Transitioning to e-Mentoring in a Digital World

Concurrent Session 4
Streamed Session

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Session Materials

Brief Abstract

E-mentoring has increased its value during the COVID-19 pandemic. This synchronous online express workshop will present critical e-mentoring skills (social and cognitive), core values, and synchronous and asynchronous communication competencies that are vital for providing professional expertise and guidance for a high impact practices with our mentees or our students.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Kadriye Lewis, Childrens Mercy Hospital - Department of Pediatrics - UMKC School of Medicine

Kadriye O. Lewis, EdD, is the Director of Evaluation and Program Development in the Department of Graduate Medical Education at Children's Mercy Hospital CMH). She is also Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine (UMKC SOM). Prior to coming to Children’s Mercy, Dr. Lewis worked for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) for more than 13 years. She played a major role in the development of the Online Master's Degree in Education Program for Healthcare Professionals. This program has developed a national and international reputation for excellence and played an important role in training future leaders in medical education. Dr. Lewis served as an education consultant to the medical center's faculty development program. She applied her educational background and academic skills to health literacy by establishing a Health Literacy Committee at CCHMC in 2007 and chaired this committee successfully for three years. Along with her many accomplishments in the area of scholarly activities, she also established the e-Learning SIG in Medical Education for the Academic Pediatrics Association (APA) in 2008 and served this group as the chair person for six years. Dr. Lewis is active in medical education research and her scholarly interests include performance-based assessment, the construction of new assessment tools as well as the improvement and validation of existing tools and methods. She also has a particular interest in instructional design and implementation of innovative technologies for curriculum delivery at many levels in healthcare education due to her extensive experience in e-learning and web-based technologies. Currently, she is involved in an NIH funded grant project on genome, various curriculum development projects for the graduate medical education programs at CMH and teaches an online/blended course in the Master of Health Professions Education program at UMKC SOM (http://med.umkc.edu/mhpe/). Dr. Lewis presents extensively at many professional meetings and conferences, and has been an invited speaker at many national and international universities.

Extended Abstract

Session Objectives

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe “technology supported mentoring” within an educational setting, including critical e-mentoring skills, core values, and synchronous and asynchronous communication competencies.
  2. List five essential e-mentoring elements that will foster productive and dynamic educational experiences for both mentors and mentees.
  3. Discuss pros and cons of e-mentoring models that include various e-mentoring platforms.

Mentoring is a common method of supporting and guiding learners in their development upon entering a program or practice in any profession. Mentoring is about creating synergy and a learning partnership between two people: a more experienced or knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or knowledgeable person. It is a developmental period where the knowledge, skills and attitudes are acquired during professional and educational practice. Although mentoring has been in place and an integral part of education for many years, mentoring training is still emerging, and most mentors have received no training in how to advise/mentor their learners and/or junior faculty in different types of mentoring models. Thus, the traditional mores of face-to-face interactions in mentoring have remained as a norm, not undergoing any transition to adopt new modalities that suit the changing circumstances in this digital age. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call for education and mentoring activities and the need for educators to prepare contingency plans. At this point, we need to educate ourselves on how to apply e-mentoring best practices with effective implementation procedures using various e-mentoring platforms so that we can perform our role effectively. Thus, mentors and mentees can interact frequently and at more convenient times.

This synchronous online express workshop will present critical e-mentoring skills (social and cognitive), core values, and synchronous and asynchronous communication competencies that are vital for providing professional expertise and guidance for a high impact practices with our mentees or our students. The workshop will also cover the following 5 essential e-mentoring elements that will foster a more productive and dynamic educational experience for both mentors and mentees.

  1. Professional development
  2. Career development
  3. Psychological development
  4. Technology considerations
  5. Building resources

The workshop will provide a discussion forum on pros and cons of e-mentoring models that include various e-mentoring platforms. Finally, participants will leave this workshop with tools, new ideas, and concepts that they can apply to their own programs and institutions.

Workshop Agenda, Topics/Activities (45 Minutes)

Step 1 (5 minutes): Opening

Introduction (agenda review)

Step 2 (10 minutes): Icebreaker

  • Video: A Mentee Testimonial (real case)
  • Challenge questions to participants
    • What attributes and skills should a mentor and a mentee possess?
    • How can these qualities and skills be transferred to an online environment for e-mentoring?
    • What is the essential e-mentoring elements that may foster productive and dynamic educational experiences for both mentors and mentees?

Step 3 (15 minutes): Introduction to e-Mentoring

  • What does “technology supported mentoring” mean, and how can this model be implemented in an educational setting?
  • Critical e-mentoring skills: cognitive and social skills
  • Core values both mentors and mentees
  • Synchronous and asynchronous communication competencies
  • 5 essential e-mentoring elements
  • Potential e-mentoring platforms

Step 4 (15 minutes): Pros and Cons of e-Mentoring Models & Key Takeaways

  • Summary of the five essential elements in transitioning to e-mentoring to build a high impact learning experience for both mentors and mentees
  • Discuss pros and cons of e-mentoring models that include various e-mentoring platforms
  • Key takeaways and intended application after the workshop