<i>Non scholae sed vitae</i>: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring

Nabil M. Halabi; Ghena H. Lababidi; Bilal R. Kaafarani

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11

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Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring

Nabil M. Halabi, Ghena H. Lababidi, Bilal R. Kaafarani

Published in Science Journal of Education (Volume 8, Issue 5)

Received: 13 August 2020 Accepted: 1 September 2020 Published: 21 September 2020

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Abstract

Mentoring is an ever-growing phenomenon which is manifest within STEM specifically, as well within undergraduate education at large. Despite its centrality to career success, mentoring is not very well institutionalized and is often de-prioritized by university departments. In addition, contemporary mentoring focuses mainly on the dyadic mentor-mentee relationship, while largely neglecting other alternative forms. Based off of these facts, the PI created a new initiative, the Mentoring Talks, wherein group mentoring is provided for students and faculty at the American University of Beirut (AUB). The creation and implementation of this initiation at the AUB was designed specifically based on documented educational theory. Furthermore, speakers at said talks stem from a wide range of occupations, yet nevertheless share one aspect in common; their perseverance in the face of adversity. Seminal review papers highlight key qualities of effect group mentoring; these characteristics are detailed in this commentary, as well as an outline of how each one is actualized by the Mentoring Talks initiative. These attributes include providing an equitable environment for mentoring, kindling an atmosphere of social support, emphasizing mentee self-valuation and expanding mentees’ networking opportunities. It is the intention of the PI that this initiative will inspire similar lectureships in universities across the world, in order to further strengthen institutional mentoring and ultimately help students achieve career and life success. Special consideration is also given to the challenges of providing group mentoring during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the shift from in-person to digital methods of communication and lectureship.

Published in	Science Journal of Education (Volume 8, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11
Page(s)	114-119
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Mentoring, Transformative Education, STEM

References

[1]	National Academies of Sciences, E.; Medicine The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM; The National Academies Press: Washington, DC, 2019.
[2]	Stolzenberg, E.; Eagan, M.; Zimmerman, H.; Berdan Lozano, J.; Cesar-Davis, N.; Aragon, M.; Rios-Aguilar, C. Los Angeles: Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA 2019.
[3]	Comer, E. W.; Medina, C. K.; Negroni, L. K.; Thomas, R. L. Social Work with Groups 2017, 40, 148.
[4]	Mondisa, J.-L.; McComb, S. A. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning 2015, 23, 149.
[5]	Web page for the Mentoring Talks. http://www.aub.edu.lb/mentoringtalks (accessed August 2020).
[6]	Doolittle, P. E. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching 1997, 8, 83.
[7]	Video of Prof. Seth Marder’s mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/BESzfAItqeY (accessed August 2020).
[8]	Video of Dr. Tawbi’s mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/rGE9r8o3jxk (accessed August 2020).
[9]	Video of Sir Fraser’s mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/TThzr6FADWc (accessed August 2020).
[10]	Allen, E. L.; Joseph, N. M. NASPA Journal About Women in Higher Education 2018, 11, 151.
[11]	Video of NEMR’s mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/X7cKc4j1oCY (accessed August 2020).
[12]	Video of H. E. Najat Vallaud-Belkacem’s mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/TnibQVXXDjo (accessed August 2020).
[13]	Interviews video with some of the attendees of H. E. Najat Vallaud-Belkacem's mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/KVa3xQUVKZQ (accessed August 2020).
[14]	Video of H. E. Dr. Talal Abou-Ghazaleh’s mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/B7drQUzUyns (accessed August 2020).
[15]	Dodson, J. E.; Montgomery, B. L.; Brown, L. J. Innovative Higher Education 2009, 34, 185.
[16]	Video of Prof. Omar Farha’s mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/jXFkJlT4x0M (accessed August 2020).
[17]	Interviews video with some of the attendees of Prof. Omar Farha's mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/2Wa3uFoM1IU (accessed August 2020).
[18]	Video of Rima Karaki’s mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/P4yz6BXd0l8 (accessed August 2020).
[19]	Interviews video with some of the attendees of TV anchor Rima Karaki's mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/jJx4gdv6zO8 (accessed August 2020).
[20]	Stassun, K. G.; Burger, A.; Lange, S. E. Journal of Geoscience Education 2010, 58, 135.
[21]	Adams, A. S.; Steiner, A. L.; Wiedinmyer, C. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 2016, 97, 345.
[22]	Video of Raya Abirached’s mentoring talk. https://youtu.be/uyi705bfqec (accessed August 2020).
[23]	El Achi, D.; Halabi, N. M.; Kaafarani, B. R. Science Journal of Education 2019, 7, 107.
[24]	Web page for the Improbable Research. https://www.improbable.com (accessed August 2020).
[25]	Video of Prof. David Hu's IgNobel talk. https://youtu.be/PQ5Rii1293Y (accessed August 2020).

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APA Style

Nabil M. Halabi, Ghena H. Lababidi, Bilal R. Kaafarani. (2020). Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring. Science Journal of Education, 8(5), 114-119. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11

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ACS Style

Nabil M. Halabi; Ghena H. Lababidi; Bilal R. Kaafarani. Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring. Sci. J. Educ. 2020, 8(5), 114-119. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11

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AMA Style

Nabil M. Halabi, Ghena H. Lababidi, Bilal R. Kaafarani. Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring. Sci J Educ. 2020;8(5):114-119. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11

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@article{10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11,
  author = {Nabil M. Halabi and Ghena H. Lababidi and Bilal R. Kaafarani},
  title = {Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring},
  journal = {Science Journal of Education},
  volume = {8},
  number = {5},
  pages = {114-119},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjedu.20200805.11},
  abstract = {Mentoring is an ever-growing phenomenon which is manifest within STEM specifically, as well within undergraduate education at large. Despite its centrality to career success, mentoring is not very well institutionalized and is often de-prioritized by university departments. In addition, contemporary mentoring focuses mainly on the dyadic mentor-mentee relationship, while largely neglecting other alternative forms. Based off of these facts, the PI created a new initiative, the Mentoring Talks, wherein group mentoring is provided for students and faculty at the American University of Beirut (AUB). The creation and implementation of this initiation at the AUB was designed specifically based on documented educational theory. Furthermore, speakers at said talks stem from a wide range of occupations, yet nevertheless share one aspect in common; their perseverance in the face of adversity. Seminal review papers highlight key qualities of effect group mentoring; these characteristics are detailed in this commentary, as well as an outline of how each one is actualized by the Mentoring Talks initiative. These attributes include providing an equitable environment for mentoring, kindling an atmosphere of social support, emphasizing mentee self-valuation and expanding mentees’ networking opportunities. It is the intention of the PI that this initiative will inspire similar lectureships in universities across the world, in order to further strengthen institutional mentoring and ultimately help students achieve career and life success. Special consideration is also given to the challenges of providing group mentoring during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the shift from in-person to digital methods of communication and lectureship.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring
AU - Nabil M. Halabi
AU - Ghena H. Lababidi
AU - Bilal R. Kaafarani
Y1 - 2020/09/21
PY - 2020
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11
DO - 10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11
T2 - Science Journal of Education
JF - Science Journal of Education
JO - Science Journal of Education
SP - 114
EP - 119
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2329-0897
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11
AB - Mentoring is an ever-growing phenomenon which is manifest within STEM specifically, as well within undergraduate education at large. Despite its centrality to career success, mentoring is not very well institutionalized and is often de-prioritized by university departments. In addition, contemporary mentoring focuses mainly on the dyadic mentor-mentee relationship, while largely neglecting other alternative forms. Based off of these facts, the PI created a new initiative, the Mentoring Talks, wherein group mentoring is provided for students and faculty at the American University of Beirut (AUB). The creation and implementation of this initiation at the AUB was designed specifically based on documented educational theory. Furthermore, speakers at said talks stem from a wide range of occupations, yet nevertheless share one aspect in common; their perseverance in the face of adversity. Seminal review papers highlight key qualities of effect group mentoring; these characteristics are detailed in this commentary, as well as an outline of how each one is actualized by the Mentoring Talks initiative. These attributes include providing an equitable environment for mentoring, kindling an atmosphere of social support, emphasizing mentee self-valuation and expanding mentees’ networking opportunities. It is the intention of the PI that this initiative will inspire similar lectureships in universities across the world, in order to further strengthen institutional mentoring and ultimately help students achieve career and life success. Special consideration is also given to the challenges of providing group mentoring during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the shift from in-person to digital methods of communication and lectureship.
VL - 8
IS - 5
ER -

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Author Information

Nabil M. Halabi

Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Ghena H. Lababidi

Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Bilal R. Kaafarani

Department of Chemistry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

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APA Style

Nabil M. Halabi, Ghena H. Lababidi, Bilal R. Kaafarani. (2020). Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring. Science Journal of Education, 8(5), 114-119. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11

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ACS Style

Nabil M. Halabi; Ghena H. Lababidi; Bilal R. Kaafarani. Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring. Sci. J. Educ. 2020, 8(5), 114-119. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11

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AMA Style

Nabil M. Halabi, Ghena H. Lababidi, Bilal R. Kaafarani. Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring. Sci J Educ. 2020;8(5):114-119. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11

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@article{10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11,
  author = {Nabil M. Halabi and Ghena H. Lababidi and Bilal R. Kaafarani},
  title = {Non scholae sed vitae: Teaching Beyond Classroom Walls Through Group Mentoring},
  journal = {Science Journal of Education},
  volume = {8},
  number = {5},
  pages = {114-119},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20200805.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjedu.20200805.11},
  abstract = {Mentoring is an ever-growing phenomenon which is manifest within STEM specifically, as well within undergraduate education at large. Despite its centrality to career success, mentoring is not very well institutionalized and is often de-prioritized by university departments. In addition, contemporary mentoring focuses mainly on the dyadic mentor-mentee relationship, while largely neglecting other alternative forms. Based off of these facts, the PI created a new initiative, the Mentoring Talks, wherein group mentoring is provided for students and faculty at the American University of Beirut (AUB). The creation and implementation of this initiation at the AUB was designed specifically based on documented educational theory. Furthermore, speakers at said talks stem from a wide range of occupations, yet nevertheless share one aspect in common; their perseverance in the face of adversity. Seminal review papers highlight key qualities of effect group mentoring; these characteristics are detailed in this commentary, as well as an outline of how each one is actualized by the Mentoring Talks initiative. These attributes include providing an equitable environment for mentoring, kindling an atmosphere of social support, emphasizing mentee self-valuation and expanding mentees’ networking opportunities. It is the intention of the PI that this initiative will inspire similar lectureships in universities across the world, in order to further strengthen institutional mentoring and ultimately help students achieve career and life success. Special consideration is also given to the challenges of providing group mentoring during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the shift from in-person to digital methods of communication and lectureship.},
 year = {2020}
}

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