aPLaNet is a European Union funded education project for language educators to help them use social networks and build PLNs for their professional development.
Taken from the wonderful Studio Pelikan, Language school in Brno, Czech Republic, during the 3rd partner meeting.
Find out more about the project and how you can take part at:
www.aplanet-project.org
www.aplanet-project.eu
1. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
January 30th 2012
About the aPLaNet project
Piloting:
Self-access piloting
Mentored piloting
Disclaimer: The aPLaNet project has been funded with
support from the European Commission. This document
reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission
cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made
of the information contained therein.
2. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
About aPLaNet
The aPLaNet project is a European Union
funded project for language educators all
over the Europe, especially those who are new
or do not use Internet social networks (SN)
but wish to learn more and build their own
Personal Learning Network (PLN) for
professional development purposes.
Find out more here:
http://aplanet-project.eu
3. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
The project is answering three questions that
language educators ask:
What is a PLN?
What is the added value and meaning of a PLN?
How to develop a fully autonomous PLN of their own?
4. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
The project team has completed the pre-piloting
development process which comprises:
The identification of ICT resources and SNs
Preparations for the piloting
This includes the technological guides, teacher guides,
videos, resource analysis templates and questionnaires
that will be used during the piloting of the project.
5. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
In addition, the project will add to the resources already
produced by completing:
A systematic review of the use of SNs in language
education
A methodology
Case studies
An ICT resource filtering application to build an ever
growing repository of resources
Resources will be available in Bulgarian, Czech, Greek,
Spanish, English, Romanian, Turkish, German, French,
Italian.
6. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
Piloting
Teachers who pilot the aPLaNet resources with
guidance of mentors: Mentored Piloting
Teachers who pilot the aPLaNet resources without
guidance of mentors: Self-Access Piloting
8. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
Self-Access Piloting
Step 3 - Follow the Steps and do the Tasks
Step 4 - Use the aPLaNet resources while doing the
Tasks
Step 5 – Fill out the Post-Piloting Questionnaire
The Self-Access piloting teachers will be awarded an aPLaNet
certificate upon the completion of the Webquest, after they submit
the Post-Piloting Questionnaire.
9. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
Self-Access Piloting
Teachers who pilot the aPLaNet resources without
guidance of mentors:
Self-Access Piloting
Step 1 – Go to the Self-Access Piloting Webquest.
Step 2 – Fill out the Pre-Piloting Questionnaire
12. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
Introduction to Mentoring
'Unlike a teacher or even a coach, who is
focused on helping us learn and practice a
particular set of skills, a mentor acts as a guide
who helps us define and understand our own
goals and pursue them successfully.'
(The Mentee's Guide, L. Zachary, 2009)
Find out more here:
http://aplanet-project.eu/mentorguide
13. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
Online Mentoring - recommendations
How is online mentoring different from
face-to-face mentoring?
What can an online mentor do to make up for
this?
Find out more here:
http://aplanet-project.eu/mentorguide
14. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
aPLaNet Mentoring
Step 1 - Volunteering
a) Join our Ning and offer to be a mentor
http://aplanet-project.org
b) Join one or more of the Mentors' groups
http://aplanet-project.org/group/mentors
c) Then we'll list you as a mentor here:-
http://aplanet-project.org/page/mentors-1
15. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
aPLaNet Mentoring
Step 2 – Finding a Mentor
a) Offer to be a mentor to a member
http://aplanet-project.org/profiles/members/
b) Be approached by a prospective mentee
c) aPLaNet partners suggest a mentor
16. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
aPLaNet Mentoring
Step 3 – Planning for the first meeting
a) Agree on date of first meeting
b) Think about mentee's needs
- aPLaNet questionnaire data
- mentee profile
- initial correspondence
c) Choose meeting platform (Skype / WIZ IQ)
17. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
aPLaNet Mentoring
Step 4 – The first meeting
a) Get to know each other / build rapport
b) Set objectives (maximum 3)
- SMART criteria
c) Agree when to meet again
21. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
aPLaNet Mentoring
Step 6 – Coming to the end
When is a good time to end the mentoring
process?
How do you know when the mentee is ready to
'go it alone'?
Find out more here:
http://aplanet-project.org/page/mentors-1
22. APLaNet eTwinning Webinar
aPLaNet Mentoring
Step 7 – Support for mentors
What support is there available for mentors?
mentors.aplanet@gmail.com
http://aplanet-project.org/groups
Introduce yourself and mention there are 5 parts to this workshop, which are: About the aPLaNet project (5 minutes) Introduction to mentoring (5 minutes) Mentoring online (5 minutes) aPLaNet mentoring (30 minutes) aPLaNet mentoring procedure support for aPLaNet mentors resources for aPLaNet mentors Meet the aPLaNet mentors (15 minutes)
Give a very brief overview of the aPLaNet project: Q: Who is it aimed at? A: European language educators, but open to all Q: What are our aims? A: We want to help and encourage those who are reluctant or shy to use ICT, SN or build a PLN on their own through mentoring and providing materials for self-access.
Give a very brief overview of the aPLaNet project: Q: Who is it aimed at? A: European language educators, but open to all Q: What are our aims? A: We want to help and encourage those who are reluctant or shy to use ICT, SN or build a PLN on their own through mentoring and providing materials for self-access.
Give a very brief overview of the aPLaNet project: Q: Who is it aimed at? A: European language educators, but open to all Q: What are our aims? A: We want to help and encourage those who are reluctant or shy to use ICT, SN or build a PLN on their own through mentoring and providing materials for self-access.
Give a very brief overview of the aPLaNet project: Q: Who is it aimed at? A: European language educators, but open to all Q: What are our aims? A: We want to help and encourage those who are reluctant or shy to use ICT, SN or build a PLN on their own through mentoring and providing materials for self-access.
Give a very brief overview of the aPLaNet project: Q: Who is it aimed at? A: European language educators, but open to all Q: What are our aims? A: We want to help and encourage those who are reluctant or shy to use ICT, SN or build a PLN on their own through mentoring and providing materials for self-access.
Mention that mentoring means different things to different people. Ask the audience: What does mentoring mean to you? Respond to the comments, then... Mention that this quotation perhaps best sums up the spirit of mentoring on the aPLaNet project Tell audience that if they want to read more about mentoring in general and how it fits in with our project, we recommend the first section of our Mentors guide, now available online.
Give a very brief overview of the aPLaNet project: Q: Who is it aimed at? A: European language educators, but open to all Q: What are our aims? A: We want to help and encourage those who are reluctant or shy to use ICT, SN or build a PLN on their own through mentoring and providing materials for self-access.
Give a very brief overview of the aPLaNet project: Q: Who is it aimed at? A: European language educators, but open to all Q: What are our aims? A: We want to help and encourage those who are reluctant or shy to use ICT, SN or build a PLN on their own through mentoring and providing materials for self-access.
Give a very brief overview of the aPLaNet project: Q: Who is it aimed at? A: European language educators, but open to all Q: What are our aims? A: We want to help and encourage those who are reluctant or shy to use ICT, SN or build a PLN on their own through mentoring and providing materials for self-access.
Mention that mentoring means different things to different people. Ask the audience: What does mentoring mean to you? Respond to the comments, then... Mention that this quotation perhaps best sums up the spirit of mentoring on the aPLaNet project Tell audience that if they want to read more about mentoring in general and how it fits in with our project, we recommend the first section of our Mentors guide, now available online.
Mention that mentoring means different things to different people. Ask the audience: What does mentoring mean to you? Respond to the comments, then... Mention that this quotation perhaps best sums up the spirit of mentoring on the aPLaNet project Tell audience that if they want to read more about mentoring in general and how it fits in with our project, we recommend the first section of our Mentors guide, now available online.
Ask the audience to type in the chat responses to these two questions and respond to them. If not mentioned, also say:- - lack of body language (pay attention to tone of voice / listen more carefull y/ be an active listener) - technical problems (use comm. tools you are comfortable with and know are reliable / plan B if it doesn't work) - drop-out rate higher (do your best to establish a level of commitment / set clear goals and schedule regular meets) - potential for miscommunication greater (be wary of multi-tasking/regular feedback and restatement) Tell them there is more about this in the Mentor handbook
Mention that mentors should be confident and experienced (to a certain degree) with ICT and social networking for professional reasons and willing to spare some of their time to help others Ask the audience if all present are members of the Ning – if not, then encourage them to join if they are interested in volunteering as mentors. Ask if the registered mentors are also members of the Mentors group – say that when they are ready to be mentors, they should join the Mentors group (and any of the others they think relevant – Mentors of Facebook, Mentors of Ning, etc) – they will then be contacted and then once confirmed, be listed on the Mentor page of the Ning.
Mention the three ways of putting mentors in touch with mentees.
Say that it is important once contact has been established, and before the first live (synchronous) meeting for the mentor to find out as much about the mentee as possible re. their needs. This data will probably be the basis for conversation in the first meeting, where objectives should be set.
Say these are the suggestions for the first mentor-mentee meeting. Ask audience for suggestions about a) – how best to do this? (possible answers – sharing personal information / asking questions / showing interest / etc. Go over SMART criteria: S pecific – what the mentor wants should be clearly expressed and unambiguous. M easurable – how will you know when the goal has been obtained? A ttainable – the objective should be realistic. R elevant – i.e pertaining to the mentee's teaching situation. T ime-bound – be sure to set a deadline.
aPLaNet Mentor Guide : helps mentors familiarise themselves with mentoring in general and the specifics of aPLaNet mentoring. aPLaNet Mentee Guide : helps mentees understand what they can get out of the mentoring
aPLaNet Pre-piloting questionnaire : completed by the mentee to evaluate the project. This can also be used to help the mentor – as the basis for questions at the initial meeting. Teacher Diary : a template that can be used by mentees to reflect on the process.
aPLaNet Teacher Guide : 150 page reference guide to background of the project, methodology and about ICT resources recommended by the aPLaNet project. Modular on website and can be dipped into as needed by mentor and mentee. Contains sections on social networks. Technological Guides : information about ICT tools that are of use when building a PLN or for teaching/learning. Workshops : a series of online workshops (and recordings) will help mentors,mentees learn more about the mentoring process, building a PLN (Personal Learning Network) and how to use social networks for prof.developmt. Videos : short audio-visual guides to PLNs, social networks and a number of ICT tools recommended by the project.
Ask the audience. In the Mentor handbook we also say... Mentees no longer require a mentor when they are able to demonstrate that they: - are confident in their use of social networks to connect with other teachers, share resoources, connect with them. - have developed competence in using online tools for professional development; - are able to use a variety of learning technologies to work collaboratively with other teachers to their own satisfaction. - know to turn for help when they need to (they have built a PLN).
The aPLaNet project partners will be available to help and support mentors when needed. Publicly, there are groups set up to support mentors on the Ning – a general one for all things related to mentoring, and other more specific ones for different tools. There is also an email address for mentors who have more specific problems or require an answer in private to a particular issue or question - [email_address]
Any Questions? Please feel free to take the microphone and ask about anything that hasn't been covered so far, or let us know what you think about what has been said – all your comments about our mentoring system would be gratefully received. Thank you