The Role of Peer Mentors in Promoting Knowledge and Skills Development in Graduate Education
The objective of this study was to explore the role of peer mentorship in facilitating graduate student resiliency, knowledge acquisition, and development of academic competencies. We conducted a qualitative case study, using in-person interview data from sixty-two students recruited from four profe...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8822289 |
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doaj-676bea8f630946f7af225403fb4e0f7e2020-11-25T04:11:51ZengHindawi LimitedEducation Research International2090-40022090-40102020-01-01202010.1155/2020/88222898822289The Role of Peer Mentors in Promoting Knowledge and Skills Development in Graduate EducationDiane L. Lorenzetti0Lorelli Nowell1Michele Jacobsen2Liza Lorenzetti3Tracey Clancy4Georgina Freeman5Elizabeth Oddone Paolucci6Health Sciences Library, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N4N1, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, CanadaWerklund School of Education, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, CanadaFaculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N4Z6, CanadaDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N4Z6, CanadaThe objective of this study was to explore the role of peer mentorship in facilitating graduate student resiliency, knowledge acquisition, and development of academic competencies. We conducted a qualitative case study, using in-person interview data from sixty-two students recruited from four professional faculties (Education, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work) at a large Canadian University. We identified four broad themes derived from a thematic and constant comparative analysis of interview data: (1) knowledge sharing, (2) skills development, (3) academic milestones, and (4) program supports. Graduate students reported that peer mentorship promoted the development of learning environments that emphasized community, collaboration, and shared purpose. Students believed that peer mentors facilitated their access to essential procedural and disciplinary knowledge and helped them to develop academic and research skills and achieve key academic milestones. While the majority of the students interviewed had not participated in any formal peer-mentoring program, they recommended that any future program incorporate mentorship training and include access to collaborative spaces and targeted opportunities for students to develop these relationships.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8822289 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Diane L. Lorenzetti Lorelli Nowell Michele Jacobsen Liza Lorenzetti Tracey Clancy Georgina Freeman Elizabeth Oddone Paolucci |
spellingShingle |
Diane L. Lorenzetti Lorelli Nowell Michele Jacobsen Liza Lorenzetti Tracey Clancy Georgina Freeman Elizabeth Oddone Paolucci The Role of Peer Mentors in Promoting Knowledge and Skills Development in Graduate Education Education Research International |
author_facet |
Diane L. Lorenzetti Lorelli Nowell Michele Jacobsen Liza Lorenzetti Tracey Clancy Georgina Freeman Elizabeth Oddone Paolucci |
author_sort |
Diane L. Lorenzetti |
title |
The Role of Peer Mentors in Promoting Knowledge and Skills Development in Graduate Education |
title_short |
The Role of Peer Mentors in Promoting Knowledge and Skills Development in Graduate Education |
title_full |
The Role of Peer Mentors in Promoting Knowledge and Skills Development in Graduate Education |
title_fullStr |
The Role of Peer Mentors in Promoting Knowledge and Skills Development in Graduate Education |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Role of Peer Mentors in Promoting Knowledge and Skills Development in Graduate Education |
title_sort |
role of peer mentors in promoting knowledge and skills development in graduate education |
publisher |
Hindawi Limited |
series |
Education Research International |
issn |
2090-4002 2090-4010 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
The objective of this study was to explore the role of peer mentorship in facilitating graduate student resiliency, knowledge acquisition, and development of academic competencies. We conducted a qualitative case study, using in-person interview data from sixty-two students recruited from four professional faculties (Education, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work) at a large Canadian University. We identified four broad themes derived from a thematic and constant comparative analysis of interview data: (1) knowledge sharing, (2) skills development, (3) academic milestones, and (4) program supports. Graduate students reported that peer mentorship promoted the development of learning environments that emphasized community, collaboration, and shared purpose. Students believed that peer mentors facilitated their access to essential procedural and disciplinary knowledge and helped them to develop academic and research skills and achieve key academic milestones. While the majority of the students interviewed had not participated in any formal peer-mentoring program, they recommended that any future program incorporate mentorship training and include access to collaborative spaces and targeted opportunities for students to develop these relationships. |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8822289 |
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