Desarrollo y evaluación de una experiencia piloto de mentoría con estudiantes de primer ciclo de Educación Superior a Distancia, Centro Universitario Asociado de Quito

Abstract

This investigation is aimed to prove and evaluate the peer mentoring project to facilitate the induction of distance education first cycle students, and to determine the improvements in the guidance academic processes. Participatory Action Research, Descriptive, Analytic-Synthetic, Inductive-Deductive and Statistic methods are used. The instruments used are academic needs self-evaluation questionnaires, academic profile, thinking skills management. The conclusions reached are: the process has been effective and it has provided a proactive link between peers (mentors and mentees). However, there are factors, outside the educative area, that influence drastically the students and are the causes of their desertion. Therefore, mentors are required to have a special profile and to know a full set of actions, techniques and strategies to work positively with the students. These requirements are found in the tutor’s manual. Finally, an invitation is made to read this investigation, whether the reader has some specialized knowledge or he/she is a student; convenient information and an interesting analysis will be found.