Module Overview
What to View and Read
What to Work On
Things to Discuss
Additional Resources

Module Three: Introduction to Student Development Theory

In this module, we will be learning about student development theory and how you can use that knowledge as you work with your mentees.

In modules one and two, you spent time drafting a vision for your relationship with your mentee, and then learning how to make that plan actionable through communication strategies.

In Module 3, we shift from looking at the relationship to focusing on what your mentees might bring to the table. The purpose of this module is to provide you with a brief overview of the student development theories that come into play as a student is transitioning to college life.

It is important to know that the theories selected for this module are not exhaustive of all which can apply to a first year student, and that the purpose of learning about these theories is to help you understand that from a psychosocial development perspective there is a lot more going on in the brain of a first year student than meets the eye.

Module Objectives and Content

Objectives: At the completion of this module, you will be able to:

Describe aspects of student transition
Describe characteristics of various student populations served by the peer mentoring program
Recognize student development theory concepts applied in student transition
Identify common barriers and challenges mentees experience during the transition to college

Content: Module 3 includes the following content:

Recorded PowerPoint Lecture
Two assignments: First-Year Student Personal Narrative and Common Barriers List
One discussion about the "Aha" Moment
One quiz at the end of the module

Getting Started

Click the 'What to View and Read' tab to begin diving into this module's materials.

Start Here . . .

Below is the full narrated presentation for module three introducing you to student development theory:

You can download this presentation here as a PowerPoint and PDF file:

PowerPoint: Introduction to Student Development Theory.pptx
PDF: Introduction to Student Development Theory.pdf

**Note: voice recording is included in the PowerPoint file, please view slideshow from beginning

After you've completed the above, please move on to the next tab: What to Work On

If you’re interested in doing some additional reading and viewing, check out the Additional Resources tab.

In Module 3, you'll need to work on the following assignments:

Complete First-Year Student Personal Narrative assignment

First-Year Student Personal Narrative

Complete Common Barriers List assignment

Common Barriers List

Complete the quiz at the end of the module

Quiz: Introduction to Student Development Theory

For this module, please think back to your first year as a student in college. Try to identify a moment when something just clicked, or you had an epiphany, that suddenly helped make everything a little more clear (things made sense)? What was the situation, and what was the "Aha" Moment that you had? What helped you get there?

When you're ready click on Discussion: The "Aha" Moment and share your own thoughts and ideas.

The following are optional resources related to this module that might be helpful as you begin growing as a peer mentor

Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., Guido, F. M., Patton, L. D., & Renn, K. A. (2010). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice (2 ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Fusch, D. (2008). Training peer mentors for first-year students: What’s missing. Academic Impressions.
Jones, S. R., & McEwen, M. K. (2000). A conceptual model of multiple dimensions of identity. Journal of College Student Development, 41(4), 405-414.