On-line Networking
Big Bang Blogs is an e-mentoring scheme that matched students (mentees) in Years 9-13 with a mentor who was studying a physics related degree at university, or working in a physics profession. The Institute worked with The Brightside Trust to deliver this activity. Mentees were given access to a secure weblog which they could use to communicate with their mentor. Accompanying resources and news articles provided background information about physics, science and engineering, which aimed to enthuse young people to find out more about physics and STEM. The pilot operated in two Higher Education Institutions, one science educational charity and 25 schools within the three regions of Leeds, Nottingham and Oxford.
Key outcomes
- Throughout the three-year Programme, there were 301 mentees and 165 mentors.
- The e-mentoring was extremely well received by the majority of mentees:
- 96% (25/26) reported that they would recommend Big Bang Blogs to a sibling or friend;
- 88% (23/26) of mentees were happy with the e-mentoring.
- The evaluation demonstrated the impact of e-mentoring with:
- 75% (15/20) of respondents reporting that e-mentoring had increased their confidence to attend university;
- 70% (14/20) of students feeling that e-mentoring had provided a greater understanding of university life.
- Big Bang Blogs also found that female mentees achieved higher engagement (greater benefit) then their male counterparts, which is of particular importance as female students are currently under-represented in physics degrees at universities.
- Over the course of the Programme, mentees appeared to become more interested in physics, with 85% of mentees reporting they were interested in physics at the end of the pilot. In addition, at the end of the e-mentoring:
- 40% (8/20) of students reported that they were less worried about A Level physics;
- 90% (18/20) of mentees agreed or strongly agreed that a physics degree offers many interesting career options (an increase of 15%).
- Since all the respondents apart form one, were either engaged or semi-engaged with the Big Bang Blogs Programme, it suggests that the impact of enthusiastic mentors coupled with the exciting and vibrant Big Bang Blogs library provided mentees with a positive image of physics and science.
- The website content of Big Bang Blogs also proved popular for a wider audience.
Key Recommendations
Big Bang Blogs has been highly effective at demonstrating the type of activities which aid engagement and impact. Critical factors included:
- a well planned e-mentoring programme with a strong network of schools, universities, company ambassadors;
- a good knowledge of the type of outreach activities currently underway in a region,
- a well briefed and dedicated partner coordinator to oversee a programme.
Targeting and recruitment of mentors
The school students were recruited by their teachers and trained by the local coordinator in the school. The local coordinator then monitored the discussions and encouraged the school students and undergraduates to make postings.
Feedback highlighted that a successful relationship is very dependent on the mentor, and it is critical to be able to recruit mentors who have the time, motivation and commitment to dedicate to the programme. Although recruitment to this particular programme was very successful, with the majority of mentors being ‘good’ mentors, it is important that the role of the mentor is clearly communicated to all new and existing recruits. In the new DCSF-funded ‘Stimulating Physics Network’, priority will be given to recruit more female mentors to hopefully improve the number of high quality successful relationships seen on Big Bang Blogs.
- Next steps:
Mentoring and online learning experiences for pupils will continue in the ‘Stimulating Physics Network’. Other activities in this area will include: peer-to-peer links (personal and online); a community website, and ‘Ask an Expert’.