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Tools for Mentors and Mentees

Note to Research Mentors:

These modules were created to introduce undergraduates and early stage graduate students participating in research to supporting concepts, tips for navigating the research process, and practice in interacting with other researchers. The modules can be delivered as part of a semester-long curriculum, or leveraged on an a-la-carte basis by mentors who wish to help their mentees improve specific skills. The modules support the Research Preparation component of researcher training and should ultimately enhance your efforts toward instilling Research Confidence. Start with the Mentor Guide which explains the background and other resources to design your program: Mentor Guide REM Modules.docx.

A short video explaining the modules and how we have used them is available on YouTube.

Note to Research Mentees:

All of the modules for a fused introduction to research and professional development program are provided in the table below. You will work with your mentor on specific modules. The main components are provided as individual files for you to download and use. Feel free to browse and review any of the modules.

Modules Information

Original funding provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant: EAGER CBET 1451319.

All material created for this project is meant to be used, improved and shared, with attribution:

Creative Commons License Site

We welcome input – please contact Dr. Karen Burg (kburg@uga.edu) or Dr. Timothy Burg (tburg@uga.edu) with suggestions.

Table of Modules

Theme	Topic	Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this module, you will be able to:	Student Resources	Faculty Resources
Laboratory Confidence	Expectations and Program Overview	Interpretation: Define the expectations for mentors and mentees in this program Interpretation: Identify general lab safety guidelines Interpretation: Discuss the methods used in a ‘flipped classroom’ setting Evaluation: Evaluate examples of email etiquette to identify ‘good’ and ‘bad’ practices Evaluation: Generate a schedule of how you manage your time during an average day and evaluate the efficiency of how your time is used.	Expectations Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: Handout 1: Email Etiquette .docx | .pdf Handout 2: Time Management .docx | .pdf	Expectations Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf Supplements: Presentation on Email and Social Media Etiquette .pptx
Laboratory Confidence	Laboratory Readiness	Interpretation: State the importance of Laboratory Safety to the process of research Interpretation: Explain the importance of keeping a Laboratory Notebook; Identify elements that should be included, and discuss when and how entries should be made Application: Review a sample laboratory notebook entry for proper formatting and completeness	Laboratory Readiness Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: Handout 1: Laboratory Notebook .docx | .pdf Handout 2: Laboratory Notebook Activity .pdf Handout 3: General Safety Activity .docx | .pdf	Laboratory Readiness Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf Supplements: Handout 2: Laboratory Notebook Activity Key .pptx | .pdf Sample Saftey Presentation - No Gum .pptx
Laboratory Confidence	Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)	Interpretation: Define what Standard Operating Procedures are Interpretation: Identify elements that appear on an SOP Interpretation: Identify the importance of SOPs to research Application: Write an SOP for a non-scientific procedure Evaluation: Evalluate an SOP for a scientific procedure	Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: Handout 1: Weighing Sample .docx | .pdf Handout 2:SOP Template .docx | .pdf	Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf Supplements: PB&J SOP Exercise .docx | .pdf
Laboratory Confidence	Article Perspectives	Interpretation: Discuss characteristics of articles that appear in different types of publications (popular magazines, scientific journals, government reports) Interpretation: Define 'Lay Audience' Analysis: Examine articles to determine intended audiences Evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of an article considering its intended audience	Article Perspectives Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: Handout 1 : Article Perspectives Handout 1 .pdf	Article Perspectives Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf
Laboratory Confidence	Finding Research Articles	Interpretation: Describe different types of research articles, including Experimental Articles, Meta-Analysis, and Review Articles Evaluation: Choose and article to satisfy research needs identified by your mentor Analysis: Compare different types of articles to determine which is appropriate for various needs Analysis: Compare and contrast different types of sources and explain which sources are appropriate in different contexts Evaluation: Evaluate various articles in terms of type, trustworthiness, freshness, and cost. Explain the pros and cons associated with different sources Application: Locate library resources at your school Application: Interview a librarian at your school to determine valulable methods for your research needs	Finding Research Articles Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials:	Finding Research Articles Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf Supplements: Finding Research Articles Presentation .pptx
Laboratory Confidence	Abstract Critique	Interpretation: Identify elements that should be found in an abstract Interpretation: Define the importance  and purpose of abstracts and the role they play in research Evaluation: Critique an abstract for completeness and clarity	Abstract Critique Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: Handout 1: Abstract Guidelines and Examples .docx | .pdf	Abstract Critique Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf
Laboratory Confidence	Experimental Design	Interpretation: Define independent, dependent, and controlled variables Interpretation: Define quantitative and qualitative data Interpretation: List the steps of the scientific method. List the steps of the engineering design process Analysis: Compare and contrast the scientific method with the engineering method Evaluation: Explain how researchers select an appropriate experimentation method Deduction: Explain how statistical tests afre used to evaluate experimental results (data) and arrive at conclusions Application: Given a research scenario, state a hypothesis, identify variables, and come up with an experimental plan using the engineering design  method and scientific method	Experimental Design Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: Handout 1: Experimental Design Definitions .docx | .pdf Handout 2: Engineering Design Vs. Scientific Method .docx | .pdf Handout 3: Experimental Design Activity .docx | .pdf	Experimental Design Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf
Laboratory Confidence	SWOT Analysis	Interpretation: Define the elements that make up a SWOT anlysis Interpretation: Review a sample publication and its related sample SWOT analysis Analysis / Application: Conduct a SWOT Analysis on the research article you are studying Evaluation: Create suggestions for future research based on your SWOT analysis	SWOT Analysis Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: 1. Handout 1: Sample Publication .docx | .pdf 2. Handout 2: Sample SWOT Analysis .docx | .pdf 3. Handout 3: SWOT Worksheet .docx | .pdf	SWOT Analysis Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf
Laboratory Confidence	Presentation Skills - Podium	Interpretation: Define categories that can be used to evaluate different types of presentations Interpretation: Identify strategies that can be used to deliver an effective podium presentation Application: Deliver a strong podium presentation on a chosen research article Evaluation: Critique your own presentation and those of your mentee cohorts	Presentation Skills - Podium Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials Handout 1: Podium Presentaion Rubric .docx | .pdf Handout 2: Presentation Template .pptx	Presentation Skills Podium Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf
Laboratory Confidence	Presentation Skills - Interactive	Interpretaion: Define categories that can be used to evaluate different types of presentations Interpretation: Identify strategies that can be used to deliver an effective interactive presentation Application: Deliver a strong interactive presentation on a chosen topic Evaluation: Critique your own presentation and those of your mentee cohorts	Presentation Skills - Interactive Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials Handout 1: Interactive Table Template .docx | .pdf Handout 2: Interactive Presentation Rubric .docx | .pdf	Presentation Skills - Interactive Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf
Laboratory Confidence	Elevator Speech	Interpretation: Identify topics that are appropriate to include in an Elevator Speech Interpretation: Explain the importance of an Elevator Speech Application: Prepare an Elevator Speech based on your own experience, knowledge, and goals Evaluation: Predict how you should revise your Elevator Speech based on your audience (i.e., are you talking with a business manager, a lab technician, a recruiter, the CEO of the company?)	Elevator Speech Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials Handout 1: Job Seekers, too, Need an 'Elevator Pitch' .pdf Handout 2: My 30 Second Commercial .docx | .pdf Handout 3: Evaluation Rubric .docx | .pdf	Elevator Speech Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf
Laboratory Confidence	Reference Management	Interpretation: Describe the purpose and importance of reference managers. Interpretation: Summarize some basic features of reference managers. Evaluation: List several good and bad practices when using reference managers. Application: Import publications into reference managers and manipulate data entries. Application: Create citations and bibliographies from a reference manager.	Reference Management Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: 1. Handout 1: Citing Patents .docx | .pdf	Reference Management Mentor Guide (none) .docx | .pdf
Laboratory Confidence	Scientific Community	Interpretation: Identify appropriate strategies for interacting with other members of your scientific community as gatherings such as conferences and meetings Interpretation: Identify the elements of the peer review process and the benefits of this process to researchers and the larger scientific community Interpretation: Describe the nature of research funding, including sources of research sponsorship and the expected outcomes of research Application: Prepare a list of questions or other interactions you might be able to use at a conference related to your research area Evaluation: Review a research article and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses as well as completeness Interpretation: Describe the importance of funding to the research process	Scientific Community Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: 1. Handout 1: Peer Review .docx | .pdf 2. Handout 2: Participation .docx | .pdf 3. Handout 3: Research Funding .docx | .pdf	Scientific Community Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf Supplements: Research Funding Presentation .pptx
Innovation Confidence	Innovation	(under development)
Innovation Confidence	Intellectual Property	Interpretation: Identify the elements that should be found in a patent. Interpretation: Define the purpose of intellectual property and its importance in legal protection. Evaluation: Critique an idea for nonobviousness. Evaluation: Define the main ways of legally protecting intellectual property and understand the differences between each. Application: Perform a U.S. patent/trademark search.	Intellectual Property Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: 1. Handout 1: Citing Patents .docx | .pdf	Intellectual Property Mentor Guide (none) .docx | .pdf
Innovation Confidence	Customer Discovery - Learning to  Listen	Interpretation: Describe the purpose and importance of the customer discovery process. Evaluation: Outline the basic steps in the customer discovery process. Evaluation: Identify who could provide input on a new idea. Application: Formulate questions to ask prospective customers.	Video Overview of Customer Discovery YouTube (26 min). Customer Discovery Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: 1. Handout 1: Customer Discovery .docx | .pdf	Customer Discovery Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf Supplements: Customer Discovery Presentation .pptx
Career Confidence	Resume Writing	Interpretation: Define the purpose of a resume Interpretation: Identify elements that should appear on a resume Analysis: Discuss the differences, if any, between a resume and a curriculum vitae Application: Locate resources on your campus for assistance with resume writing Evaluation: Identify strengths and weaknesses in sample resumes	Resume Writing Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: Handout 1: Sample Resume .docx | .pdf	Resume Writing Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf Supplements: Sample Resume Solution .docx | .pdf | .pptx
Career Confidence	Requesting Letters of Recommendation	Interpretation: Explain the purpose of a Letter of Reccomendation Interpretation: Identify best practices for securing a Letter of Recommendation Application: Select potential references you might approach to seek a Letter of Recommendation	Requesting Letters of Recommendation Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: 1. Handout 1: Requesting Letters of Recommendation Sample Reviewer Form .docx | .pdf	Requesting Letters of Recommendation Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf
Career Confidence	Career Panel	Interpretation: Describe the purpose and importance of an Individual Development Plan (IDP) Interpretation: Review interviews from expert researchers to determine skills and strategies to developing skills as a researcher within the scientific and engineering communities Analysis: Appraise strenghts and weaknesses in your skills as a young researcher Analysis: Examine interviews of expert researchers and relate their responses to your own goals as applicable Application: Draft your own IDP	Career Panel Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: Handout 1: Building Your Own IDP .docx | .pdf Handout 2: Expert Researcher Video Interviews .docx | .pdf Supplementary Interviews .docx | .pdf	Career Panel Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf
Career Confidence	Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)	Interpretation: Explain what the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program is Interpretation: Discuss the benefits of participating in a program such as NSF REU Application: Navigate the NSF REU website and locate potential opportunities based on your interests or research	Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Module Overview .docx | .pdf Materials: 1. Handout 1: Getting an REU .docx | .pdf	Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Mentor Guide .docx | .pdf