Martha's Mentor Blog

Article #1 http://www.oercommons.org/courses/communication-the-key-to-successful-mentoring/view Article #2 http://www.oercommons.org/courses/mentoring-matters/view Hello, We have completed the survey process to mentors last week and just sent out a different survey to the mentees this week. I will collate Mentee results at the end of next week.  Some of the feedback from mentors identifies that connections have been difficult. Mentors have indicated that they've reached out, but have had limited success in meeting and building relationships with their mentees. This linked article, Communication is the Key to Successful Mentoring, was written from the perspective of an educator in the K-12 environment. The article promotes taking an active role in communicating with potential mentors and mentors. Sometimes mentoring occurs due to physical proximity and other times it requires a more dedicated approach.  If you have not had success forming a partnership with your mentee, please

Parise, M.R. & Forret, M.L. (2008) Formal Mentoring Programs: The relationship of program design and support to mentors perceptions of benefits and costs, Journal of Vocation Behavior , 72, 225-240. Part II But what are the costs of mentoring? These include a negative reflection on the mentor if the mentee does not perform as well as expected.  A mentor may be placed in the uncomfortable position of having to defend his/her own status if the mentee does not perform to expectations. If the partnership deteriorates, a dysfunctional relationship may occur. Mentors may perceive that an individual is not worth the time and effort that is necessary.   The time a mentor devotes to mentoring has opportunity costs. Scheduling issues and geographic distance may create additional hurdles from a time commitment perspective.  Lastly, mentors may be accused of nepotism if they are viewed as showing favoritism to their mentees. The article included research done on a mentoring program