Abstract:
Knowledge is a gift that is transferrable from one person to another. Everyone has it and can transfer it
thus making impact on other people’s lives. In this paper the authors have come up with an innovative
approach of turning potential students in higher education into mentors: Student mentors selected
based on certain criteria will support their immediate juniors on their subject content and by evaluating
their assessments. Mentors will be continuously monitored for their performance and changes
introduced. If required. This approach is expected to benefit the students, mentors and tutors.
To a student, the expected benefits are on enhanced learning experiences from peer support and
better understanding of the concepts because of dual interaction with tutor and mentor. For a mentor,
it may give a strong foundation as they would continue to be in touch with the concepts learnt in the
previous academic year and further clarify their own doubts. This mentorship is expected to prepare
them to become academic role models and in turn improve upon their soft skills. The experiences
drawn from academic guidance and assessment evaluations of juniors will set the mentors towards an
improved work in their own assessments. Unlike a tutor, a mentor having an added advantage of
writing an assessment in the previous year and now evaluating the same assessment is in a better
position to suggest changes should any be needed in the assessments. In the process, students are
inspired and are motivated to become mentors. This gives enough time for the tutors to focus upon
research and planning of new interesting learning activities for their students due to the reduced
workload.
This paper will discuss in detail the entire process, starting from selection criteria of a mentor till
mentor change. Mentor change would be as a result of quality concern arising from supervision which
includes mentor performance evaluation, moderation of scripts and feedback sessions.
However, for the system to be successful it is critical that both Students and Mentors be clear of their
roles and expectations. There are also some challenges from this approach as mentors may have
commitment constraints and issues emerging from student relations particularly in the area of respect
and favoritism which will also be discussed.
Aarthi, N (2024). Mentoring Model: potential students as mentors. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/mentoring-model-potential-students-as-mentors
Aarthi, Nagappan "Mentoring Model: potential students as mentors" Afribary. Afribary, 12 Apr. 2024, https://afribary.com/works/mentoring-model-potential-students-as-mentors. Accessed 06 May. 2024.
Aarthi, Nagappan . "Mentoring Model: potential students as mentors". Afribary, Afribary, 12 Apr. 2024. Web. 06 May. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/mentoring-model-potential-students-as-mentors >.
Aarthi, Nagappan . "Mentoring Model: potential students as mentors" Afribary (2024). Accessed May 06, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/mentoring-model-potential-students-as-mentors