Title: The Mentor Role in Online Learning
1The Mentor Role in Online Learning
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- Carole Hayes
- Florida State University
2Distance Learning at Florida State University
- 22 Distance Learning Initiative
- Materials based
- Mentor supported
- Degree completion programs
- Computer Sciences
- Information Studies
- Interdisciplinary Social Science
- Nursing (RN to BSN)
- Blackboard (Bb) course management system (CMS)
- Includes communication tools for one to one, one
to many, many to many (chat) - Continuum of access from residential to
completely remote
3Challenges in Distance Learning
- Office for Distributed and Distance Learning
(ODDL) tasked with design and implementation of
student support systems - High withdrawal rate in distance learning due to
student isolation and inadequate materials - Faculty fear of too many students to prepare for,
instruct, monitor, communicate with, and evaluate.
4FSUs Student Support Model
5Why Mentors?
- Distance and detachment from the institution, the
instructor, and coursemates - Different demographic with whom to relate
- Adult learners careers, families
- Delivery online communication challenges
- Start-up issues familiarity with technology
especially use of Bb CMS
6What Are the Mentor Profile and Qualifications?
- Masters degree in relevant discipline or
- Enthusiasm, must care about and enjoy relating to
students - Active listener, have empathy with students
- Take initiative in communications with students
and maintain engagement - Accept monitoring and guidance of lead instructor
- Must be highly organized and keep detailed records
7Where to Find Mentors?
- Florida Community College System (FCCS)
- Referrals
- Faculty
- Adjuncts
- Graduate Students
- Current
- Recent graduates
- Actively employed Mentors referrals
- Advertisement by brochure and web site
8How Are Mentors Selected?
- Applications are screened for minimum
requirements by ODDL staff - Appropriate applications are forwarded to faculty
for selection or rejection - Successful candidates are brought to FSU for a
3-day Mentor Training Workshop
9How Are Mentors Trained?
- Socialization and orientation to FSU community
- ODDL staff provide online management training,
issues with adult students, referral resources at
FSU - Discipline area faculty spend a full day with
mentors to guide them in instructional support - ODDL staff supply technical Bb/CMS training
- Experienced mentors provide peer counseling
10How Does ODDL Support Mentors?
- Mentor Coordinator
- Models behaviors with mentors that mentors must
develop with students - Interfaces with instructor
- Provides referral resources
- Communicates regularly to refine recruitment,
training, and ongoing support strategies and
procedures - Continuously trains and develops mentors
- Mentor Resource Website
- Audio conferences
- Face to face focus groups
11How Is the Model Evaluated?
- Faculty evaluations formal and informal
- Student evaluations formal surveys, voluntary
telephone interviews - Student performance indicators
- Dissemination of plan, processes and results for
feedback from partners (FCCS) and external
audiences
12 Is Mentor Support Working?
- Mentor supported courses
- 60 fall 99 through spring 02
- 90 mentors formally trained supporting three
discipline areas - Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Studies
- Interdisciplinary Social Science
13Student Performance Indicators
- Completion Rate (8 full semesters)
- 91
- Success Rate (completers earning a grade of C- or
better) - 85
14The Fourth Year
- Mentor Supported Courses
- 20 courses fall 2002
- 35 actively employed mentors
- 1001 mentor supported enrollments
- 140 trained and certified mentors
- Computer Science
- Information Studies
- Interdisciplinary Social Science
- Federal Agency Training Project (40 mentors)
15Mentor Performance Report
- Summer 2001 introduced a trouble ticket
process, the Mentor Performance Report - Available to students online at any time
- Can submit as often as they wish
- Completely voluntary
- Not used to evaluate individual mentors
- While intended as a venting and quick response
process, the vast majority of reports are very
positive
16Student Responses to Mentor Support
- Free responses to open ended questions emerged as
referencing - General Role acknowledging assistance
- Encouragement emphasizing coaching
- Engagement initiative, responsiveness
- Course Content courseware, course management
system - Personality individual interactions
17Analyzing Results
- Student Comments - Topical Areas
- General Role, Engagement, Encouragement
communication function referenced actual role
and how it relates to student satisfaction - Course Content referenced course management
system and courseware issues - Personality referenced individual personality
issues apart from communication or content
18What We Learned
- Communication function is the most important and
effective - 72 of responses in this area were positive
- 21 of responses were neutral
- 7 of responses were negative
- Students report that clarification of materials
processes and encouragement are the two main
contributions of mentor support
19Student Comments
- the immediate response was great and very
timely. I knew I always had a connection.. - My mentors have been invaluable.
- Mentor guides you, tugs you, responds in
depth -
- If you dont have a mentor, your frustration
peaks faster in this environment. - mentor was encouraging, provided a sounding
board, and provided clarification.
20Faculty Comments on Mentor Contributions
- Establishes relationships with students
- Create a human link between students and FSU
- Keeps me informed
- Rapid response function
- Provides general support
- Grading, leg work, course supervision
21Implications
- Mentor support allows scalability
- Number of students in 22 program tripled by the
third year - Agreements with Army, Navy, a federal agency
resulting in hundreds of students - Faculty fear of job loss is unfounded
- Success is increasing number of enrollments
- Lead faculty will max out at 8-10 mentors
- More faculty positions will be needed six new
position in IS BS program alone this year.
22Cost of Mentor Support to FSU
- Full time Mentor Coordinator
- Advertising, recruiting, hiriing, training,
supporting mentors - Course materials and other enrichment, training
materials - Audioconferences, travel
- Compensation - 1,800 per 3 SCH course
- Now based upon TA compensation by discipline
resulting in a range of 1,800 (subsidized)
3,000 per 3 SCH course
23Economics
- Three years mentor support funded by a
legislative appropriation - Provost has mandated that mentor program be
self-supporting - Auxiliary fee increase fall 2002 of 45/credit
hour - Auxiliary fee will increase to 60/credit hour
spring 2003 - All online enrollees will be assessed this fee
24Costing Considerations
- TCM Technology Costing Methodologies
participation yielded surprising information - First year of mentor support FTE generation
from remote online students alone was greater
than entire budget for mentor support. - Second year of mentor support FTE generation
from online remote students alone was almost 3x
the cost to FSU of hiring, training, supporting
and paying mentors.
25How Should We Assess Value of Mentor Support?
- Core Activity If provision of asynchronous,
online instruction is practiced by the
university, necessary student/faculty supports
should be provided, e.g., library and TAs for
resident students, as cost of instruction. - Add-on If students are afforded the opportunity
to earn a degree without stopping out of work and
relocating, the additional cost is a reasonable
consequence for the convenience afforded them.
26Reflections
- Mentor Support provides warm ware in support of
educational hardware and software - While there are virtual textbooks and classrooms,
there are no virtual students - Supporting faculty IS supporting students.
Mentors do both!
27For Further Information
- Carole Hayes
- Coordinator, External Relations
- Office for Distributed and Distance Learning
- chayes_at_oddl.fsu.edu
- 850/644-4114