2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This work outlines the course mapping structure of a training program focused on helping undergraduate peer mentors effectively assist first-year students in academic makerspaces, design courses, and laboratory classrooms. Student learning in unconventional learning environments such as makerspaces can be challenging, particularly if the learning requires the students to engage in teams to complete the non-traditional learning activities associated with project and problem-based learning.

The goal of the peer mentor preparation program is to provide undergraduate peer mentors with the knowledge, tools, feedback, and practice to develop skills to facilitate students enrolled in a first-year makerspace design course and support their learning in critical social and developmental areas.

The peer mentor preparation course contains six modules. For each module, this work maps out the taxonomy-based learning objectives, case scenario videos, and active learning exercises in support of the overall course goals. The digital learning modules developed and refined throughout this research project for University of Florida first-year engineering mentors will be openly shared with the larger STEM community for instructors at other institutions to utilize in their peer mentor preparation programs.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation, IUSE Improving Undergraduate STEM Education under Award Nos. 2315229 and 2315230.