Peer mentoring is a form of mentorship that takes place Building Bridges

between a person who has lived through a specific

experience and a person who is new to that experience.
Using Peer Mentors to Maximize Student Potential
Richard Giduck, P. Isaac Quelly, Shayna Singh, Kathryn Volk, Jadzia Watsey
We are connecting what the teacher is intending for the Peer Mentors add to the online discussion frequently throughout the term. [2016]

student to learn and making sure that the student

understands. Having the experience ourselves gives us Meet Our Peer Mentors
the credentials to do this. We are the bridge. Rich Giduck ~ Third-year student majoring in Biological Sciences & minoring in STEM Education
Have worked in both formal & informal educational spaces such as The Philadelphia Zoo, City Year and research projects
Particularly enjoy seeing the growth of students ability to develop inquiry based lessons with the help of a Peer Mentor

Isaac Quelly ~ Third-year Architectural and Civil Engineering major

DragonsTeach Students and Peer Mentors
presenting their final projects at the Winter
end-of-term poster session. [2017]
R. Giduck, I. Quelly, J. Watsey, E. Koskey,
hanging with the Philly Fanatic at the
Philadelphia Science Festival. [2017]
DragonsTeach STEP 1 students
exploring materials during class in
preparation for their teach. [2017]
Worked at Philadelphia Water Department for past two co-ops, as well as taught a 6 month research project on Game-Based Learning
Enjoys workshopping lessons with students, and leading community outreach at The Franklin Institute
Shayna Singh ~ Second-year Sophomore Biology major Currently conducting spinal cord research at Drexel
Loves peer mentoring younger cohorts to prepare them to teach for the first time, and to develop personal teaching skills

Kathryn Volk ~ Fifth-year Biomedical Engineer with concentration in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
Peer Mentors are constantly evolving and building their repertoire by Working at Depuy Synthesis, a Johnson and Johnson orthopedic company after graduation
Learned how to break down ideas for a more mature audience by peer mentoring, which is something needed when managing a
growing alongside their mentees. Mentors and Mentees team in medical devices

consequently gain valuable skills that foster development into future
educators. This symbiotic relationship has potential to both maximize
student growth and the effectiveness of the UTeach model.
Jadzia Watsey ~ Third-year BS/MS in Mathematics (Masters in Advanced teaching, Learning, and Curriculum) and a
double minor in Psychology and STEM Education
Currently on second co-op teaching high schoolers financial literacy
Aspires to build classroom environments where students are comfortable and can become independent thinkers

Peer Mentor Requirements Time Commitment

During a holiday break, the Peer Mentors creatively connected to their mentees Attending Assigned STEP 1 or STEP 2 1.5 hours/week
online. Lesson reflections took place in the form of blogs, where students could read
Class
and respond to each others experiences.
Preparing for Class Sessions 0.5 hours/week
Providing Office Hours 2 hours/week
Fall
2 mandatory social events
term 16 Master Teacher / Peer Mentor Meeting 1 hours/week
Promotion of The Franklin Institute Community Night
Volunteering at The Franklin Institute 10 hours/term
Winter
Term 17
Bi-weekly Peer Mentor Staff Meeting 5 hours/term
Future
Higher priority of maintaining personal relationships initially in the term Total 65 hours per term
Terms

Increased Diversity Working with a Diverse

Adaptations
of questions
Giving Constructive
Group of Students
Facilitating Positive
Future Plans
Feedback/Stronger Growth-Oriented
Questioning Classroom Environment
Wide Range of Modeling the Respect of
Individual Roles
Assessment Self/Others/Community Online
Communication and Methods Classroom Accessibility
Responsibilities
Access
Social and Consciousness of
Community students personal Practice
Events
needs Teaches
Personal Relationships
Consistent Support Online
Office
Hours
System Blogger
Class

I gained the confidence of entering the
classroom for the first time, knowledge of
what to expect of the students, and how
to present myself.
-DragonsTeacher, 2017
They couldn't have been more ...In class my peer mentor was comfortable speaking up, sharing fears, hesitations,
I gained new perspectives and honestly I was able to discuss any issues that I
moments of learning that were experienced during [their] teaches. I think that was
welcoming. In class, out of class, helpful to the students in the class, especially when [they] offered little details/strategies
am so impressed with the sophistication may have been facing and they were able
online, via text and cell phone. that worked in local schools and that [they] shifted from one teach to the next. of the teaching philosophies of the peer to provide a solution in reaching my goal
mentors.
-MasterTeacher, 2017 -MasterTeacher, 2017 -DragonsTeacher, 2017
-MasterTeacher, 2017

Citations and Sources Photo Captions E. DragonsTeach Students in D.C. for a series of talks on education
1. DragonsTeach Logo: Drexel.edu/DragonsTeach DragonsTeach
A. DragonsTeach Student with final poster at presentation. [2017] policy and initiatives.[2017]
2. Uteach Operations Manual (2014, Chapter 5) Drexel University F. DragonsTeach Student practicing their Step 1 lessons. [2017]
3. Bridge clipart: Google B. DragonsTeach Students at The Phila. Science Carnival [2016]
DragonsTeach
C. DragonsTeach Students in D.C. for a series of talks on education G. DragonsTeach Student at The Science of Pixar exabit. [2016]
3401 Market Street, H. DragonsTeach Student at The Science of Pixar exabit. [2016]
policy and initiatives. [2017]
Suite 110
D. DragonsTeach Student teaching at The Phila. Science Carnival I. DragonsTeach Student with final poster at presentation. [2017]
Philadelphia, PA
[2016]
Drexel University