cptsc_mentoring_presentation_dft3

Student Mentoring Programs:How to Make Them Happen

Dan Voss & Bethany BowlesPre-CPTSC Conference Workshop

September 27, 2012

What is mentoring? Types of mentoring Face-to-face mentoring Virtual mentoring Community partnerships Individual relationships What do you do? Ingredients of a successful mentoring program Turnkey package

Agenda

3 Types of Mentoring

1. Within industry: pairing an experienced practitioner with an entry-level member of the profession

2. Within academe: pairing a faculty member with a student

3. Pairing a professional practitioner with a student

Student Outreach Initiative

Mentoring is a Key Ingredient

STC Community Affairs Committee (CAC)

Individual Mentoring Relationships:Face to Face

Individual Mentoring Relationships: Virtual

Remote/Virtual Mentoring

STC’s Academic SIG is working on two types of virtual mentoring programs for the 2012-2013 academic year:

1. Pairing professionals in the Academic SIG with student STC members in “general” virtual mentoring relationships

2. Pairing SMEs in SIGs with student STC members on academic assignments involving research/writing for the technical communication Body of Knowledge (BOK).

Both types of virtual partnerships will likely be administered via MentorBoard software currently being explored by the STC Office.

Academic SIG

Ingredients

Recipe

Combine equal proportions of mentees and mentors

Season with guidelines and turnkey administrative tools

Mix well Bake for one academic year Garnish with job placement

icing

Turnkey Toolkit

STC guidelines for mentoring programs

Specific program guidelines and procedures

Summary of successful programs Mentor/mentee (M&M)

application forms M&M summary form (for making

pairings) M&M agreement form (goals,

objectives, activities) Suggested M&M activities and

projects … and MORE!

Recruiting

Pairing

Mentor/Mentee Agreement

Objectives Expectations Activities Schedule Communication

channels

Job-shadowing Resume and portfolio assessment,

interviewing skills Jungle training for corporate America Joint projects Life lessons “Reverse” mentoring (mentee teaches

mentor) … happens a lot!

Typical Activities

Update the mentee’s résumé to present his/her abilities and experience to future employers; conduct a mock job interview

Work together to create a portfolio for the mentee to use when job-hunting

Arrange a job-shadowing visit for the mentee to learn more about the workplace

Post what projects you are up to on the Facebook page to share with everyone!

Review a technical book or guide for newsletter Preview the upcoming STC annual conference by

highlighting a presentation being done by local members

Suggested M&M Activities

Write a short review of one or more web sites that would interest or help readers

Create a short, engaging article that teaches a grammar and/or mechanics point – creative formatting encouraged!

Join an STC SIG in an area of mutual interest and participate in a SIG-related project together.

Use the social media (e.g., IM, texting, Facebook, Skype, or even asynchronous color-coded “e-mail ping-pong”*) to engage in some real-time “chats” from time to time to get to know each other better and share ideas.

*Don’t ask.

Suggested M&M Activities (cont)

Available Materials STC guidelines for mentoring programs Specific program guidelines and procedures History of successful mentoring programs Mentor/mentee(M&M) application forms M&M summary forms (for making pairings) M&M agreement form (goals, objectives,

activities) Suggested M&M activities and projects M&M contact log Link to typical M&M Facebook page M&M pre-assessment forms M&M post-assessment forms M&M program evaluation form

Contacts

Dan Voss daniel.w.voss@lmco.com

Bethany Bowles bethanybowles@gmail.co

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The Stage is Set … Action!