Evaluation+and+Feedback+2010

**EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK (2010 Program)**



 * Please add your thoughts below about the various aspects of the LTM program.**


 * MENTOREES **


 * Number of Mentorees** - //(was having 4 - 6 mentorees realistic/manageable? what number would you suggest? more? less?)//

I have found that having 3 or 4 mentees is manageable if together in one work group (Nadine)

I had 11 in '4 or 5 groups' but most were needing help with the same things eg Moodle. 4 to 6 is very manageable if there are common themes, issues, technology involved. (Stephen)

I had 13, but had help from Cheryl and Andrew Hein. This would have been manageable. Unfortunately both of them had other projects to do, leaving me with that group. I imagine 5-6 on my own would have been manageable. (Frank)

Depends - in my case, I had 2 mentorees who were starting a Moodle course for students from scratch. This required regular one-on-one support from me - as soon as activities were added, there were beng used by the students. The other 2 mentorees had some previous experience using Moodle and were wanting to further develop their sites. They required less support and were also able to help each other. So, I could have managed one other mentoree wishing to create a new Moodle site. (Elizabeth)


 * Fact that mentors had 'paid' time but mentorees didn’t** //. (Can you suggest ways that this problem might be addressed?)//

So far no one has sadi anything to me about money. Quite frankly I don't think that its an issue if the learning is happening. (Nadine)

Unless there are people available to backfill, any $$$ solution is hyperthetical. No suggestions that would work in current economic strategic climate. We need some clones of Andrew Douch's 2005 boss! :-) Until then, the people who are prepared to learn and 'pioneer' in their own time will continue to move things slowly forward. (Stephen)

At the beginning of the project, my line manager gave reduced contact time to all participants (they had to be reminded of this often) and that was OK. As the semester continued, I know their workloads increased. As a result of this participation did drop off. I think they need/expect some time to be given if they are going to produce an outcome.(Frank)

A few weekly sessions were missed due to mentorees being too "busy" - in quotations not because they weren't busy - but because - when I was able to suggest something that they thought immediately relevant to their teaching sessions - suddenly time was found - and priorities shifted to spending time in Moodle. One mentoree was able to take advantage of backfill for PD in order to spend a 4-hour block working on her Moodle site - But really, most of what was accomplished happened on a daily basis at any time we could find. (Elizabeth)


 * EXPECTATIONS **


 * Goals – realistic?** //(is it possible to get 4-6 lecturers doing elearning with students in the given timeframe?)//

The time-frames are in interesting really. I think that a project is somewhat timeless and ongoing with editing and changes happening all the time. I will work with my mentees for as long as it takes to get them where they need and want to go but with solid direction and planning. (Nadine)

Possible? Yes. At end of the year? Harder. A few months is very short for a 'mentoring' relationship. A full year would be much more productive - building the skills, tools and confidence over one semester, implementing and modifying during the second semester. Only a few of mine went 'live' with students inside the 3 months. However, the momentum created will see 6 more people very much online with students at the beginning of next term. (Stephen)

I believe it is achievable, but I think it would be better if the program commenced at the beginning of the year. This would give participants time to develop there projects, but also time in the second semester to implement and receive student feedback. I am concerned that some of my group will return from the long break forgetting what they originally set-out to do, and will need to be pushed to go the next step. (Frank)

Not realistic if all 4-6 lecturers have no previous experience or skills using Moodle. Not enough time in the day or week to give that amount of intensive support - unless of course the lecturers have the time and passion to spend hours at home working on it. But certainly possible, if there is a range of skills and experience in the mentoree group so that are able ti support each other and therefore not be so reliant on the mentor. (Elizabeth)


 * What would be realistic goals? **

Realistic goals are to plan for the outcomes I think. My mentees want to create websites for thier own courses and provide support for thier students so that the Moodle doesn't become the main attraction on the course but more supportive of the course with links to relevant materials and website, writing guides, academic rules such as referencing. Creating a basic support site for students is realistic in the time-frame (Nadine).

As above... A full year would be much more productive - building the skills, tools and confidence over one semester, implementing and modifying during the second semester. (Stephen)

Maintain the existing goals, just change the timeframe. (Frank)


 * COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE (CoP) **


 * CoP expectation – realistic?** //(what do you think of this idea? did you feel like you were part of a CoP? do you think you contributed to enough to 'our community'?)//

Yes, not only is it a realistic expectation but an essential part of the formula, I think. As to my contribution, others will have to judge that one. I think I would have personally liked more hours in the day (who wouldn't) to meet/chat/correspond with other mentors. I did this a little with both 2010 and 2009 mentors but the value of these meetings left me wanting time for more! Spent a couple of hours with another mentor only a few days ago to tap into his brain ... out of urgent necessity! (Stephen)

How come you've gone quiet Nadine? Very much agree with Stephen. Again the time of year may have effected the ability of some to Join in. (Frank)


 * Idea of an ongoing CoP?** //(It is the intention that you remain a member of a growing CoP that will include the next round of LTM mentors, and that you continue as an 'elearning resource' for your workteam and others who need support. How do you feel about this?)//

Very happy with this. I assumed this was part of the deal and have put it in writing to my mentees. (Stephen)

I would certainly LIKE to keep it going, however concerned that time will be an issue, and that colleagues will be less forgiving for me to go to functions during work time when there is no compensation (That wouldn't stop me anyway) (Frank)

I'm sure the CoP expectation is realistic - so why didn't I contribute to "our community"? Partly, because I didn't make it a priority (too busy - just an excuse) - any time I spent on LTM was devoted to the mentorees. But also because I lack the confidence. (Elizabeth)


 * REPORTING AND COMMUNICATION**
 * Weekly reporting and sharing to the whole group** //(not many did this effectively - why not? did you not find this useful? is this a reasonable expectation?//

Busy people we all are! I can spend a few moments telling people very little each week or I can spend a few more minutes sharing some good reports of mentee advancements and progress (Nadine)

Sharing and reporting needs to be part of the program. I didn't manage to report 'weekly' and things probably didn't change at a rate that justified weekly updates. On a one year timetable, fortnightly 'journal entries' might be manageable. Then we also need to allocate the time to read each other's input for it to be useful for anything other than accountability. (Stephen)

Needs to be done as its good for self-reflection, accountability and for others to learn. To do the actual report can be difficult depending on time constraints but to record each weeks every few weeks is manageable. Audio recording was less time consuming than typing! (Frank)

I enjoyed reporting in the WIKI - for me it was a very useful way of recording and reflecting on what was happening....I thought this might be where I have contact with other mentors - but it wasn't (Elizabeth)


 * Use of wikispaces** //(how did you find it? did it meet your needs?)//

Wikispaces is a good 'fit for purpose' tool. (Stephen)

Good as a 'home base' for the program, but I also like the idea of using different tools for all to experience. (Frank)


 * Use of the Google group email list** //(how did you find it? did it meet your needs? did you find it useful to have a means of communication that went to the whole group?)//

A suitable tool. Recipients need to remember that "REPLY" will send the response to everyone in the group. (Stephen)

Does the job - I can't think of another alternative off the top. Then again, perhaps a separate Yammer group? (Frank)


 * Case Study Idea** //(any thoughts?)//

What about a 'progressive' case study approach? Reporting successes is great but reading other's case studies should be a valuable part of this program too. Current method will see all case studies in at the end of the year, then we all go on holidays! Who amongst us will be looking for something extra to read early next term? : -) Over a one year program (my recurring theme!), a once per term meeting could include at least one 'case study' progress report per mentor - just 5 or 10 minutes on highlights, challenges, solutions, innovation. Apart from the previous reading time consideration, this has the advantage of helping others with ideas as we go rather than when it's all over. (Stephen)

A necessary evil, when best to do it is the question. Ideally I would like to do it after some implementation of participant projects has occurred, then it would be more complete. Agree with Stephens comments (Frank)


 * Centra meetings** //(did you attend them? find them useful? should we have had more of them?)//

Yes, Yes, No. OK spacing for routine Centra meetings but the offer of extra 'on demand' topical ones could be useful. Could also allocate 20 to 30 minutes of each meeting for a mentor to present on their current projects or area of expertise - would work well if there is enough variety of projects/skills. Also, mentors could also invite as spectators their fellow mentors to any online workshops they run with their mentees and/or students - cross pollination of knowledge and skills with minimum time investment. (Stephen)

I enjoyed them. I don't think anyone can be expected to attend all of them due to other commitments, but everyone should be able to participate in at least a couple. (Frank)


 * FACILITATION ** //(what did you think of the facilitation of this project? did you feel supported? were there things you required of the facilitator that didn't happen?)//

Michael, I think that the support I have received has been up and down so I have always found answers outside the group. Like I have said, we are all busy people (Nadine)

Facilitation has been professional, encouraging and appropriate. Support has been available as needed and when Michael couldn't supply the answers, he redirected me to people who could. (Stephen)

Facilitation was great, and I think there were times the facilitator had to go above and beyond to make things happen. Everything that I needed was supplied (Thanks Michael) (Frank)


 * OTHER COMMENTS ON ANY ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM **

Well here I am in November and I have been so loving working with my colleagues and watching them just flourish with the Moodle sites. Most of my mentees have run with the concept and produced some wonderfully simple and easy to work with sites where their students can access support materials and participate in group discussions and quizzes. They all giggle at the prospect of putting up a photo of themselves but I am working on them. Photos add such colour to an otherwise dull background. (Nadine)

Thanks for the excellent opportunity. My only frustration relates to the potential I can now see! ... especially if it was over a longer period that was more appropriate to mentoring rather than coaching. (Stephen)

A great opportunity that has benefitted me greatly and hopefully has exposed others in our program group to some skills they never would have received otherwise. I have gained confidence in teaching outside of my comfort zone and met with some like-minded people that has made me feel less alone in working with new technologies. I do feel that there are some in the group I could contact anytime to discuss arising issues with the new technologies, and that is very reassuring


 * SURVEY TO BE SENT TO MENTOREES **