[[alternative]]A Programmatic Study of Training Program for Mentors in Primary School

[[abstract]]The purposes of this study are to discuss the status and problems of thementoring system in Taiwan, analyze the mentor training programs inCalifornia and Texas, and then to design the training program for mentorsin primary school. It is wished that such a study would provide helpfulsuggestions for designing mentor training programs in Taiwan. The research methods employed in this study include case study as wellas questionnaire survey. The objects of case study are the mentor trainingprograms in California and Texas. Then based upon the results of literaturereview and case study, the researcher compile " Questionnaire forDesigning the Training Program of Mentors in Primary School " as a tool tounderstand the problems and the training needs of mentors. The objects ofquestionnaire survey are all mentors of primary school in Taipei City,Taipei County, Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung County. Total 316 mentorshave been sampled and the effective samples actually acquire are239 copies. The data of questionnaire have been proceeded for statisticalanalysis with t-test and Oneway ANOVA. From the data of literature review, case study and questionnaire, theconclusions have been obtained as follows:1.The factors of selecting mentors have not included " the willingness to engage in the training programs" in mentoring system of Taiwan.2.One of the possible of institutionalizing the mentoring system formally is to join the mentor training programs and the teacher career ladder system.3.Mentor training programs should include three phases: The initial training before actual mentoring ；The training during the induction year； The advanced training for veteran mentors.4.It is necessary to consider the needs of mentors and the concerns of mentees when designing mentor training programs.5.The main problems of mentors in primary school are self-adaption, administration measures in the primary schools and the understanding of mentoring issues.6.The primary contents of the training program which mentors in primary school needed are the skills for pupils, teaching skills, the skills to coach teaching and the counseling skills for mentees.7.The suggested activities of the training program are visit, problem discuss and workshop.8.The suitable evaluations of the training program considered by mentors are self-evaluation, oral presentation and report-writing.9.Most of the mentors in primary school have the willingness to take part in the training program. The important factors which affect the willingness are the training contents as well as the time of program. According to the result of the study, the following proposals are to be offered for policy makers and teacher colleges:1. " the willingness to engage in the training programs " should be taken account during the selection of mentors.2.Combine the mentoring system and the teacher career ladder system.3.Recruit the mentors who had performed well in the training program to contribute to the training program of mentors.4.The suggestions of the training program for mentors in primary school are the follows: (1)The aims of the training program are as follows: By "Engaging in the training program, mentors in primary school obtain the repertoire of mentoring, improve the abilities of reflection, promote the motivation and commitment to assist mentees' professional development." (2)The primary contents of the training program are the counseling skills for pupils, teaching skills, the skills to coach teaching as well as the counseling skills for mentees. (3)The training activities suggested by mentors are visit, problem discuss and workshop. (4)The suitable evaluations of the training program are self-evaluation, oral presentation and report-writing.5. The suggestions of the further research.