Mentoring: Helping Youth Make a Difference in STEM

Mentoring is a life-long approach to building positive, supportive relationships, self-confidence and increasing academic performance. In this article, I present how a college-based summer camp, designed to engage youth in increasing interests in STEM, Healthcare, and Teacher education, by helping y...

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Main Author: Angelia Reid-Griffin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Seyit Ahmet Kıray 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/187
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author Angelia Reid-Griffin
author_facet Angelia Reid-Griffin
author_sort Angelia Reid-Griffin
collection DOAJ
description Mentoring is a life-long approach to building positive, supportive relationships, self-confidence and increasing academic performance. In this article, I present how a college-based summer camp, designed to engage youth in increasing interests in STEM, Healthcare, and Teacher education, by helping youth build self-confidence and career interests through a Vertical Mentoring model. An exploratory case study approach is used to gain insight into how the model shaped youths’ interactions in learning concepts in STEM. Middle school participants completed a self-efficacy scale and career inventory of perceptions, learning and academic interests. Middle school youth and mentors provided insight on their attitudes, interests and overall satisfaction about the program experiences. Findings interpreted based on the tenets of positive youth development implemented and provides an anchor for additional mentoring studies. Self-efficacy results indicated that students were motivated in utilizing social resources and supports but rarely sought assistance from others. Drawing from the interview responses from mentees and mentors, the Vertical mentoring model afforded youth increased social interactions and opportunities in learning about STEM concepts outside of their home and school settings. Thus, students with no interest in STEM prior to the college-based camp did benefit positively from the STEM mentoring opportunity.
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spelling doaj-art-8ceabc753b034bbca2b96f653a7bd3152025-02-03T21:52:31ZengSeyit Ahmet KırayJournal of Education in Science, Environment and Health2149-214X2019-01-015166Mentoring: Helping Youth Make a Difference in STEMAngelia Reid-GriffinMentoring is a life-long approach to building positive, supportive relationships, self-confidence and increasing academic performance. In this article, I present how a college-based summer camp, designed to engage youth in increasing interests in STEM, Healthcare, and Teacher education, by helping youth build self-confidence and career interests through a Vertical Mentoring model. An exploratory case study approach is used to gain insight into how the model shaped youths’ interactions in learning concepts in STEM. Middle school participants completed a self-efficacy scale and career inventory of perceptions, learning and academic interests. Middle school youth and mentors provided insight on their attitudes, interests and overall satisfaction about the program experiences. Findings interpreted based on the tenets of positive youth development implemented and provides an anchor for additional mentoring studies. Self-efficacy results indicated that students were motivated in utilizing social resources and supports but rarely sought assistance from others. Drawing from the interview responses from mentees and mentors, the Vertical mentoring model afforded youth increased social interactions and opportunities in learning about STEM concepts outside of their home and school settings. Thus, students with no interest in STEM prior to the college-based camp did benefit positively from the STEM mentoring opportunity.https://jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/187YouthMentoringSTEMInformal LearningSelf-efficacy
spellingShingle Angelia Reid-Griffin
Mentoring: Helping Youth Make a Difference in STEM
Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health
Youth
Mentoring
STEM
Informal Learning
Self-efficacy
title Mentoring: Helping Youth Make a Difference in STEM
title_full Mentoring: Helping Youth Make a Difference in STEM
title_fullStr Mentoring: Helping Youth Make a Difference in STEM
title_full_unstemmed Mentoring: Helping Youth Make a Difference in STEM
title_short Mentoring: Helping Youth Make a Difference in STEM
title_sort mentoring helping youth make a difference in stem
topic Youth
Mentoring
STEM
Informal Learning
Self-efficacy
url https://jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/187
work_keys_str_mv AT angeliareidgriffin mentoringhelpingyouthmakeadifferenceinstem