ED3BMU-Understanding the Theory and Practice of Mentoring

Module Provider: Institute of Education
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Fiona Curtis
Email: f.r.curtis@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Mentoring is a tool of communication used in a range of environments where a more experienced member of a community (educational or professional), might engage with a less advanced one in order to achieve some or all of the following: to introduce them to the culture of their environment, to promote confidence and productivity, to provide emotional support and to develop professional competences. There are benefits for the person being mentored, the mentor and the community in which they are positioned.�� However the literature also reports challenges such as “judge-mentoring” or even “tor-mentoring” and the practice is not always associated with positive outcomes.�� The purpose of this module is to understand what mentoring is and the different roles and identities that may be involved.

Aims:

To explore the following questions:

• Do we know whether mentoring is effective?


• What is the difference between mentoring and coaching?


• How does mentoring theory fit in with other learning theories?


• Which mentoring models of practice are best known?


• What are the benefits and challenges of mentoring – to the mentor, the mentee and the organisation?

Assessable learning outcomes:

• To critically evaluate the theoretical rationale of mentoring


• To identify the benefits and challenges of mentoring

Additional outcomes:

• Students completing this module will gain experience of participating in a mentoring activity


• Transferable skills gained will be related to effective interpersonal communication


• Students will also develop their skills of reflection

Outline content:

• What is mentoring, when is it used and how is it different from coaching?


• How does mentoring fit with learning theories?


• Mentoring strategies and approaches


• Mentoring relationships


• Challenges in mentoring


• Technology and communication

Global context:

A range of mentoring models and the implications of mentoring within in an international working environment will be discussed

Brief description of teaching and learning methods: