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