NSF Grantee Presentation: Challenges of Implementing a Peer Mentoring Program to Support STEM Learning

The College of Technology – Computer Engineering Technology (CoT – CETE) program at the University of Houston has implemented a peer mentoring model funded through an NSF-sponsored grant supporting undergraduate STEM learning. A group of high achieving seniors were recruited to serve as mentors to students in lower-division laboratories. These mentors were expected to have a high level of technical knowledge and skill and also serve as guides and role models for their mentees. To support this process, training for the mentors was adapted from a peer-led team learning program and incorporated concept mapping as a primary pedagogical tool for increasing mentee understanding of key concepts. Over the course of a two-year implementation, mentors faced several challenges that undercut the impact of the mentoring sessions. Ultimately, faculty had to redesign the peer-mentor model to address these challenges and improve the potential efficacy of the program. This paper discusses the challenges faced by mentors and lessons learned during the project implementation.