Peer mentoring for first year teacher education students: The mentors' experience

Abstract

Universities worldwide are developing peer mentoring programs to assist first year students' transition into university life. Awareness of the mentees' experiences in the mentoring program – the successes and challenges – contributes to ongoing planning for successful transition for first-year students. Also, understanding the mentors' experiences can contribute to the success of the program and, more importantly, can lead to strong self efficacy for the mentors. This qualitative study appraises a mentoring program for first-year undergraduate students from the mentors' perspective. The mentors’ experiences, both positive and negative, are discussed and a relational model of mentoring is presented. The results of this inquiry have implications for the development of future mentoring programs, particularly in terms of mentor recruitment and preparation, if first-year students are to be effectively oriented and supported in their transition to university study.