Abstract / Excerpt:

To characterize Ignatian teaching and learning is to live its basic characteristics, cura personalis and magis displayed through mentoring; mentoring is a product of reflected discerned choices to journey with colleagues so that the latter attains self-actualization in their personal and professional milieu. Informal mentoring that happens in the workplace is often grounded on established cliques, membership in a program or school, or longevity of stay. Most often, informal mentoring goes unmonitored and unassisted. This study explores a culture of mentoring that integrates Ignatian characteristics of cura personalis and magis. It shows how the faculty and faculty-administrators see Ignatian mentoring, how they experienced informal mentoring, how the Ateneo encouraged the development of a mentoring culture, and what enhancement program on Ignatian mentoring for mentors can be designed that will benefit the probationary teachers and the first stage teachers. The study used qualitative descriptive research design where data were taken through focused group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), in-depth interview, and survey questionnaires. Seventy teachers participated in the survey; 11 teachers joined the FGDs and two teachers joined the in-depth interview; and, nine administrators joined the KIIs. Using the major Ignatian themes of experience, reflection, action, and evaluation, the study revealed that the respondents viewed mentoring as a different form of collegian relationship although the lack of institutional on boarding programs refocused their attention from mentoring on perceptions of fear and politics in the Ateneo community. Likewise, with only informal mentoring relationships in place, these experiences became subjective and selective. The teachers had a moderate knowledge of sura personalis and magis; they knew cura personalis and magis as concepts closely related to Christian goodness and a consequence of what one has become. Furthermore, the respondents saw that because mentoring is needed in the Ateneo, it had to be institutionalized; hence, they saw the need to formalize the formation of mentors and mentoring relationships to support the appropriate on boarding of new faculty and to build a community rooted in the Ignatian precepts of cura personalis and magis. The Module for Faculty Mentoring Formation is designed for the mentors; it emphasizes the use of reflective practice to understand the self in relations to the mentee and the community. It uses Ignatian where personal interaction and human relationships point towards personal and professional growth.

Info

Source Institution	Ateneo de Davao University
Unit	Humanities and Letters
Authors	Racho-Baldovino, Pilariza.
Page Count	201
Place of Publication	Davao City
Original Publication Date	March 1, 2012
Tags	Mentoring

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