Research Guides: Partners in Information Literacy: The Research Mentor Program at UNH Manchester: Research Mentors in Action

Excerpt from an observed session with a research mentor:

The research mentor, Katherine, met regularly with Samantha who was taking a history class. Samantha set goals with Katherine to work on the reading, writing, and research for a long term independent project…Much of what transpired next was a productive conversation. Katherine was good at Socratic-style questioning. Samantha was doing her independent project on the Freedom Riders. Katherine, who got to know this student and was very familiar with the instructor as well, suggested Samantha focus on academic sources. Katherine let Samantha know that the instructor actually checks information databases used, such as JSTOR. Samantha said, “Well, it is hard to get library stuff, but I Googled it, and found a website… [but] I cannot find the people I am looking for.” Katherine explained, “I would look at this (points to databases) first because it would help you.”

“Actually, this has been quite helpful, Katherine.”

Implementation of the Research Mentor Program

Research Mentors in One-on-One Tutorials

· schedule individual sessions with students in classes which they are assigned as “class links,” such as first-year composition.

· schedule individual sessions with students from a variety of disciplines with whom they may work only once or repeatedly depending on the students’ needs and wishes.

· work collaboratively with students on the writing projects, asking questions, clarifying thinking, and guiding revision.

· help the students work more effectively with sources both conceptually (helping students evaluate sources)as well as practically (adequately attributing the ideas of others).

· provide a peer perspective, as they can more aptly answer the question, “Why can't I just Google that?”