Role of the Mentor

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Role of the Facilitator or Project Leader

TechXplore provides teachers, club leaders, and after-school program leaders a way to integrate technology into the learning environment while approaching the sciences and technology in an engaging and interactive manner. TechXplore brings the expertise of the technology industry into the classroom through the connection with the technical mentor. Facilitators do not need to know anything specific about the subject their students select for research. Facilitators do, however, play an integral role in assisting teams of students who participate in TechXplore. Facilitators are relied upon to integrate the project into their curriculum or after-school program, help students meet program deadlines, coordinate the team's research and project-building activities, as well as inspire their research efforts.

A facilitator's primary roles in relationship to the program are:

1. To facilitate the work of the student team


2. To integrate the program into the curriculum or after school program, and


3. To manage the project and communication to mentor.

Facilitation:

It is important to remember that the students are responsible for doing the work involved in conducting their research and meeting the requirements of the program. The Facilitator's role is to provide opportunities and places for the team to meet and help them meet on a regular basis, support and encourage the students, and help them solve any problems they may encounter in meeting the requirements of the program.

Facilitators should stress the importance of communication and reinforce that students must take full advantage of their mentors to ensure accuracy of the decisions they make regarding their research. Facilitators should ensure that at least one team member assumes responsibility for staying in weekly communication with the team's mentor.

Integration:

For a successful outcome, teachers may integrate the TechXplore program into the curriculum of the classroom or other group meeting. This is accomplished when the teacher links the technical focus for the project, developed by the team with help from a mentor, to the learning objectives of the science or technology curriculum. Successful integration occurs when the teacher relates the technology to their physics, chemistry or biology curriculum and draws appropriate relationships.

In after-school programs and club settings, facilitators may draw connections between technology and the activities that surround the after-school or club program and help students understand how technology can improve the quality of life.

Management:

The facilitator/project leader is the project administrator. Teachers/project leaders register teams, help teams organize at the outset of the project, arrange for their team(s) to have Internet access, facilitate the relationship with the mentor, assist them with organizational or technical problems and, most importantly, help them understand and follow the program guidelines and meet or beat their deadlines.

NSTEP staff can help most in this last category. If you have any question about your role or need help in order to meet these goals, please contact us any time.

When you are ready to get started for the TechXplore competition follow the steps below!

Step 1: Click on Become A Project Leader above to begin registration for the upcoming TechXplore competition. After you receive email confirmation of registering as a Facilitator, you can begin registering your teams.

Step 2: Receive an email from NSTEP staff with attachments for program. You can also access these materials anytime by visiting Facilitator Tools.

Step 3: Register for a live training webinar or view an archived video in the Tools Section.

Once you have completed the steps above, you have all the knowledge you need to facilitate your team(s). We will match your team with the first available mentor so your team can begin research for their project. GOOD LUCK!