impact factory-
  2005
• Fastest growing form of volunteering in the UK

6
Mentoring in Lifelong Learning

• A transformational process
• Professional dialogue that encourages reflection
  and development
• A powerful form of learning from primary school
  pupils to personnel in board rooms
• Encompasses motives, message, models, methods,
  materials and musts

7
Mentoring Motives

• By and large altruistic for some
• Enhanced promotion, higher salaries, accelerated
  mobility, greater professional competence,
  decreased job stress
• Personal and personnel development
• Higher enrolment in programmes
• Career choice development

8
Mentoring Message

• General help with learning programmes
• Help in tackling projects
• Coaching in specific skills
• Information on the way things are done
• Advice on dealing with administrative and
  technical details of jobs
• Assistance with difficult topics
• Research and information support

9
Mentoring models and methods

• Conventional classroom strategies
• Modular programmes
• Web chats
• Peer mentoring
• Model and best practice sharing
• Case studies
• One on one tutoring
• Lunch-time reading
• E-mentoring

10
Mentoring Musts

• Fixed term Boundaries
• Co-ordinate/resource Reward
• Train Value
• Support Goals
• Monitor Negotiate
• Learning contract Evaluate
• Keep message simple
• Document progress
• Identify strategies for resolving disputes

11
Mentoring Experiences

• The Brunel University London experience
• A range of programmes to raise aspirations, aid
  progression and support employability
• Outcomes include increased motivation, and
  confidence

12
Main Conclusions

• Mentoring is needed in lifelong learning
• Models and methods are linked to lifelong
  learning thrusts being pursued
• Immeasurable benefits are seen
• Mentoring works

13
References

• Armstrong M (2003), A handbook of human resource
  management, London, Kogan Page.
• Bayley H Chambers R Donovan C (2004), The Good
  Mentoring Toolkit for Healthcare, Radcliff
  Press, Oxford.
• Cave G and Quint J (1990), Career beginning, an
  impact evaluation findings from a program for
  disadvantaged high school students, New York,
  Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, ERIC
  Number ED 325598
• Crooks B Caleb R (2003), Initiatives for
  Retention, in Association for University and
  College Counselling Journal. Special Winter
  Issue, 28-29
• Dave R (1975), Reflections on lifelong education
  and the school, Hamburg, Unesco Institute of
  Education.
• Johnson W Ridley C (2004), The elements of
  mentoring, New York, Palgrave Macmillan
• Jonson K (2002), Being an effective mentor how
  to help beginning teachers succeed, Thousand
  Oaks, California, Corwin Press.
• UNESCO (1976) cited in Ireland T (1978) Gelpis
  view of lifelong education, Manchester,
  Manchester University Press.
• US Department of Education (2003) Consumer Guide
  No 7, October, ltHttp.www.ed.gov/pubs/OR/Consumergu
  ides/mentor.htmlgt accessed 15 April 2005.