April 2005

Student Mentors Help the DLC Support Student Success

Digital Learning Commons, Student Mentors

Every student who takes an online course through the Digital Learning Commons is matched with a Student Mentor (Mentors now called DLC Tutors). Supporting student success is the DLC's highest priority, and the Student Mentors are an important part of this vision.

Student Mentors are undergrads or recent graduates of the University of Washington. They have been chosen for their academic achievements and interest in helping students have a successful online learning experience and reach their future goals.

Charlie Diaz, Lily Nguyen, and Mia Reyes are three of the DLC's fifteen Student Mentors. Charlie mentors students taking online Spanish courses. Both Lily and Mia mentor students in the humanities, such as English, photography, and creative writing.

A rewarding experience

All three have found their work as mentors rewarding. "It's a rarity these days to find young people who truly care more about poetry than video games," says Mia of a student at the Washington State School for the Blind. "His emails are always thought provoking and informative…It is my pleasure to help him in his academic pursuits."

"I recently received an email from a student who said she got an A- in Spanish," Charlie says. "She was a student I had regular contact with. She always had a question and participated in the tutorials on my website. It made me feel like I had a purpose."

Building connections through common ground

When a new semester begins, the Student Mentors send out an introductory email to their group of students. They follow up with personal emails to the students regarding the online courses they're taking.

"A student from White Pass High School was the first mentee to respond to my email," Lily says. "Our correspondence began as a friendly get-to-know-you chit chat. She was really interested in knowing about college and how I decided what I wanted to do, to which I responded that I was confused but that internships, experimental college courses, and career quizzes helped…[after a while] she began asking for more help with homework. Most recently, she asked for assistance with a persuasion paper that called for research and a lawyer's reasoning."

Lily finds that by sharing her own experiences in preparing for college, students feel more comfortable asking for help with their coursework. "Maybe the fact that I am still young and struggling with my goals makes them feel more at [ease], because I am essentially just an older version of them."

Help via email, websites, and newsletters

Throughout the semester, the Student Mentors send out emails to their groups at least once a week. And they respond to emails from their mentees within twenty-four hours. They also use newsletters and self-designed websites to put helpful resources at the students' fingertips.

Charlie uses his website, which can be viewed in Spanish or English, to point students toward helpful DLC resources like netTrekker. He also creates study guides for them. "I think grammar is the one key area where students need extra help," Charlie says. "I also add cultural information to my website…something for their own edification. For example, I highlighted the Spanish film The Sea Inside, which just won an Academy Award for best foreign film."

When it comes to helping students with their coursework, Lily says, "My goal with critiques is to highlight students' strengths and make them more aware of their weaknesses so that they can strengthen their work. If a student has no idea where to start, I ask a lot of questions to get their minds thinking more critically without spelling anything out for them."

The benefit of having a mentor

When asked what kind of a difference it makes for students to have a mentor, Mia responds: "A lot of the students are from small towns and don’t know much about big universities…Students ask about college, how to find scholarships, etcetera…I know that in high school you are always looking for guidance and direction, and usually you want it from someone you kind of respect but who is also young enough to relate to. I think the kids really enjoy having a mentor who can relate to them, but also guide them."

Want to read more? Browse the Success Stories page.