Desarrollo y evaluación de una experiencia piloto de mentoría con estudiantes de primer ciclo de educación superior a distancia, Centro Universitario San Rafael

Abstract

The current research is based on work with students entering for the first time to higher education system, which aims to implement, develop and evaluate a pilot mentoring project for students from the first levels of distance learning, with the purpose of boosting the improvement of the quality of the processes of academic orientation and the developing of a culture of support, favoring the significant learning. The research was conducted at Centro Universitario de San Rafael located in Valle de Los Chillos; we worked with a sample of four students from different careers and ages. Different research methods were used such as the method of action research, analytical , description , inductive, deductive and statistical method; techniques such as interviews, surveys, reading, concept maps, summaries, focus groups and observation, and instruments such as questionnaires and surveys, the same that were processed and tabulated showing the results of the investigation. It is concluded that the implementation of mentoring had a positive effect on the attitude and academic performance of students, therefore, this initiative should be extended. KEYWORDS: mentoring, support, meaningful learning.