This project is exploring a "many-to-many" peer mentorship scheme that makes explicit the tacit knowledge within the ATE project director community using a combination of in-person and electronic means. The project is actively engaging the community of experienced ATE PIs in reflecting on what guidance would have proven most helpful to them when they were starting out, and providing a persistent resource for new ATE PIs. In particular, key skills in the nuts and bolts of project management (e.g., managing people, managing funds, and managing operations), and change management (e.g., building and sustaining support among key constituencies, anticipating and adjusting to changing operational conditions, and institutionalizing the project's activities within the core operations of host units) are explored as being required for optimal implementation of complex projects. The project is developing a web site that features: (a) at least 10 short video segments of the experienced PIs discussing these two topics, (b) written case studies, and (c) a moderated electronic community of practice to build peer mentoring networks among novice and experienced PIs. It is expected that these tools will also be useful to prospective PIs and those recently declined for awards. The variety of materials to be offered on the site (text and video) can be expected to appeal to a variety of learning styles.
This project led to a website that offers support for individuals who have newly-funded NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grants or plan to submit proposals to the program. Although these individuals have knowledge and skills related to their research and teaching, they frequently lack experience and skills in both 1) project management, which includes managing people, managing funds, and managing operations, and 2) change management, which includes building and sustaining support among key groups, anticipating and adjusting to changing conditions, and making the project’s activities a permanent part of the institution. These skills are especially critical for complex projects, and mentorship is a well-established academic strategy for building skills in less experienced individuals. Typically, mentorship involves one experienced person (the mentor) providing advice to one or more less experienced people (the mentees). However, with a large NSF program involving many new and potential Principal Investigators (PIs), we wanted to determine whether a many-to-many online mentorship system can be effectively implemented. The system is the ATE Principal Investigators Garnering Useful Instruction in Developing [Project] Effectiveness (ATE PI GUIDE; http://govpiguide.org/), which provides strategies and knowledge that experienced PIs can share with novice and would-be PIs to significantly aid their ability to successfully achieve the goals of their projects. We worked with ATE staff to determine what knowledge, skills, and abilities new and prospective PIs need in order to enhance their project management and change leadership skills. Using that list, we interviewed 21 experienced PIs about challenges they had faced and information they wished they had known before starting their projects. We used their answers to produce hypothetical situations that PIs could experience. We then interviewed 13 of the experienced PIs and asked them to answer the following questions about the situations: In addressing this scenario, what additional information do you wish you had? Given the scenario, what advice do you have for the PI? How would you advise the PI to avoid this situation in the future? Each answer was split into 1-2 minute segments and posted on the website. Users are able to search by hypothetical situation, by specific question across different scenarios, or by specific PI across all questions. Currently, in addition to the ATE community, the site includes communities for three other NSF programs. Although new and prospective ATE PIs would be expected to find the ATE scenarios the most beneficial, all website users can view any of the videos and join any of the communities. Transcripts of the video segments provide for web site features that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities act. The website also has the following features: Support of user-initiated discussion groups on various topics related to project management and change leadership. Posted videos accompanied by transcripts and additional explanatory material. Comment sections on the posted videos and other resources. Users can create their own groups based on subjects of interest (e.g., subgroups devoted to [a] new PIs interacting with experienced PIs, or [b] experienced PIs strategizing on needed new directions in the overall program). The ultimate aim of the website is to provide demonstrable value to potential users through the provision of desired information and services. With that in mind, the website could support webinars and RSS feeds. The site users can also create their own resource library (e.g., documents to share, external web sites, recommendations on consultants, etc.), personalize their home page, chat live with other users (both new and experienced PIs), and share links and bookmarks with other users. Although users are required to log-in, membership is free and all aspects of the site are available to all users. The intellectual merit of this effort is provided by its exploration of a "many-to-many" peer mentorship scheme that enables experienced PIs to share their experience and knowledge of project management and change leadership with less experienced individuals, which actively engages them in reflecting on what guidance would have proven most helpful to them when they were starting out. Intellectual merit is also provided by plans to provide a persistent resource for new ATE PIs. The immediate impact of this project is on the participating senior and junior PIs. The broader impact will be on successive generations of ATE PIs as they use the website resources. An even broader impact is anticipated as the concept proves useful across a wide variety of program types. For new PIs, the ability to quickly ramp up their project management and change leadership effectiveness will improve student learning outcomes and provide a way to share new and innovative products across projects and institutions.
