[Digital-Mentor] digital mentor role - what is it?

Tue Oct 14 06:14:00 EDT 2008

I've found it depends on the audience. Over in the Black Country (my last
'proper' job!) we had a typical 'Job Shop' thing that was born out of
neccessity more than anything. The Centre had 8 public usage PCs and we
found the Job Centre were suggesting us as a friendly, unintimidating place
to go 'use the computers' and look for jobs. We didn't have a JCP contract,
nor did we recieve funding to offer any specific training. It began as a
simple drop in, browse the newspapers and use the 'Net to search sites like
the JCP, monster, local council job sites etc. The majority of these
clients, it turned out, had few IT or 'Internet' skills so we began
developing a list of resources and making them available on our intranet
(straight in at the deep end, no mouse or keyboard skills here - but that's
another argument) Over time and without really knowing it, we developed a
system for jobseekers. It included things like links to job search sites, CV
templates, links to benefit info etc. As the 'Net evolved, we started to
find it easier to find tools and resources specific to the client needs
which we could then easily include in the resource list. We eventually took
this off the Intranet and moved it to I-google, which clients could have
bespoke information and resources at their fingertips.
Now before we had all the digital stuff, we always did I.A.G (Information,
advice and guidance) with all our clients - This is about developing a
trusted relationship with the clients and hopefully progressing to help them
develop clear and defined achievable goals
(SMART)<http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/smart-goals.html>
.

We were melding the IAG with the technology skills, not tutoring and not
bound by targets or structure. The engagement thing is key, selling the
technology as a useful tool and promoting exploration of the Internet, while
being on hand to offer guidance.

Evidently, it will differ for each clent group but the beauty of it is that
the Internet today, can be moulded to a group or individuals needs.

2008/10/13 Mike Amos-Simpson <mas at yomo.co.uk>

> cheers Dave - yep I agree with you - good to get thinking what all those
> different approaches will be though and then try and pick out common themes
> so that it can be presented as a project/programme.
>
> To get the ball rolling - in terms of looking for existing good practice
> you can split the 'digital' and the 'mentor' - so there will be examples of
> good digital learning programmes/approaches, and also examples of good
> methods for mentoring. If people know of examples of these that are
> particularly effective for certain audiences/target groups that would be
> useful.
>
> Failing that if we just have ideas & thoughts about what those different
> approaches could be and who they would work well with that would be good
> too.
>
>
>
> Mike Amos-Simpson
> Director of Development
>
> mas at yomo.co.uk
> +44 (0)208 133 2878
>
> www.yomo.co.uk
>
> Building the Capacity of Young People to Participate in Society - Practical
> Ideas for Participation!
>
> YoMo is a registered Company in England & Wales number 06579500
>
> YoMo
> Suite 218
> 29 - 30 Horse Fair
> Banbury
> Oxon
> OX16 0BW
>
> Fax:  +44 (0)870 123 1916
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 7:47 PM, Dave Briggs <db at davepress.net> wrote:
>
>> 2008/10/13 Mike Amos-Simpson <mas at yomo.co.uk>:
>>
>> > The current stuff to do list has:
>> >
>> > Can I suggest that we start with some consideration to this one 'discuss
>> > what the role of digital mentor actually consist of'? there were plenty
>> of
>> > ideas posted up before but not necessarily agreement so it might be
>> useful
>> > to have some discussion about what we think digital mentors role should
>> be
>> > so that we can look for the best resources/ideas etc.
>>
>> That's a good idea, Mike. One task I have to do in the next day or two
>> is start a wiki page with a list of the blog posts that have been made
>> so far about this topic, which will be full of ideas. It's my view
>> that while we will no doubt be able to agree on a basic set of roles,
>> tools and resources, the actual approach to be taken in any one
>> project will be different and unique. So we need as many ideas as
>> possible!
>>
>> If people want to ping stuff into this mailing list, then perhaps Mike
>> and I can between us transfer it all to a wiki page?
>>
>> > I haven't read the relevant white paper either - does anyone have the
>> link?
>>
>> Here you go:
>> http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/communitiesincontrol
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> --
>> Dave Briggs
>> db at davepress.net |  http://davepress.net |  07525 209589 (Mobile)
>>
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>
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-- 
Stuart Parker

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