Developmental approaches to peer advocacy for college success

A Connect2Complete webinar seriesWith Mandy Savitz-Romer & Suzanne M. Bouffard

August – September 2012

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introduction

Mandy Savitz-Romer & Suzanne M. Bouffard

Webinar series

• Webinar 1: Identity & Self Concept

• Webinar 2: Motivation & Self Regulation

webinar I: identity & self concept

mandy Savitz-romer & Suzanne M. bouffard

objectives

• To learn about a developmental framework to support college success

• To understand the role of identity development in college persistence

• To understand how peers uniquely influence a college staying identity

• To learn how to train peer advocates to support C2C students’ college staying identity

Agenda

• A developmental approach

• Developing a college staying identity

• Training peer advocates

• Question & Answer

Using a developmental approach

• Overemphasis on information and instrumental supports

• Little attention to students’ developmental readiness

• A shift toward being developmentally aware

• Targeting training of Peer Advocates (PA)

The Role of Identity in Persistence

• Sets the context for other supports

• Helps college students feel grounded in this new space

• Self concept shapes likelihood of• Taking risks• Engaging in academic and social supports

• Perceptions of future oriented self drive everyday behaviors/choices

Why does identity matter?

• A college staying identity

• Process of developing/adopting an identity is complex

• Other aspects of identity development happening simultaneously

• Students arrive on campus with a personal narrative

• What aspects of their identity mean

• Pre-developed notions of self concept and self efficacy

Dimensions of identity

• Demographics (What we’re born with)• Race, gender, ethnicity, immigration status, sexual

orientation

• Roles one fills• Mother/daughter/son/uncle• Student or professional role• Friend or mentor

• Self concept (What we believe about ourselves)• Self efficacy• Self competence• Future self orientation

How does understanding identity help us understand

student behavior?

Perceptions of self shape action

• How do I make meaning of the different aspects of my identity?• My gender, race, abilities, immigration status, sexual

orientation?

• Is being a college graduate consistent with other aspects of my identity?

• If yes, how?• If no, how does it influence my daily choices and

behaviors?

Self concept: Believing a degree is possible

• Self efficacy

• Beliefs about our ability to succeed

• Not a global trait

• More likely to take action

• What influences self efficacy• Mastery of experience • Vicarious learning• Social persuasion • Affective state

Why & How Peers Matter

• Peers matter during adolescence

• Rely on one another for social support

• Identity development shaped by peer affirmation and approval

• Belief systems are shaped by peers

• Creating space for students’ own narrative to form with the support of the peer advocate

Training peer advocates

Training Peer Advocates

• Peer advocates experience the same developmental supports

• Bring aspects of self concept into awareness

• Give tools to engage in conversations about identity or to be on the lookout for incongruence or low self-efficacy

• Create opportunities for feedback about what one does well and how to improve

• Consider how to build on our successes and how to improve in areas in which we are not as strong.

Begin with Reflection

• What aspects of my identity are most salient?

• Where does my own personal narrative intersect with this work?

• How do I think about my own self concept?

• How have my beliefs about my abilities been formed?

Shifting towards Intentionality

• Training peer advocates to be developmentally aware of their own identity

• Then, taking themselves and their own experiences outside of the process

• Consider how peer advocates will engage differently with their C2C students

A sample lesson

• Objective:

• PA will be able to identify aspects of his/her identity within three spheres

• PA will be able to begin to identify integration across different dimensions of identity

• PA will have a chance to practice how identity might enter into relationship with mentees

• Activity: • Locating different dimensions of students’ identity

Questions

Webinar 2 – september 191-2:30 est/10-11:30 PST

A focus on self regulation and motivation