Definition of a FIRST Mentor

[gblake]

The description I like the best is to be the guardrails on the road the students drive the team along.

I agree with that person in that I always want to encourage the students to take the reins and test themselves. I want them to learn by doing and hopefully learn when to ask for help.

However, as that other mentor pointed out, when $10,000 to $50,000 of student/sponsor money is being spent, instead of letting them learn by catastrophically failing (i.e. driving the car into the ditch), mentors supply the guardrails that put them back on course when they stray dangerously far afield.

The guardrails need to be close together when the team is learning something new or putting something valuable/important at risk. They need to be far apart when the students are following the right processes and are managing themselves well (inexperience might lead to sketchy/imperfect outcomes, but attentive students' learning/efforts are leading to improvements)

In summary, my take on "Mentors are the guardrails"

• Show the students how to do what they need to do
• Step back and let the students do what they need to do
• Nudge them back on course when they need a nudge
• Insist, when necessary, that no one tries to juggle the chainsaws

Blake

[JaneYoung]

This is a thread started by Mark McLeod and it has a lot of insight and some humor. He created a white paper containing the information.

(Mark also created a thread titled, A Student Is.... It gives additional and valuable insight.)

I thought perhaps you would enjoy the read.
Good luck with your presentation. It is a worthwhile endeavor.

Jane

[JesseK]

A mentor isn't afraid to show excitement about problem solving. That's leading by example while inspiring.

[RoboMom]

Description on usfirst.org:
http://www.usfirst.org/community/vol....aspx?id=11576

FIRSt Mentoring Guide: http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...ng%20Guide.pdf

The volunteer office also wrote a description of a mentor last summer that was supposed to go out to new mentors when they registered. I haven't seen the finished product, but you could inquire.

[Denman]

Originally Posted by gblake

The description I like the best is to be the guardrails on the road the students drive the team along.

I agree with that person in that I always want to encourage the students to take the reins and test themselves. I want them to learn by doing and hopefully learn when to ask for help.

However, as that other mentor pointed out, when $10,000 to $50,000 of student/sponsor money is being spent, instead of letting them learn by catastrophically failing (i.e. driving the car into the ditch), mentors supply the guardrails that put them back on course when they stray dangerously far afield.

The guardrails need to be close together when the team is learning something new or putting something valuable/important at risk. They need to be far apart when the students are following the right processes and are managing themselves well (inexperience might lead to sketchy/imperfect outcomes, but attentive students' learning/efforts are leading to improvements)

In summary, my take on "Mentors are the guardrails"

• Show the students how to do what they need to do
• Step back and let the students do what they need to do
• Nudge them back on course when they need a nudge
• Insist, when necessary, that no one tries to juggle the chainsaws

Blake

This is a brilliant post
Quoted just for how good it is

[Wayne C.]

When it all hits the fan the mentor is the guy handing out the raincoats and goggles.

[Rion Atkinson]

Personally I would give this description.

FIRST Mentor - An individual of no particular skill-set who wishes to inspire young students to believe in themselves and strive to be something in life.