For this reason, those who have participated in an institute are encouraged to continue their growth and development by attending additional events. One opportunity available to those who have been through a teaching institute is to be a mentor at a future institute. As a mentor you experience an institute from a unique perspective, different from that of a first-time participant. You are able to observe, explore, and help facilitate the faculty development process while not being completely immersed in the process. Mentoring is a rewarding experience where many new insights are gained.

• develop a greater understanding of the theory behind the philosophy of Process Education.

• come to a greater appreciation of the role feedback plays in the growth process (by assessing performance in real-time and documenting those assessments).

• understand and become more skilled at "affect" management.

• learn more about peer coaching (including receiving assessment feedback about your peer coaching).

• learn more about facilitation (with the opportunity to facilitate an activity and have your facilitation assessed).

• receive consulting regarding the implementation of your own Process Education efforts.

• be a contributor on a facilitation team; including developing a strategy for an institute, making decisions to help participants, and helping the host institution meet short term needs develop a long-term vision.

Note that mentors do not pay a registration fee for attending an event. They are responsible for the other costs associated with the event (e.g., travel, evening meals, and lodging).

1. Provide expertise based on personal experience of putting into practice aspects of the PE philosophy

2. Consult on issues during breaks and meals

3. Provide effective ‘affect’ management on individuals who are struggling

4. Provide timely assessment either for your team or individuals within your team

5. Model of each of the roles in the process – captain, spokesperson, recorder, skeptic, optimist, reflector at specific points to improve their performance in these roles.

6. Provide insights about what is going on to increase team meta-cognition of what is going on

7. Build personal relationships that have likelihood of extending beyond the event.

8. Facilitate an activity during the event.

9. Share the quality recording of the knowledge produced during the event

Model the performance of a Self-Grower

During the course of an institute, a mentor is expected to:

• share his or her personal experiences from which others may benefit and learn from; share how you have grown in your teaching, learning, research, or service.

• seek to improve his or her own performance at learning.

• be willing to contribute and take on several challenges during the institute.

• produce a self-assessment of his or her performance at the Institute; look at growth and development that occurred.

Facilitate an activity (not a requirement, but highly recommended)

It is important for institute participants to see a variety of models of facilitation and realize that there is no one correct or preferred style. Participants want to be able to see how their current teaching style matches with what they see the facilitators doing. Also, facilitating an activity in this environment, with readily available peer coaches, is an excellent way to improve your own facilitation skills.

Record in the journal

An extensive journal is kept on a laptop computer that captures information and knowledge (much of which is unique) generated during an institute. This journal is distributed to participants after the event. Each mentor will be asked to contribute to the recording of activities and discussions.

Participate in mentor’s meetings

The facilitation team will meet during breaks and at the end of the day (or in the morning before the start of the institute) to assess, make plans for the future, and address "affect" management issues. Mentor input is essential to helping the lead and co-facilitators meet the needs of participants and provide a quality faculty development event.

Perform peer coaching

Each mentor will be asked to provide at least one peer coaching report (using the SII format) during the Institute.

Mentor performance criteria

The main criteria for which a mentor will be assessed are (1) his or her willingness to take risks, (2) the quality of the feedback provided to his or her team, (3) the degree to which the mentor displays a caring (but not accommodating) attitude, and (4) the degree to which the mentor contributes to helping his or her team meet their goals for a Teaching Institute.

1. Ability to consult effectively on team issues

2. Quality of feedback provided to his or her  team

3. Contribution to helping his or her team meet their goals for a Teaching Institute

4. Caring (but not accommodating) attitude, with strong interest in team’s success

5. Willingness to take risks

6. Strong listener; identifies specific individual needs and team needs

7. Appropriate level of advocacy in making sure needs are taken care of in a timely manner

8. Effective modeler of specific skills needed

9. Strong assessment of individual and team performance

10. Knows the difference between ‘doing for them’ vs. having them ‘learn to do for themselves’

11. Challenging team to address issues and problems directly

12. Ability to link resources and additional help outside one’s area of expertise

13. Self-manages mentor role effectively by being on top of what is going on

Mentoring at a Teaching Institute provides an opportunity to see the Institute from a completely different perspective.  A mentor is a teacher, a coach and an advisor. Each mentor will coach one or two teams of 4-7 people each, assess individual and team performance, and help keep everyone on track.

Each mentor and facilitator will receive assessment feedback from participants as part of the overall institute assessment. Mentors and facilitators will also receive peer assessments. The lead facilitator is responsible for packaging assessments and presenting them back to the mentors and the facilitators.

Here are a few suggestions to help you in the mentoring process:
 

• You are a mentor, not a facilitator and not a participant in the institute

• You are also an assessor and should be familiar with the SII assessment process

We ask that you produce an assessment for each activity that includes strengths, areas of improvement, and insights. Keep your notes in a journal or notebook so that you can share this information when needed with your team and the facilitator.

• You are also a coach

Be sure to collect your teams’ goals and review them constantly. Make sure that the content of the teaching institute is meeting and addressing your teams’ individual and group goals. Notify the facilitation team concerning any urgent matters regarding any individual from your team.

Be aware of how your team members are feeling throughout the institute.     

Respond in a caring manner but avoid accommodation. Take a few minutes after each activity for transition, including personal and team reflection. Check with each person to determine how he or she is feeling. Provide assurance when needed so that a person knows his or her feelings are not unique (especially for   feelings of frustration). Affirm that you are there to listen and help each person on the   team get the most out of the institute.

• And a recorder of the group processes

An extensive journal is kept on a laptop computer that captures information and knowledge (much of which is unique) generated during an institute. This journal is distributed to participants after the event. Each mentor will be asked to contribute to the recording of activities and discussions.

• Keep your team on track, but allow them to make mistakes

Be aware of how your team members are feeling throughout the institute. Respond in a caring manner but avoid accommodation. Take a few minutes after each activity for transition, including personal and team reflection. Check with  each person to determine how he or she is feeling. Provide assurance when needed so that a person knows his or her feelings are not unique (especially for feelings of frustration). Affirm that you are there to listen and help each person on the team get the most out of the institute.

• Grow yourself

During the course of an institute, a mentor is expected to:

• share his or her personal experiences from which others may benefit and learn from; share how you have grown in your teaching, learning, research, or service

• seek to improve his or her own performance at learning.

• contribute and take on several challenges during the Institute

• produce a self-assessment of his or her performance at the Institute, look at growth and development that occurred.

• Meet with other mentors

The facilitation team will meet in the morning before the start of the institute, during breaks and at the end of the day to assess, make plans for the future, and address "affect" management issues. Mentor input is essential to helping the lead and co-facilitators meet the needs of participants and provide a quality faculty development event.

• Challenge yourself and facilitate an activity