Volunteers and Mentors
Volunteers and Mentors
MENTORS
Space Settlement Design Competitions (aka SpaceSet) are designed for high school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). By providing a simulated industry environment for our participants to work in, along with complex futuristic problem and the dynamics of large teams to deal with, students will require guidance and support.
This is where a mentor is critical to their success. The SpaceSet journey is challenging, and ultimately beneficial, for students; increased success comes with the deft guidance of a mentor.
The Role Of A Mentor
Mentors can do just about anything to help the team with the project; but it is the students’ that must do the actual design. Mentors should be onboard from the word go and available from the earliest stages of planning right through to the proofreading. The best mentor is one that is there to keep the students moving towards their submission, helping them avoid getting bogged down in decision making. Ultimately, they’re happy to assist in any way that does not see them actually contribute to the writing of the submission.
Wait – I’m Not A Rocket Scientist!!
This is the number one concern we get from teachers and parents! And the answer is, your students don’t need you to be a rocket scientist, a technical engineer, or an interstellar scientist. They need the guidance and support that a mature professional can provide. SpaceSet challenges students in ways they don’t expect; the biggest issues they’ll face are actually non-technical in nature.
The best support you can provide students is to assist with areas such as the following:
Group Dynamics + Communication:
Maintaining A Schedule
Interpreting the Request For Proposal (RFP):
Information Overload: we provide way too much information to our participants. On purpose. Learning how to sift through the relevant information, and make timely decisions, is critical to success.
Who Can Be A Mentor?
It’s also important to note that mentors do not have to be teachers. A mentor does not have to have any specific qualifications, or anything more than an interest in the competition. They can be parents, teachers, community members, or ex-students, anyone interested in supporting a team.
If a participating team makes the ISSDC Finals, students must be accompanied by legal guardians, or their representatives.
First Steps
Once you’ve decided to embark on the Spaceset journey – or have had some students approach you, telling them they’ve already made that leap! – you can involve yourself in some, or all, of the following:
If your team is successful, and earns an invitation to the International Space Settlement Design Competition Finals, mentors can help the students get publicity, raise funds for the trip, and get prepared for an invigorating and exhausting three-day design and briefing ordeal.
More Information
Once your team has Registered, AEC will provide can provide you with an Information Pack that provides additional information on mentoring. Available documentation includes:
And don’t forget to check out our FAQ page as well.
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