Using analytics to establish e-mentoring relationships in an online social environment

Haiming Liu

Ronald Macintyre

Rebecca Ferguson

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OU students adopt mentorsBouncing ideas off my manager has helped because he has been able to relate some of the theories to our

business, therefore making it easier to understand.

I found discussing this course with work colleagues and friends the

most helpful, they were able to help me relate the assignments to my

job and gave alternative suggestions and their varied

opinions help to widen my view.

Mentors provide:• Support• Ideas• Guidance• Sounding board

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Classic mentoring models

Apprenticeship

Competency

Reflective

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Personal factors are significant

Different status

More technical experience

Similar interests

Same language

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Model 1: Elliment

developed by Thomas Ullmann

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How is online mentoring different?

• Support• Ideas• Guidance• Sounding board

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Mentoring analytics

• Shared interests• Shared contacts• Profiles• Activity history

• Analytics

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Users need to be able to

Expand contacts

Locate relevant groups

Observe mentoring in action

Identify opportunities to engage

• Provide support• Supply ideas• Offer guidance• Act as sounding board

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Building & strengthening links

Mediating objects can• strengthen weak ties• activate latent ties

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User study

• Camtasia• Talk aloud• Interviews

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1 Connect with content

2 Connect with people3 Connect through content

4 Employ different actions

5 Recommendations

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Connecting with content

• Bookmarking• Collecting• Commenting• Rating• Tagging

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Connecting with people

• Connecting• Following• Friending• Helping

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Connecting through content

• Added to content• Created content• Engaged with content• Evaluated content

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Model 2: Analytics based

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Mentoring in social mediaMultiple overlapping relationshipsMay be open and freely availableDoes not require a face-to-face relationship

Key data for analyticsActions connecting with peopleActions connecting with contentActions connecting through content

Potential for analyticsStrengthen inter-personal linksProvide opportunities for mentoringProvide a form of mentoring

Haiming Liu

Ronald Macintyre

Rebecca Ferguson