In2science Peer Mentoring Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you are new to Peer Mentoring or a current Mentor, hopefully you will find answers to any questions you have about the In2science program below. If the question you have is not here, why not send us an email.
There is also a dedicated section of FAQs for current Mentors.
FAQs for students interested in becoming Peer Mentors:
- Who is eligible to be a Peer Mentor?
- What makes a good Peer Mentor?
- How do I become a Peer Mentor?
- What are the benefits of being a Peer Mentor?
- Do Peer Mentors get paid?
- Will I need to have a police check done?
- Will I receive training?
- How much of my time will Peer Mentoring take up?
- I'm interested in teaching as a career, will Peer Mentoring help?
- How can Peer Mentoring enhance my Resume (CV)?
- Which school will I be placed in?
- Will I get to visit the school before my placement starts?
- What do Peer Mentors do in schools?
- What age groups will I be working with?
- Will I just work with students in my subject area?
- How will I be supported during my placement?
- What happens if I am unable to be placed?
- How do I find out about Peer Mentors in other schools?
- What important dates do I need to be aware of?
- How many placements can I undertake?
- Who do I contact for further information?
- What do I do if I am ill or unable to attend my placement?
- What do I do if I have an issue or problem during a placement?
- How do I contact/communicate with the teacher?
- I don't feel that the teacher is allowing me to interact with the students.
- Certain students in the class keep monopolising my time.
- How do I establish a rapport with the students?
- The teacher has asked me to present something to the students and I am not sure what to do.
- The class want to organise a trip to the University. How do I do this?
- Can I get help to run an activity in one of my classes?
- What evaluations are there at the end of the placement?
- How do I claim my travel expenses?
Who is eligible to be a Peer Mentor?
To be eligible to be an In2science Peer Mentor you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current student at either La Trobe University, the University of Melbourne or Monash University.
- Be studying a Science related discipline in the Faculty of Science at either university.
- Have completed at least one year of your undergraduate degree.
It does not matter if you are a full time or a part time student or a domestic or international student.
What makes a good Peer Mentor?
Peer Mentors have a number of important qualities. They are:
Friendly
Enthusiastic
Patient
Responsible
Approachable
Able to show initiative
Have a good sense of humour!
Willing to learn and engage with high school students
Relate well to students and teachers
Have good listening skills
Committed to helping others
Willing to go outside their Comfort Zone
What are the benefits of being a Peer Mentor?
There are numerous benefits to being involved in the In2science program as a Peer Mentor. Below is a list of the possible benefits and some suggestions as to how you can achieve them or develop them further:
Potential benefits for university students |
How to get the most out of your mentoring experience |
Be involved in a valued community service as a positive role model, gaining satisfaction through helping to play a very influential part in the lives of young people. |
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Develop essential workplace and interpersonal skills, and patience. |
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Share the knowledge and enthusiasm that you have for your chosen field of study with younger students. |
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Increase your confidence. |
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Reinforce your knowledge of the fundamentals of your chosen field. |
Be willing to present information to the class or teacher as this will aid your own understanding. |
Experience improving the knowledge of others. |
It is only through interacting with the students over several weeks that you will see the benefits of sharing your knowledge. |
Gain an insight into the teaching/learning experience. |
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Enjoy a well-earned break from the rigors of study. |
Many Peer Mentors see it as a break and something they look forward to each week. |
Relate science to the outside world. |
When possible, try to bring items in from university or talk about topics you are studying. |
Gain experience that will help you in making a choice of career. |
Great opportunity to see if teaching is for you. |
Develop skills and experience that will make you attractive to a future employer. |
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An opportunity to do something different. |
It will be a real life experience and something you will never forget. |
Develop good problem solving, time management, social and communication skills. |
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Gain documented evidence to enhance your resume (CV). |
Ask the teachers/Peer Mentoring Coordinator to write something for you if required. |
Certification of involvement signed by the Deans of Science at La Trobe University and The University of Melbourne. |
Collect your 'certificate of involvement' at the end of each placement. |
Be a volunteer. |
Volunteerism is now being held in high regard by many major businesses as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). |
Do Peer Mentors get paid?
Unfortunately the In2science program is unable to pay students for their time. However there are numerous additional benefits for being involved that go far beyond a monetary value. Many students have commented that one initial reason for them getting involved was due to the voluntary nature of the program.
Peer Mentors do get their travel expenses refunded.
Will I need to have a police check done?
To volunteer in a school where you are working with children you need to have a current police check. Many people already have these from clubs or work where they are also necessary.
If you do not have one, In2science will help you organise this and cover your costs in doing so.
Most students complete the Working With Children Check form which are available from the Post Office or the Peer Mentoring Coordinator.
Will I receive training?
All placed Peer Mentors MUST attend a training session prior to undertaking their first placement.
The purpose of the training is to prepare you for your role as a Peer Mentor in the classroom.
Training lasts for approximately three hours and involves:
- An introduction to Peer Mentoring
- What makes a good Peer Mentor?
- Do’s and Don’ts of Peer Mentoring
- Group discussion of potential classroom scenarios
- Hints and tips for successful Peer Mentoring from previous Peer Mentors
- General information on placements, claiming travel expenses, etc
Past and/or current Peer Mentors attend these training sessions to offer advice and their own personal experiences.
At the end of the training session you will receive a certificate of attendance.
Training sessions occur at both La Trobe University and the University of Melbourne and you will usually be offered a choice of date and venue.
How much of my time will Peer Mentoring take up?
Peer mentoring will take up approximately 2-3 hours of your time each week during a placement block (10-12 weeks). Peer Mentors usually make one visit a week to their school. The time spent in the classroom varies depending upon how much time you have available and the match of your university timetable to the school's. Some Peer Mentors have spent up to 4 hours each week in school.
Don't forget you also need to allow for travel time to and from the school.
Many Peer Mentors have undertaken additional activities which have added to their time commitment. Mentors have attended field trips and other excursions and have also made additional visits to the schools to help plan activities.
Ultimately it will be up to you as to how much time you can commit.
I'm interested in teaching as a career, will Peer Mentoring help?
Peer mentoring will offer you the rare opportunity to be actively engaged in a school environment with students to experience first-hand what teaching is like. Although everyone went to school it is very different when you are in a teaching role to being a student.
During a placement you will be able to decide if teaching is for you and you can see how well you are able to communicate with school students. You will also build your confidence in the classroom and learn some tricks of the trade!
You will be able to comment on your experiences in the program if you decide to apply for teacher training courses.
Approximately 50% of students volunteer for the program due to an interest in teaching as a future career choice.
How can Peer Mentoring enhance my Resume (CV)?
Having a good resume that shows your strengths and capabilities is important when it comes to applying for jobs.
Employers today are looking for more than just academic achievement. In addition they are looking for:
Communication skills – listening, spoken, non-verbal,
Capacity to learn new skills and processes,
Capacity for teamwork and cooperation,
Professionalism,
Initiative and enterprise,
Problem solving skills,
Decision making skills,
Commitment,
Volunteering, and
Flexibility
All of which you can potentially gain and be able to write about in a resume and letter of application.
Which school will I be placed in?
There are a growing number of schools involved with the program. Our plan is to ensure that our schools have Peer Mentors at least once during the year.
When placing you in a school a number of factors are taken into consideration:
- Do your majors match a request from the school?
- Is the school within approximately 10km of your university campus or your place of residence?
- How well does your availability and timetable match the needs of the school and their timetable?
Will I get to visit the school before my placement starts?
YES, is the simple answer to this question. We feel it is a very important part of the placement process to get the Peer Mentors to make an initial visit to the school. Where possible, all Mentors placed at a school will attend on the same day along with the Peer Mentoring Coordinator who is there to help answer any questions you have and offer support.
The purpose of the initial visit is as follows:
- To make sure you know where the school is!
- To allow you to meet the Link Teacher and the teachers you will be working with.
- To allow you to exchange contact details with the teachers so you can be kept informed of upcoming activities that your classes are doing.
- To talk to the teachers about your own subject interests.
- To find out where to meet, signing in procedures, where to leave your belongings etc.
- To get a quick tour of the school and the possible classrooms you will be working in.
Initial visits usually take place a couple of weeks before the placement starts. You will be informed by the Peer Mentoring Coordinator as to the times and date.
Many of the Peer Mentors arrange an additional visit before their placements start especially if they did not meet the class teachers during the initial visit.
What do Peer Mentors do in schools?
Since In2science started in 2004, Peer Mentors have undertaken a whole range of activities in the classes with which they are working. The primary aim is to interact with the students, discussing the work they are doing and helping them with their understanding. Therefore communication is at the heart of the program. Peer Mentors work with the same students each week in tandem with the teacher who has overall responsibility for the class.
Here is a list of some of the things that Peer Mentors undertake:
- Moving round the class helping individuals in tandem with the teacher. Motivating students to stay on task or challenging their understanding of a task.
- Assisting students to undertake experiments and group tasks.
- Working with particular individuals in the class.
- Leading a small group of students (either more or less able) on a mini project or task.
- Demonstrating a particular piece of equipment to groups or individuals.
- Participating in fieldtrips.
- Making presentations to the class.
- Involved in whole class discussions.
- Helping the teacher plan an activity or fieldtrip for the students.
Some Peer Mentors are most happy supporting the general activities of the class and talking with students on a one-to-one basis while others are happy to take a more leading role. Whichever suits you is OK.
As long as you are willing to get involved there is no limit!
What age groups will I be working with?
In2science has a focus on the middle years of schooling so you will work with students in Year 7-10.
On the application form you have the opportunity to state a preferred year level. However, due to timetable issues it may not always be possible to allocate you to your preferred year level.
Being open to work with students from different year levels will give you a much broader experience.
During each placement you will work with the same classes each week, getting to know both the students and the teacher well.
Will I just work with students in my area of specialism?
Where possible the schools will try to use you to help teach topics that are related to your field of study. However, as the students you are helping are in General Science classes, then some lessons may involve other topics away from your subject specialism. This is not something to worry about as with all topics in schools, the students are doing it for the first time too and will value your support and experience of how to tackle new material.
How will I be supported during my placement?
Although it may seem like you are the only person mentoring at your school there is a whole host of support to ensure you have a valuable and enjoyable experience.
The class teacher has the responsibility for managing you in the classroom and is the main person to talk to about the topics being covered and how they are being delivered.
At each school there is a Link Teacher who is usually the Science Coordinator for the school. If you are having concerns or the teacher is away when you arrive, then they would be the first person to talk to.
The Peer Mentoring Coordinator's role is to support you in your placement. They will be able to offer help and advice and can be contacted if you have concerns regarding any aspect of your placement. They will aim to come and visit you a couple of times during your placement to see how you are getting on and to see you in action! The Peer Mentoring Coordinator will also keep in regular contact with you via phone or email and they can be used as a point of contact with the universities if additional information is needed or you are organising a visit there.
A regular newsletter is used to keep everyone involved in the program up to date with what is being done at other schools. Peer Mentors are encouraged to submit a couple of paragraphs on their experiences for inclusion.
What happens if I am unable to be placed?
Unfortunately not everyone is able to be placed though every effort is made. Often incompatibility between your timetable and availability and that of the schools is the main problem. Other factors include you geographical location in relation to our schools. We also have a finite budget to cover travel expenses and this does limit how many students we can place each semester.
However, unless you indicate otherwise, your name will be kept on file and you will be contacted ahead of the next round of placements to see if you wish to be reconsidered. Several Peer Mentors have undertaken a placement, missed one then done another.
There are sometimes other activities that In2science gets involved in where you may be able to help and we have also had Peer Mentors put in requests for support for activities they are doing in their school.
How do I find out about Peer Mentors in other schools?
In2science
produces a regular newsletter during the placements. This has information for Peer Mentors and gives details of what other Mentors are doing. It is a great way for everyone to share ideas and Peer mentors are encouraged to contribute a couple of paragraphs relating to their own experiences.
How many placements can I undertake?
There is NO LIMIT on the number of placements a Peer Mentor can undertake. Some of our Mentors have stayed on at the school first placed and, providing there are no timetable issues, then this is not a problem as the Mentor is familiar with the school and its staff. Some Peer Mentors undertake placements in different schools for a new experience.
As Peer Mentors do more placements their mentoring ability increases and they are an important asset to the program, especially when we can place them in new schools that have not had Peer Mentors before.
Several of our Mentors are signed up for their third and fourth placement. Those students completing three or more placements will recieve a LETTER OF COMMENDATION from thier respective university for their achievements.
What do I do if I am ill or unable to attend my placement?
It is important that you let the school know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend.
If you know in advance then tell the class teacher.
If you are ill on the day then a courtesy call to the school is important so a message can be sent to the appropriate teacher. Make sure you keep a record of the school phone number.
It is also important to let the Peer Mentoring Coordinator know as well (via email is sufficient) as they are sometimes contacted by the school.
What do I do if I have an issue or problem during a placement?
It is important that you feel happy in your role at all times. If you do have any issues or problems, the sooner you let someone know then the sooner something can be done. The class teacher, Link Teacher or the Peer Mentoring Coordinator are there to help you, you just need to decide who is the most appropriate depending upon the issue.
Keeping the Peer Mentoring Coordinator informed is important if additional support is required.
How do I contact/communicate with the teacher?
It is very important that you maintain regular contact with the class teacher(s) you are working with. Doing the following will help:
- Make sure you and the teacher discuss "communication expectations" as per your training booklet and the teachers booklet p7.
- Try at least to swap emails, preferably at the initial visit.
- Try to make time at the start of end of th elesson to discuss things.
I don't feel that the teacher is allowing me to interact with the students.
The advice given to teachers is that they must allow you to interact. It is important to talk to either the Link Teacher at the school or the Peer Mentoring Coordinator if you find yourself spendig most of your time sitting and not involved in the activities.
Certain students in the class keep monopolising my time.
Many students will look for your help as you are not there to judge or discipline them. it is important that they don't get too dependent upon you and want your help with everything. Try setting them to do a part of the task and tell them you will come back when they have completed it. Gradually challenge them to complete more of the work on their own before you go back and check. Also try to avoid spending too much time talking to them in a social sense.
How do I establish a rapport with the students?
this can be one of the hardest aspects of Peer Mentoring as it takes time to get to know the students. Don't expect to achieve it after the first visit, sometines it can take several weeks:
- Check to see how students are doing and that they understand the tasks. Ask open ended questions that require an answer.
- Remember to smile and be aware of your body language.
- Show that you are willing to give them some time and listen to them.
- Be willing to sit down with them and work through a problem together.
- Use praise and encouragement as much as possible.
If you feel that you are not engaging a student discuss it with the class teacher. they may have some ideas or they may have had a similar experience and would value your presence in the class so they can try to engage them on a one-to-one level.
The teacher has asked me to present something to the students and I am not sure what to do.
Teachers are often keen to allow you to talk to the students about science and maths. If you do not feel confident at doing this in front of the whole class then say so. Many Mentors feel more confident as the weeks go by and they are used to the class.
One good topic is to talk about your choices since year 10 and how you came to be studying what you do. Take some photos of your labs and lecture to show the students in a PowerPoint.
you may have something that you can take in and do a kind of "show and tell" with. there may be some resources at university you can use.
Contact the Peer Mentoring Coordinator to see if they have any ideas and suggestions.
The class want to organise a trip to the University. How do I do this?
Many schools want to do this and it is to be encouraged. Often Mentors have talked to their academic staff about classes coming to see the facilities or even better to do an activity.
A good starting point is to talk it through with the Peer Mentoring Coordinator. They may be able to direct you to the people you need to talk to.
REMEMBER - the classes remain the responsibility of the teacher and the school must adhere to their school's policy on trips.
Can I get help to run an activity in one of my classes?
Some Mentors have been keen to run an activity. Sometimes they have taken friends in from University to help out (having cleared this with the school previously).
Where possible other Mentors may be free to come and help run an activity. Contact the Peer Mentoring Coordinator to get help with this.
What evaluations are there at the end of the placement?
Evaluations of the program are our best way of ensuring everyone gets the most out of being involved in In2science.
At the end of each placement there is an evaluation process asking teachers, students and Peer Mentors to give us feedback on their experiences.
Teachers are also asked to give the Peer Mentor feedback in an appraisal type way. Such feedback can be useful for you in regards to the strengths you have shown.
At the end of 2005 we had an external evaluation of the program, conducted by the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE).
How do I claim my travel expenses?
All Peer Mentors can claim back their travel expenses. You can travel to your allocated school either by public or your own transport. The aim will be to try to place you in a school within a 10km radius of your home or your university campus, thus keeping travel costs and time to a minimum.
To claim your expenses you will need to fill in the appropriate form.