eMentoring Coordinator Dr Audrey Bester presenting the In2science partner school certificate to Maffra Secondary College link teacher Kristen Raine, Assistant Principal Nathan Wallace and some past and present eMentees.
The first quarter of the year is a busy time for In2science. Regional visits to our partner schools are sometimes scheduled before mentoring placements begin. This year, eMentoring Coordinator Dr Audrey Bester travelled east to Gippsland to catch up with the teachers at Traralgon College and Maffra Secondary College, to ensure that the support we are providing is optimally tailored for our regional schools.
Traralgon College was first on the list. It was a good time to reacquaint ourselves with old and new teachers. We had the privilege of sitting in on a science faculty meeting, where we discussed the needs of different cohorts within the school. An advantage of the In2science eMentoring model is that mentoring occurs via video conferencing with small groups of students. This means teachers can provide us with specific information about the students’ interests, so eMentors can tailor their support.
The next day we visited Maffra Secondary College. In2science was welcomed by a group of students comprising past and current eMentees, a definite highlight of the entire trip! Photos were taken and stories were shared. Some eMentoring groups had already begun placements by the time we arrived, and it was great to hear from the students themselves that the mentoring sessions were off to a good start . Maffra Secondary College was one of the first eMentoring partner schools of In2science and took part in the pilot of the online mentoring model when it debuted in 2016. We were treated to a tour of the school and a delicious lunch with the staff before having to take the trip back to Melbourne.
eMentoring Coordinator Dr Audrey Bester presenting the In2science partner school certificate to the Science Faculty of Traralgon College, Traralgon.
In2science would like to thank Maffra Secondary College and Traralgon College for such warm hospitality from the staff and students. It is a privilege for us to support these schools and students. The dedication from these teachers to provide their students with the best STEM education was clear as soon as we met. We hope to visit East Gippsland again soon!
For more information about the In2science program Click Here.
If you would like to host a mentor as a regional school, Click Here or contact Dr Audrey Bester, eMentoring Coordinator.
