GUTS Youth Leadership Corps

GUTS Youth Leadership Corps Introduction

Adults High School Middle School GUTS Clubs Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E Elementary School GUTS Clubs Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E GUTS Clubs Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E Other Activities Normal Mentoring Program

Adults High School Middle School GUTS Clubs YLC Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E Elementary School GUTS Clubs YLC Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E GUTS Clubs Girl Scouts Girls Inc Discover E Other Activities GUTS YLC ProgramNear Peer Mentoring

What is a Mentor • The word “mentor” comes from the Greek language and means “steadfast” or “enduring.” • In Homer’s, The Odyssey, the hero Ulysses asks his friend Mentor to counsel and guide his son while he is away. • In western thought, the term mentor has come to be synonymous with anyone who is a wise teacher, guide, and friend. • Leader • Knowledgeable and experienced guide • Trusted ally and advocate • Caring role model

Group Exercise • What are the Qualities of a Good Mentor?

Important Qualities about Mentors • Want to help people • Committed • Friendly and Approachable • Knowledgeable • Patient • Good Teaching Skills • Good Listening Skills • Can explain concepts well • Can approach teaching from more than one path

You were chosen because • You already have at least some of the characteristics of a good mentor • Knowledgeable • Friendly • Interested

Why Do Mentoring? • Attracts students • Helps teachers • Helps students learn better/faster • Good for the Mentors too! • Recognition • Learning • Help the GUTS program

Why is GUTS starting YLC ? • Project GUTS wants to help increase peoples interest in computing and computational thinking and KEEP them interested. • We think it is Fun • Need more people who can do computer programming and computational thinking (declining numbers, more jobs than people, our country’s future…..) • Mentoring is a proven way to help keep people interested. • Kids like mentors closer to their own age • Understand them better • Can see themselves as becoming experts • Our biggest asset is the people who have completed GUTS and the Challenge– YOU

Mentoring Misconceptions • Mentors have to have gray hair. • The best mentors may be people close to the age of the students. They understand. • Mentors have to know everything. • Mentors need to know some things but not everything. It is helpful if a mentor can think of ways to figure things out or know where to find answers • Only the mentee benefits from mentoring • Both benefit (you can learn from your mentees)

Mentoring Misconceptions • Calling yourself a “ Mentor” makes you one • Like everything else, being a good mentor requires some predisposition, training and experience. • Becoming a mentor requires a lot of time and a lot of work. • Becoming a mentor requires a change in consciousness —how you think about yourself and how you think about others. Workshops and training sessions can help experienced students to develop this consciousness.

A Mentor Is: • Knowledgeable and experienced guide – teaches and learns through the mentorship process. • Trusted ally and advocate – work with the mentee to achieve the mentees interests and goals. • Caring role model who demonstrates to the mentee what it is to be an ethical, responsible, and compassionate human being • Thoughtful facilitator who helps the mentee get access to what they need to succeed.

You are acting as a mentor when: • You help students achieve things they did not know they were capable of. • You help a student understand concepts and ideas. • You share stories with students about your experiences. • You help students overcome their fears. • You help students ask questions. • You listen to a student describe their problems and explore answers. • You know how each student is doing and where they might need help.

You are NOT acting as a mentor when: • You act as a Authoritative Figure – you should not be telling them what to do – suggest • You provide them with the answer right away – they need concepts • You act as if you are perfect or infallible – no one is • You act as if your way is the only way – teach them to think • A playmate – you are the role model

GUTS YLC ExpectationsWhat may be expected of you? • GUTS Clubs • Establish positive relationships with mentees • Help teacher/facilitator when they are teaching – roam through the class answering questions • Teach some things on your own • Run some activities • Help students with programming • Help students with projects • Other Activities • Explain GUTS to people • Help with activities • Help run booths

The most important thing about GUTS YLC YOU ARE • Without the mentors there is not GUTS YLC program • This is a new program – we need feedback and suggestions.

Training Overview • Leadership Skills • Understand yourself • Understand others • Understand interactions • Teaching Skills • Multiple Intelligences • Steps of the teaching process • GUTS Skills • Starlogo TNG Skills • Complex Adaptive Systems • Data – how to collect it, what to do with it • Mentoring specific to GUTS • What is acceptable and not acceptable • Mentoring Role playing

GUTS Youth Leadership Corps