Presentation at UAMS Teaching with Technology Symposium, July 2014 Arkansas Association of Alternative Educators, Rogers, Ar October 2014

1. Click Here to Change the World:
Using Technology
to Build e-Mentoring Relationships

2. Kimberly McKee
MS, Instructional Technologies
– Emphasis in Distance
Education
Online, Non-Credit Programs
Outreach and Community Engagement
501.852.2691
kmckee@uca.edu

3. Questions and Answers
1. How did the D.R.E.A.M. Team program begin?
2. Who does the program serves?
3. When was the program implemented?
4. Where was the program implemented?
5. How are public school students chosen?
6. How are college mentors chosen?
7. What happens during the program?
8. Why is this program unique?
9. Is this program effective?

4. It Started With an Idea

5. How the D.R.E.A.M Team was Formed
• Researched Online Mentor Programs
• Met with UCA Minority Mentorship Program Directors
• Met with Conway’s Choosing to Excel Mentoring
Program Directors
• Identified the Risks and the Benefits
• Funding - UCA Center for Community and & Economic
Development’s Rockefeller Grant

6. D.R.E.A.M.
• Diversity
• Responsibility
• Engagement
• Achievement
• Mentorship

7. D.R.E.A.M Team Coaches

8. Who Are We Serving

9. Who Are We Serving
At-Risk Students:
•Risk of not graduating
•Risk of teen pregnancy
•Low socioeconomic students
•First-generation college students
•Students in the ALE Program

10. Selection of Malvern Students
• Youth Pre-Program Survey
• Recommendations from Teachers
• Grades
• Attendance
• Behavior Referrals
• Parental Consent

11. E-courager Recruitment
• Advertising
e-mail blasts
Flyers around campus
Word-of-mouth
• Student Interest Meeting
Applications due one week later

12. Selection of e-Couragers
• Success in College
Lessons learned from obstacles overcome
• Existing Character Traits
Communication/listening skills
Leadership skills/potential
Emotional intelligence and stability
Previous experience with at-risk youth
• Experience with Mentorship
• Educational Goals and Interests
• Desire to Give Back Through Service to the Community

13. e-Courager Development
• D.R.E.A.M. Team Orientation and Training
• Title 9 and Sexual Harassment Training
• MBTi and Communication Training
• Blackboard Technology Training
• The Power of Mentoring and Leadership Presentation

14. “People don’t
care how much
you know, until
they know how
much you care.”
~ Kareem Moody

15. 16-Week Program Format
Three Face-to-Face Meetings
•Meet and Greet on UCA Campus
•Equine Therapy at Living Stones Ranch
•End of Program Meeting on UCA Campus
Eight Online Lessons

16. Face-to-Face
Meetings

17. Meet and Greet
Greeting from e-Couragers

18. Meet and Greet

19. Equine Therapy at Living Stones Ranch

20. Equine Therapy at Living Stones Ranch

21. Campus Visit
“What am I
uniquely gifted
to change?”
~ Cory Anderson

22. Campus Visit: Photo Scavenger Hunt

23. Online Lessons

24.  Combined purchased material with ideas customized to
fit the program
 Included the UCA Mentors through “Curriculum Buddies”
 Incorporated Web 2.0 Tools
Curriculum

25. Lesson Development
Each Lesson:
Followed a consistent format
Designed to be completed in a 30-minute timeframe
Loosely followed the Experiential Learning Model

26. Experiential Learning Model
Students:
1.EXPERIENCED an activity set up for them in
each lesson
2.SHARED results and observations via the
Discussion Board
3.PROCESSED the information with the help of
their Mentors
4.GENERALIZED the experience as it related to
their own ideas and beliefs
5.APPLIED what was learned in their own lives
*ONLINE EXPERIENCES WERE
SUPPLEMENTED WITH F2F EXPERIENCES*

27. Curriculum Improvements
• Students will take a needs assessment survey to identify
areas of instruction
• Lessons will be available every other week
• Discussion Board will be available in off weeks to build
stronger bonds using the GLAD Format:
What is GOOD this week?
What did you LEARN this week?
What made you ANGRY this week?
What DECISIONS did you make this week?

28. Web 2.0

29. Students created motivational
posters in the Academics lesson.

30. Students created a cartoon avatar
during the Diversity Lesson.

31. Students shared their dreams during
the Learn to Dream lesson.

32. Mentors shared their definition of
Responsibility with their Mentees.

33. Used to create Diversity
Circles video
Used to create
definition of Diversity
Video support

34. Copyright
• Files were linked to the course shell, not imbedded
• Material was for educational, non-profit use
• Material was made available for a limited time to a
small group of people
• Material was password protected to avoid outside
access

35. Blackboard Learn
Course
Tour

36. 16-Week Pilot Program Results
• 77% Raised a letter grade in English or Math
• 31% Reduced discipline referrals
• 23% Reduced absences
“This is the most I’ve seen these students talk and smile.”
~ ALE Teacher
“It definitely made my relationships stronger with certain people,
helped me open up more; my mentor helped me tremendously.
She also opened my eyes and helped me to actually push
myself.” ~ Malvern Student

37. Registered Student Organization
• Open the gateway for new students as well as
current students to be a part of something bigger
than themselves
• SAFA Funding

38. Johnathan Mablin
President, Dream Team RSO
Senior, University of Central Arkansas
“Because of what the
D.R.E.A.M. Team stands for,
we felt that in order to keep
moving forward within our
campus and community, this
organization needed to be
recognized at UCA.”

39. Future Plans
• Arkansas Community
Foundation/
Black Hall of Fame Grant
• Serve 8th
and 9th
Graders
• Parental Involvement and
Assessment
• Incentives for Malvern
and UCA Students

40. Thank you!
http://fluidsurveys.com/s/uams/
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