Project-Based Mentoring
Computing for All programs center on employer-mentored, project-based learning. This approach equips students with technical and employment skills as they explore real-world challenges under the auspices of a mentor.
Employers have a rare opportunity to step into the classroom, building a pipeline to local talent as they teach and assess students. Current IT professionals gain the energy and satisfaction from giving back and working with enthusiastic students. It also offers a career development opportunity for mentors as they take a leadership position and supervise students.
Mentor Roles
Engage in part of the process, or follow a project and class from inception to completion.
Scope A Project
Work with Computing For All to design a hypothetical or real-world framework that will help students practice targeted skills and competencies.
Mentor a Team
Commit to 1 hour a week of working with a student or a group of students on their current real-world project.
Teach a Class
Take the entire class through a technical skill or skills they will need to complete the quarter's project.
Applaud
Cheer on students at their final presentation, and help them refine presentation skills and demonstrate their mastery with targeted questions.
Want to learn more? Contact us to discuss what role you might play in the classroom!
The Process
Scope
The project scope is defined based on the quarter’s skills and competencies. Employers can define hypothetical or real-world project frameworks, or Computing For All can offer a pre-defined framework.
Ideation
Mentors provide support and instruction as students drive the project theme, research the needs and perspectives of potential users, assess the market, and form a plan. This plan launches the project management phase; students take on roles and create the scrum board.
Design
Mentors lead students through the process of defining the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI), and integrating elements into their project design.
Implementation
Mentors advise students through the agile scrum software development process. Students design prototypes, learn about version control, and code their project.
Testing
Students learn about analytics and perform A/B testing of project versions.
Delivery
Students present their projects to employers, educators, and peers. Mentors ask relevant questions to help students practice their presentation skills and demonstrate their mastery.