PhDr. Mgr. Jana Miller, Ph.D.
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Mentoring
Have you been teaching for a long time and need a boost to your teaching or your motivation? Or are you just starting out and don't know what to do? Would you like to know if you are teaching well and what you could possibly do differently? Are you unable to solve a teaching problem satisfactorily? Then there is a mentoring offer for you.
Mentoring is a very effective method individual support for professional, educational and personal development. It is based on a collegial relationship between the mentee and the mentor, and is voluntary, trusting and respectful. The mentee comes with an order, i.e. a question or situation that he/she would like to address. The mentor and mentee then work together to find different insights, approaches or solutions. Mentors use their expertise and professional experience, but they do not advise or judge; they create the conditions and provide the incentives for mentees to be able to cope on their own.
How does mentoring work?
At the first meeting, the mentor or mentee will clarify each other's expectations and you will agree on the order: what you need to address, what you want to change and in what timeframe. Then you will agree how you will work together and what you will do - mentors and mentees can come to your tutorial, you can agree to video record the tutorial, discuss the writing together, etc.
The mentoring support lasts for as long as the mentee finds it useful and meaningful, but ideally for one semester. Mentoring can be provided in Czech or English.
The core of the order can also be what is not visible in the lesson, then it is possible to skip video recordings of the lesson or hospitalisation and focus on working with other material that will provide us with the necessary evidence of the situation - for example, written preparation of the lesson, study materials, tests, online classes, etc. Mentoring is a very flexible tool that can be adapted to one's own needs, provided that the basic principles of mentoring are followed and supervised by the mentors.
Model form of cooperation concerning the implementation of teaching
- first meeting - negotiation of the order and agreement on the form of cooperation
- filming of the current form of teaching, in which the basis of the order can be seen, or hospitalisation
- common reflection on the observed teaching in relation to the order
- mplementation of alternative teaching methods
- the acquisition of a new recording of the teaching or a second hospitality
- a second joint reflection on the observed teaching
- any further steps as agreed by both parties
- joint evaluation of the fulfilment of the order
What is an order?
An order is an agreement between a mentee and a mentor or mentee mentor that includes the goal of the collaboration. If we want to improve a particular skill, we need to focus on it, and the contract helps us to do this. It should be beneficial to both the teacher and the learner - it should have a positive impact on learning. It should also be based on the current situation while describing the desired state, including a description of how we will know that the goal has been achieved.
It can cover areas such as student activation, efficiency of preparation, accessibility and clarity of teaching, dealing with students or colleagues, student motivation, assessment, teaching students with special needs or different mother tongues, etc.
During the cooperation, the order can be modified or supplemented. It may happen that you are faced with something that you do not know what is causing it, or you may discover other causes of your situation than you originally thought. In this case, it is advisable to go back to the original assignment and revise it in consultation with your mentor or mentee.
Example of a first order formulation
Name of the order:
Time Management Skills
Current state:
I don't manage to stick to the time frame of the lesson, I don't manage to do everything I plan, I get nervous and I don't know how to proceed if I don't follow everything in the lesson the way I want to.
Desirable state:
- find out where I waste time and minimise time loss,
- plan lessons realistically, get rid of time optimism,
- learn to react appropriately in situations where I find I am not keeping up in class,
- experience teaching calmly
Time frame:
during one semester.
If you are interested in mentoring or have questions about it, please contact dr. Jana Miller: