Mentoring professional educators

Abstract

This thesis surveys the literature and provides a comparative perspective on the influence from mentoring on educators in postsecondary and health sectors. Context includes seven trends affecting both sectors: higher enrollments; more nontraditional learners and complex clients; more special needs learners; a growing need to manage behaviour of increasingly difficult or distant learners; a paradigm shift towards a learner-centred approach; an aging workforce; and the burnout facing college teachers and health educators. Data was gathered from 68 in one BC health authority and from 47 in 7 colleges in BC and Ontario. There is beginning evidence that there may be better strategies than mentoring to welcome professionals new to education. Training educators how to teach or train is a first priority. Health and postsecondary education need to find ways to more tangibly support mentoring of their potential leaders.