Cross-age mentoring to educate high-school students in digital design and production

Abstract

This paper proposes a way to implement cross-age mentoring for laboratory instruction in technical drawing, computer aided design and production with 3D printer for secondary school students majoring in mechanical engineering. The study was conducted in two high schools, with twenty six 9th and 11th graders participated as mentees, and nine 12th graders served as mentors. The study used the mixed method to determine characteristics of the cross-age mentoring and evaluate learning outcomes of student mentors and mentees. As found, mentoring was effective when being conducted in small groups of mentees by mentors who took a preparatory instruction course and used 3D models that they produced as instructional aids. The mentees succeeded to design and print a larger number of models of higher quality, then been guided by the teacher only. The mentors deepened knowledge of the subject and developed instruction skills.