Learning in an organic research group: Nested mentoring in a cognitive apprenticeship setting

CHED 150

Randall E. Robinson, randall.robinson@asu.edu1, Janet Bond-Robinson, Bond-Robinson@asu.edu1, and Amy Stucky-Preece2. (1) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Cognition in Chemistry Group, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, (2) Bristol Myers Squibb
The immersive nature of the cognitive apprenticeship has been shown to be an ideal setting for nested mentoring to occur. Results of our study of activity in an organic synthesis research group composed of several hierarchical levels of expertise has documented the operation of a mentoring system functioning on a largely informal, continuous basis in relative expert to relative novice dyads. Direct observations as well as remote audio visual monitoring of group members engaged in day-to-day research activities, group meetings, problem sessions and casual conversations have been used to document the nested mentoring. Individual semi-structured interviews of study subjects clarified our observations and filled in gaps in the data.
 

General Posters
7:30 PM-9:30 PM, Sunday, March 25, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007