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Transcript of Women in Technology Mentoring Program Angela Spyropoulos Women in Technology Mentoring Program...
Women in Technology Mentoring Program
Angela Spyropoulos Angela Spyropoulos Women in Technology Mentoring Program Director
Moraine Valley Community College
Why do we need Mentoring Programs? Young girls need female role models Research suggests that roles models,
mentoring and related support systems hold the key to successful participation of women in technologies.
Confidence is the key to success for women in any field. Research suggests it’s more significant when it comes to women’s pursuit of non traditional careers.
Mentoring provides:
Role models Support system Positive, fun
experiences in STEM
Information on career paths
Encouragement Builds Confidence Network with
industry professionals
Information on courses needed & educational plans
A Mentor provides:
Real life experiences Career Guidance, Opportunities that await
them Personal information about a career
This is important for young people making career decisions
First hand interactive relationship Information and facts that dispel
stereotypes and negative impressions A Mentor is an excellent person to answer
specific questions about their field
Mentoring
A developmental, caring, sharing, and helping relationship where one person invests time, know-how, and effort in enhancing another person’s growth, knowledge, and skills, and responds to critical needs in the life of that person in ways that prepare the individual for greater productivity or achievement in the future.
Definition
Mentor
A person looked upon for wise advice and guidance.
Mentee
A person guided and helped especially in the furtherance of his or her career by another, more influential person.
Definitions
Designing your Mentoring Program
Types of Mentoring
Traditional One-on-One Mentoring Places one mentor in a relationship
with one student Mentor and student should meet
regularly Assign mentors to students with
similar career goals or related field of interest
Peer-to-Peer Mentoring(Big Sister/Little Sister) Older, more experienced student (Big
Sister) develops a guiding, teaching relationship with a younger, less experienced student (Little Sister)
Big Sister shows the ropes Big Sister gives advice on what courses
to take in the program Assign students with similar career
goals or related field of interest
Recruiting and ScreeningMentors
Recruiting Mentors
Recruitment is focused on particular attributes Characteristics, personality, temperament
Utilize resources such as instructors Mentors get involved for a variety of
reasons Identify their motivations Speak to them directly during recruitment
messages
Word of mouth is a key strategy Mentors respond best to a direct
appeal Mentors have gotten involved
because they were asked directly Present mentoring as something
fun, simple, and relatively easy
Recruiting Mentors
Matching Mentors withParticipating Students
Process of matching mentors with participating students One-on-one mentoring, you will be
matching one mentor to one student
Mentor assignments vary for a students’ individual needs.
Characteristics to consider in matching mentors to students
Gender Culture Shared background Same career path Related field of
study or interest
Personality/temperament
Approval of student’s parents
Availability for scheduling
Written Applicationfor Students Students need to provide information on the
program application in order to place them successfully with an appropriate mentor Field of Study Degree Sought Graduation Date What program is the student currently in? Does the student want to be a Big Sister or Little
Sister? Personal information such as:Married Children Returning Student Work full/part time
Mentor’s Roles and Responsibilities Provide opportunities for your mentee Provide and promote support networks Assist your mentee in cultivating skills Promote self-esteem and confidence Empower your mentee as a leader Maintain focus on skill development Be available to your mentee
Mentor’sRoles and Responsibilities Initiate contact with your mentee
Introduce yourselves to your student. Little sisters will be nervous. Big Sisters and Mentors should approach them.
Listen with an open mind Encourage Provide emotional support
continued
Mentor’sRoles and Responsibilities Communicate regularly Share information on your own success Give and receive feedback Trust and Respect Lead by example Foster an understanding of women’s
and/or minorities diverse roles to society Foster strategies to address obstacles
women facecontinued
Dos and Don’tsof Mentoring Have an open mind; don’t discount, dismiss
or minimize Provide constructive criticism; don’t patronize
or make light of a perceived obstacle or place undue guilt on the mentee
Provide support, but don’t become a crutch for the mentee
Maintain personal and professional boundaries, but don’t be distant or unapproachable
Kick-Off Event
Kick-off Event
Many mentoring programs begin by hosting a kick-off event such as a dinner or a pizza party
Here students and mentors are introduced to each other
Include the parents in the “meet-the-mentor” event
Ideas for your mentoring program’s introductory session?• At this initial “meet-the-mentor” dinner,
hand-out the Student/Mentor and Big Sister/Little Sister designations sheets
• Go around the room for introductions• Have the girls give real life experiences
i.e. “What is it like being a woman in today’s technology world?”
Planning for the MeetingChecklist
Decide on the date for the meetingChoose a timeReserve a room
Create an agendaSend e-mail invitations to all interested parties, students and mentors. Attach the agenda advisingthe location, date, time, etc.Decide on food/cateringGather any “Women in Technology” speakersCreate designation sheets to hand-out at the meeting
Where will the sessions be held? How often? At the school – Once a month
i.e. School Theater Dinner Social – Once a semester
Helps break the ice
At the MeetingFollow agenda of meeting
DinnerIntroduce the programHave speakersHand-out designation sheets assigning Mentors to Students and Big Sisters to Little SistersDescribe/Preview the websiteHave students and mentors introduce themselvesAssign a person to takes notes for bios and photographsAt the end of the meeting, allow mentors and students to interact with one another (networking)Mentors and students may exchange phone numbers. I only place e-mail addresses on website.
After the Meeting
Assign someone to create a school website or enlist a webmaster for assistanceA Student-Mentor school website is created which includes group pictures taken at the meetingThe website is a way for the students to contactthe corporate mentors they met at the meeting as well as their peers (Big and Little Sisters)The website includes a picture of all attendees, a brief description of the member and a contact e-mail addressThe website will help the members communicate and interact with one another
www.morainevalley.edu/cad/nsfmentors.htm