DEV Community: mariorobles93

Mentorship Update. What I have learned being a teacher for only a few weeks

mariorobles93 — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 23:36:23 +0000

While it is only a few weeks, teaching and mentoring has already had an incredible effect on me.

1st. I now have a much better sleep routine. While it does feel like I have less time, I feel like the usage of that time is put to much better use.
2nd. It has been very validating hear other engineers directly communicate their opinions on my preparedness and background. In my previous career I always felt a certain lag to current-ness.
3rd. Seeing and hearing the mentees respond so positively to my work experience and background, and my comments on how best to put their skills to use has been incredibly satisfactory.
4th. I feel like everything that I am doing will prepare me for something to come. No idea what or how, but I keep getting this feeling that this new knowledge will be put to great use.
5th. New found and much needed patience has been found. There has always been this innate craving for becoming an expert overnight at something new. Part of the reason for my stress-induced-anxiety. This time however a more structured regiment allows me to feel paced instead of running uniseriately and burning out 50 yards in.
6th. Eating better. Being forced into a schedule, I have been eating better, still a long ways to go, from my weight and food quality goals, but definitely closer that I have been in a long time.

There is still a lot to change thou, I still procrastinate more than I should. I am still not as prepared as I should be. I still need to go to the gym. I still need to eat better.

On Implementing Effective Assessments

mariorobles93 — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:59:00 +0000

Before imparting a lesson assessment it is imperative to prepare something, not just "wing it". Here are a few thoughts on how to do this.

Build the assessment and work trough it. Time it. Make sure it is possible to complete in the allotted time.

Check in on progress often. Any doubts should be answered as soon as possible, to minimize the amount of absorption time. Specially at the beginning, often times starting is the most difficult part.

Feedback, feedback, feedback. When checking in, be prepared to give feedback, affirmative or corrective.

Avoid intimidation. A blank project is incredibly frustrating. Have notes, links, videos, starting suggestions available. As the mentees become more knowledgeable and experienced a blanker project can be imparted.

Preparation. Another way to mitigate the blank slate is to make preparation part of the assessment. Have them make a list/folder of helpful tools/procedures/previous projects, that might come in handy.

Clash of ideas. When the mentor's ideas clash with the mentee, have the mentee share the thought process, allowed them to practice those persuasive skills. You are mentoring an individual not a mindless drone.

Incomplete Thoughts On Asking Frequent Questions While Mentoring

mariorobles93 — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 02:46:20 +0000

Asking frequent questions, providing constant affirmative and corrective feedback, and pacing the content are essential skills when mentoring.

Sometimes we forget the delivery of the content is as important, if not more so, as the content being imparted.

One strategy that can enhance content delivery is "Input -> Question -> Response". Great conversations are rarely one-sided, similarly great mentoring seldom looks like a lecture. Instead try giving a bite size chunk of information, followed by a question. This allows the trainee to process the information by recalling, practicing, presenting it. It's not just in one ear out the other, it's slowed down, taken in. Once a response is submitted, affirmative or corrective feedback should be given before moving to the next bite sized tad-bit of content.

On a collaborative setting, unison responses can help visually gauge the amount of mentees understanding the topic, as review as appropriate. Reducing the discrepancy between individuals as the lessons progress. Think "Input -> Question -> Response -> Monitor -> Feedback"

Teaching and learning are not the same.

On asking questions while mentoring

mariorobles93 — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 02:04:59 +0000

As mentors/teachers we know that sometimes it is worse for the mentees to be given the answer instead of reasoning their way to the answer.

How can this be done effectively?

Ask questions, simply being told something does not really mean it will be learned. Knowledge needs to be practiced.
Allow time for the mentee to logic about the answer, don't expect the answer right away. On a classroom setting this will also increased the number of volunteered and appropriate answers by students.
Mold an "IDK" into an answer by giving hints, slowing moving towards the right answer. On classroom settings ask whole class or another individual.
Reward a "right" answer with a follow up. Maybe connect it to the next topic.

Accountable Strategies

Review content before moving onto more complex topics.
In a collaborative setting, ask questions related to comments from mentees.
Ask for summarization/recapping of the content.
Press for accuracy if it is missing or needed.
Take advantage of prior knowledge, team/work/class.
Don't forget about reasoning. Often times the right process is more important than the answer. Ask how the mentee reached their conclusion.