Evolving from Student to Teacher: Insights from the Conversation Café on Doctoral Student Mentorship

Authors

  • Anna Azulai MacEwan University, Faculty of Health and Community Science, School of Social Work
  • Amy Fulton University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work
  • Christine Walsh University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work
  • Carolyn Gulbrandsen University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work
  • Hongmei Tong MacEwan University, Faculty of Health and Community Studies, School of Social Work

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11575/pplt.v3i1.53125

Keywords:

graduate student mentorship, teaching development, mentorship models

Abstract

Mentorship has been proposed as a key process for preparing doctoral students as effective educators. However, few models have been described in-depth. To address this challenge, four social work doctoral graduates and one senior faculty member shared their insights drawing on their study on collaborative teaching mentorship, reflecting on their mentorship experiences and inviting feedback from the conference audience in the Conversation Café forum. The resultant discussion supported findings from our research and reinforced that more systematic and reflective efforts are needed to adequately prepare doctoral students for future teaching responsibilities. Specific strategies are summarized. 

Author Biographies

Anna Azulai, MacEwan University, Faculty of Health and Community Science, School of Social Work

Dr Azulai is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, Faculty of Health and Community Studies, MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta.

Amy Fulton, University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work

Dr Fulton is a Sessional Instructor and MSW Field Placement Coordinator at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Alberta.

Christine Walsh, University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work

Dr Walsh is a Professor and Associate Dean (Research and Partnership) at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Alberta.

Carolyn Gulbrandsen, University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work

Dr Gulbrandsen is an Instructor and Director of Distance Education at the School of Social Work, University of Calgary, Alberta. 

Hongmei Tong, MacEwan University, Faculty of Health and Community Studies, School of Social Work

Dr Tong is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, Faculty of Health and Community Studies, MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta.

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Published

2019-04-04

Issue

Section

Conference Theme: Students as Collaborators