Peer Mentor Training Dr. Lindsey J. Munro Chemistry

Peer mentoring _ Overview Why? 2015 Scheme (Chemistry) Requirements Recommendations Training: - Summer Facebook - Induction Peer Mentors Workshop Aims: - Identify resources / requirements for a successful scheme - What training do you need for your schemes?

Peer mentoring – why? New Students: To support Year 1 students, build their confidence & to enable them to settle in and succeed at university level. To share students’ knowledge & experience with others. To create a sense of community between students at MMU. Peer Mentors: To learn more about the university and how things work. To develop new skills & face challenging situations To enhance your own employability.

As one of the mentors said … “Being involved in the mentoring scheme has made me feel more involved in the Department & more valued as a student. I have enjoyed meeting new students and sharing what I have learnt and all the mistakes I made. I am very glad that I volunteered for the scheme.”

Peer mentoring – why? To make induction less boring & more relevant … & fun: - Avoid DBP - Overload of information … which the students can’t remember Students paying £9k & have only 2 weeks to check they’ve made the right choice: - Create good habits in Induction week - Lots of activities to give students insight into the course - Instil message of 100% engagement - Feel like they belong - Signpost support - Make friends!

E-Mentoring: June to September –Online: work from home. Face to Face Mentoring –8 one hour workshops to be delivered in Induction Week – Teaching Week 2 –2 mentors / group of 30 – 40 students Paid via Jobs4students - Training = Lower rate - Delivery = Upper rate What is the scheme?

2015 Scheme 6 Faculties involved 43 Programmes 178 Peer Mentors (3 Social Media Specialists) - Paid for training & delivery - Hoody - Pre-induction team-building meal ~ 4500 Year 1 students supported Cost (£237 / mentor): - Social Media Support: £2.95 / new student - Peer Mentor: £9.50 / new student - MMU Sport: (3 halls – 80 students = c. £60 / hr) Kit List (S: Drive) / Staying the Course Game

2015 Scheme (Chemistry (7 → 22 Hrs)) Workshops: Designed by Students Campus Tour Transition to University MMU Greats Money & Finance Extra-curricular Activities Library Training Staying the Course Game Lectures & Note-taking Time Management

Faculty Induction Futures Friday

Recommendations Hang in there! … It gets easier & the students really value it … & the Peer Mentors enjoy their leadership role Timetable in activities & on welcome info - => Students can see them in advance - Induction activity template available Printed copies of Induction Schedule - Tailored for each group - Integrate Freshers’ week activities: - International / Freshers’ Fair / PT Job Fair / IFF Academic Support (Enthusiastic) = Essential - Year 1 Tutor - Programme Support Tutor

Key Elements for Success: High-level Support: - Head of Department (Pay) - Programme Leader - Year Tutor - Programme Support Tutor - Timetabling Named Subject-specific Peer Mentor Contact - Organise & go to team-building evening meal with students pre-induction - Provide resources - Support & supervise peer mentors - Submit pay sheets (J4S)

Key Elements for Success: Staff awareness of workshops on offer & involvement in training - Tailor workshops for your student cohort - Train accordingly - Brief students in advance on what they will be doing / practice 1 st workshop shortly before delivery Timetabling: - Full support of Division timetabler / entry into WDC - Use rooms in Faculty where possible - Timely delivery (e.g. Library before 1 st assignment) - Printed copies - Keep room bookings as simple as possible Extras: MMU Sport

Group Work How do you want to run your peer mentoring scheme?

Discussion 1 Do you have / can you get the support necessary to run a successful scheme? - Enthusiasm / Need to engage students in induction - Money to pay for peer mentors (10 hrs Training + 14 hrs Delivery = £250 / mentor) - High-level Support - Named Subject-specific Peer Mentor Contact - Staff awareness of workshops on offer - Staff involvement in training - Timetabling What else would you like to include / change? What additional support would you like centrally?

2016 Scheme - Proposals What Training would you like for your Peer Mentoring Scheme? Social Media Support Services Overview Workshop Delivery

2016 Scheme - Proposal Phases: –Summer: Departmental Facebook support –Induction – Week 2: Up to 7 Workshops Recruitment: –March / April (Faculty Social Media & Peer Mentors) Resources: –Advertising (Job advert / poster template / template) –Workshops (Lesson plan / Powerpoint / handout / Kahoot Quiz) Training: Overview of MMU Support / Social Media / Workshops

2016: Social Media Support Training Aim: Create a sense of belonging & community prior to arrival Triage queries & signpost to other support systems Plan: Recruitment will send to every student – UG, PG, Home & Overseas – inviting them to join a Facebook Gp: - Departmental - Additional groups: Commuting, mature & overseas The Team: Widening Participation central management + 2 x Faculty-level J4S social media (SM) co-ordinators

2016: Social Media Support Training Training & Pay: - June (1 day) - Paid from Central University Funds What departments need to do: 1.Nominate an academic point of contact for the Social Media co- ordinators to direct course-related queries. 2.Pass on name of Department Facebook group & get faculty Social Media coordinators added to the group: => New students can be invited to join this group 3.If you want to manage your own group: - Please let us know the site – so details can be passed onto students 4.If you want to opt out: - Please let us know.

2016: Support Overview Training International Society Student Services Learner Development Library Counselling – Boundaries Safe Social Media Use Money & Finance Icebreakers How to deliver workshop / voice training Workshop Training (7 options) Central Training: Face-to-Face (4 hours) vs Online PPT / Podcast + Test – Pass with 100% June 1 day + Sep ½ day & Meal

2016: Workshop Training Workshop Training (Central vs Faculty): - Faculty of Science & Engineering - Tuesday 14 June (New Date) - 30 – 50 Peer Mentors (2 academics + 4 PST + x 2015 Mentors) Icebreakers / Team building(9:30 – 10:15) Voice Training (10:15 – 11:15) Workshop Preparation(11:15 – 12:30) - 7 workshops - Divide students into small groups - Review & update workshop content Lunch / Staying the Course(12:30 – 1:15) Workshop Practice (1:15 – 5) - Students run through all workshops (30 mins / workshop)

Group Work 2 What training would you need for your Peer Mentor Scheme?

Group Work 2 Social Media: Is there any extra training / alternatives you would like? Peer Mentors: What Training options would you like? - Support Service Overview (Centrally organised face-to-face vs Online) - Workshop Training (Faculty / Departmentally based OR Central … support required?) What central support would you need / like? - Logistics: Room booking / Food ordering / Photocopying - Advertising: Job advert / poster template / template

Questions?

Chemistry (7 → 22 Hours) Monday, 21 st September 9-10 Welcome talk Maths diagnostic test Campus tour Course talks Starting University Tuesday, 22 nd September 9-11 Team building & 1 st Assignment Library / Moodle sessions Extra-curricular activities

Chemistry Wednesday, 23 rd September Inspirational lecture 12-12:30Tour of the research facilities Personal tutor meetings Staying the course game Thursday, 24 th September RSC visit H&S talk H&S quiz (Peer mentors) / Lab intro Friday, 25 th September 10:30 Photo 11 – 2Induction Futures Friday – inc. Dodgeball (IFF)

Chemistry (7 → 22 Hours) Monday, 28 th September Lectures & Note-taking 2 - 3Time Management