I have been so lucky during my Kenan Fellowship to have two mentors, Dr. Jur and Dr. Veety. Dr. Jur helped us so much during the summer but Dr. Veety was also there to help. She was very patient and explained lots of material to me that I had never learned much about from Circuits to Soldering. She was able to explain in a way that made it very easy to understand. Dr. Veety is always willing to help. During our Field Trip to the ASSIST Center she along with several graduate students showed my middle school students the new wearable devices that were created there. In addition she taught them about what wearable devices were, engineering design and more. My students were so excited after the field trip to learn and do more.
In addition how many mentors would take time from their Saturdays to teach your students? Dr. Veety did. She taught my High School Students in Catalyst: Creating Opportunities in STEM for Students with Disabilities. She came in during a Saturday to teach the kids about nanotechnology, wearable devices and engineering design. In addition to hands on activities she had for the kids, by using Mind Mapping the kids came up with ideas for their own devices they wanted to build, which we submitted to a competition.( More on that later blogs…).
I think besides all the content I learned from my mentors it is also learning how they teach people with little background successfully. Learning how they continually praise student’s creations yet ask probing questions to improve it. Learning that teaching kids to think is just as important as teaching content. I Think my relationship with my mentors has helped me want to emulate their teaching styles and strategies and has made me a better teacher. By having such approachable mentors, I am more likely to approach other staff at NCSU and other places to help my students. I know I can call on my mentors anytime and the answer will never be no but how they can help me. This is a great comfort to have this level of support. I also know this is not a one year relationship but a long term commitment on their part and mine to foster our relationship and increase my students success and even mine and with this support there are endless possibilities for my students and myself.