In2science is proud to share two new inside views of our online eMentoring program for regional schools. The program offers a valuable opportunity for students to connect with volunteer university students, who help guide and inspire them along their STEM pathway.
In the first eMentoring case study video (above), we hear about the implementation and success of the program at Catholic College Wodonga (CCW) and how such programs help to remove the distance barrier for young people in regional Victoria. CCW signed up as an In2science partner school in late 2017, to provide opportunities for their science students to extend their learning and expand their career awareness.
Seven groups of CCW students participated in the In2science eMentoring program in Semester 1, 2018, providing a valuable opportunity for these regional students to speak directly to a university student via Zoom video conferencing technology over a 10-week period. The In2science Link Teacher at CCW, Andrew McKenzie-McHarg, attributes much of the program’s success to the enthusiasm and dedication of the eMentors involved. In addition, the CCW students selected for the program needed to demonstrate a certain level of self-motivation and organisational skills to keep their weekly commitment.
Sanjna was one of those students who participated in the program and benefited greatly from speaking with her eMentor Rohan, a Bachelor of Science student at La Trobe University. “We talked about university life and what science is like after university. He also introduced us to new theories and opened our eyes to just how huge this field of science really is”, Sanjna says.
In a short video (above) about her own student journey, Sanjna shares how the eMentoring program has been an amazing experience, “not only having the opportunity to learn new things, but also expand my career options”. The program has further fuelled her desire to use her passion for science to help other people.
In2science eMentoring is funded by the Victorian Government’s Student Mentoring Program. Since the pilot in 2016, the program has partnered with 19 regional schools to provide over 120 eMentors for regional students in Victoria, resulting in over 1,200 hours of volunteer mentoring. Using La Trobe University’s Learning Management System (LMS) and Zoom, the program provides a way for small groups of regional students (1-4) to gain access to their own STEM resource in the form of an eMentor. eMentors are volunteer university students enrolled in STEM degrees at one of five In2science partner universities: La Trobe University, Monash University, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology, and The University of Melbourne. For more information or to get involved in the program, please visit the In2science website or email Robyn Gamble, eMentoring Program Coordinator.
