This year will witness the launch of SMART Mentors, a specialized training and development program for faculty members of Smart Schools Program partners. It includes a full scholarship to an 11-month action research course that can earn teachers a Master of Arts degree in Instructional Design and Technology. The goal is to develop a corps of mentors actively participating in training and in developing and implementing the mentoring component of the Smart Schools Program.

The SMART Mentors Program has two components: Scholarship and Mentoring.

Components:

Scholarship
The scholarship covers an action research course that focuses on the application of information and communications technology (ICT) in the development, implementation and evaluation of learning environments and teaching strategies.

The course lasts for eleven (11) months with a maximum extension period of one (1) month. It starts with a two (2)-week, live-in, intensive face-to-face learning experience. After this, student-faculty will implement and evaluate their action research projects in their teaching contexts.

During this period, the student-faculty journeys with an expert who provides enabling interactions towards the achievement of the research agenda. Interactions will be mediated by telementoring, i.e. via email, discussion boards, text messages and/or face-2-face meetings.

Upon completion of the 11-month course under the SMART Mentors Program, the student-faculty shall be awarded a Master of Arts Degree in Instructional Design and Technology.

Mentoring
The goal of the scholarship program is to equip teacher-champions with the tools necessary to empower them to mentor other teachers in the science of Instructional Design. Mentoring is achieved when the SMART Mentors train, guide and coach other teachers to develop (or improve), implement and evaluate new (or existing) ICT-enabled Learning Activities that, in the end, help improve student learning.

Through the technology of the web, the influence and impact of the SMART Mentors are no longer confined to the boundaries of schools or divisions. Teachers from all over the country can benefit from the knowledge and skills of the teacher-champions.

Immersion into mentoring begins right after the two-week face-to-face learning experience. SMART Mentors are expected to mentor 15 other teachers within the 11- to 12-month scholarship period and submit regular reports on the status of their mentoring. Mentoring should continue at least a year after the scholarship period, with SMART Mentors training other teachers within and outside their respective schools and divisions.

Advisory Board
On top of mentoring through training, SMART Mentors will form the core of teachers that will have a hand in setting the direction for the Smart Schools Program. A representative will be elected from the pool of SMART Mentors to sit on the Advisory Board, the body which will be convened regularly to consult on directions and initiatives for the Smart Schools Program.

The SMART Mentors will also be the champions of various Smart Schools Program initiatives in the field of training, program development and rewards and recognition.

Interested to apply for the Smart Mentors program?

To download the Smart Mentors information kit, please click here.

To download the Application Forms, please click here.

For more information, please email smartschools@smart.com.ph