ERIC Number: EJ1144899
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1366-4530
EISSN: N/A
Learning to Mentor: Unravelling Routine Practice to Develop Adaptive Mentoring Expertise
Langdon, Frances J.
Teacher Development, v21 n4 p528-546 2017
While studies have shown that mentoring is central to new teacher development, few investigations have examined what mentors learn about themselves as mentors. The purpose of the study was to illuminate mentor learning. The article reports on two case studies that investigated the development of mentoring expertise over a two-year period. During this period, the two mentor participants were engaged in a professional development intervention focused on fostering mentoring expertise. Data sources included transcribed professional conversations, interviews and action research documentation. Analysis of these data found that despite good intentions, mentors' preconceptions of their role were difficult to change. Where substantive change was evident, there was a conceptual shift from a focus on mentee and student learning to include mentor learning. The study suggests that the development of mentor expertise is complex and cannot be assumed. The complexity associated with letting go of deeply ingrained beliefs and practices to develop mentoring expertise is illuminated in the dynamic interaction between the school context, the mentor's preconceptions and re-conceptualisation of their role along with the on-going assessment of professional learning opportunities.
Descriptors: Mentors, Faculty Development, Action Research, Case Studies, Expertise, Correlation, Foreign Countries, Elementary School Teachers, Intervention, Program Descriptions, Focus Groups, Interviews, Theory Practice Relationship, Metacognition, Educational Policy, Rural Schools, Teacher Attitudes, Knowledge Base for Teaching
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Zealand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A