280 likes | 423 Vues
Innovative Faculty Peer Mentoring at the University of Maryland University College. Pamela M. Witcher, Ph.D. Center for Teaching and Learning Office of Distance Education & Lifelong Learning November 15, 2003. Who We Are.
E N D
Innovative Faculty Peer Mentoringat theUniversity of Maryland University College Pamela M. Witcher, Ph.D. Center for Teaching and Learning Office of Distance Education & Lifelong Learning November 15, 2003
Who We Are • One of 11 degree-granting institutions of the University System of Maryland • Mission: to serve primarily adult and part-time students
Who We Are (continued) • Worldwide leader in higher education and distance education for 50+ yrs • More than 82,000 students and 2,300 faculty worldwide • More than 160 on-site locations worldwide
Curriculum Delivery Formats • Face-to-face • Distance delivery • Online • Interactive Video Network (IVN) • Interactive Televideo (ITV)
Who We Serve • Students in Maryland • On the ground & online courses • Collaborating with community colleges • Students in the military worldwide • On the ground & online courses • Beyond Maryland with online courses
Our students require…. • Quality instruction & dedicated faculty who are: • Committed to students and responsive to their needs and skill levels • Knowledgeable about UMUC policies and practices
Our faculty… • All have strong academic credentials with extensive professional experience • Some have experience in classroom but not in online teaching • Others are new to teaching in higher education
Meeting faculty needs.. • Provide resources, including: • Training • Professional development opportunities • Administrative support • Collegiality in faculty development seminars and meetings
But what about your full-time or part-time online faculty?
Institutional Benefits • Peer mentoring supports: • New faculty who are new to teaching in the online environment • Current faculty who have experience and expertise to share • Program directors/department chairpersons
Institutional Benefits—Part 2 • Helps retain faculty • Easy way to incorporate pedagogy and changing technology into effective teaching
Peer mentoring promotes excellence in teaching!
Setting up a Peer Mentoring Program • Recruit departments to participate • Determine mentor requirements • Proven teaching excellence • Good communication and listening skills • Creative thinking and problem solving skills • Willingness to share with other faculty
Setting up (continued) • Arrange mentor incentives • Printed/online resources • Opportunities to discuss mentoring issues • Stipends • Recognition in faculty meetings and in faculty records
Mentoring Process • Get recommendation for the mentor • Invite mentor to participate via e-mail, include program manual • Roster mentor & mentee into each other’s online/hybrid courses • Introduce mentor and mentee via e-mail
Mentoring Process (cont’d) • Discuss syllabus & assignments prior to the start of the semester • Visit the class before, during, and near the end of semester • Submit reports at semester end (w/copies to departments and to faculty’s file)
Good ideas for semester start • Kick-off with meeting or online forum • Review mentor/mentee roles • Expectations within the program for feedback and confidentiality • Issues for online mentoring assignments • Cross-cultural and cross-discipline issues
Program evaluation • Analyze semester report findings • Formal follow-up interview with mentee after mentoring assignments
Issues to consider • Same discipline mentoring • Aim for teaching same course/format • Aim for same discipline, if not same course • Across discipline mentoring • It works too!
Faculty Benefits • Department view-- • Mentee has additional insight on teaching and the institution from a qualified peer • Department has additional insights about the mentee’s performance from mentor • More time to handle other matters when adjuncts mentor adjuncts
Benefits to mentoring (cont’d) • Mentor view-- • Mentor has an opportunity to share with and learn from another colleague • Mentor gives service back to the institution in helping develop and retain good faculty • Mentor earns recognition from institution
Benefits to mentoring (cont’d) • Mentee view-- • Mentee has an opportunity to share with and learn from another colleague • Mentee experiences the institutional commitment to teaching quality and excellence • Mentee is introduced to faculty community
Limitations to mentoring • Mentoring does not replace effective faculty supervision • Competing priorities of teaching, workload, and family may affect mentoring outcomes • Mentoring is not counseling!
Expected program costs • Books and program manuals • Mentor stipends • Meeting rooms, food, parking, gifts • Year-end recognition awards/certificates • Staff
And now a few words from those who know our program….
For more information, please feel free to ask me: Pamela M. Witcher, Ph.D. Pwitcher@umuc.edu 301-985-7770 (phone) 301-985-7845 (fax) www.umuc.edu/facdev