OURS309: Peer Mentorship - Supporting Students In Course-Based Research is a one-credit peer mentorship experience that gives experienced undergraduate students a unique opportunity to further develop their leadership capacities while serving as Peer Learning Mentors to students in a UMD course.
What Is This Course?
Effective peer mentorship is highly impactful in course-based research and experiential learning environments to enhance student gains for students and peer mentors. In OURS309: Peer Mentorship - Supporting Students in Course-Based Research, students will explore and apply the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning theories as Peer Learning Mentors within a course-based research course. Students will practice, discuss, and reflect on educational theories using critical reflection techniques through online coursework and face-to-face meetings with fellow Peer Learning Mentors and mentees.
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What Course Will Peer Learning Mentors Support?
Peer Learning Mentors will support new FIRE students in FIRE Semester 1 (FIRE120).
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How Will Peer Learning Mentors Benefit?
By serving as Peer Learning Mentors, you will have the opportunity to:
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Strengthen your relationship with your FIRE Faculty Leader or establish a new relationship with a different stream’s FIRE Faculty Leader
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Develop skills in mentoring, leadership, teaching, and communication.
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Gain new perspectives on interdisciplinary research and research education.
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Engage with incoming FIRE Students and serve in a near-peer mentoring role.
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Who Should Take OURS309: Peer Mentorship - Supporting Students In Course-Based Research?​​​
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FIRE students, Peer Research Mentors, and alumni eager to support new FIRE students starting the FIRE program.
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Students committed to working with a cohort of FIRE Semester 1 students for the fall term.
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Students in all fields of study and areas of research.​
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What Will You Learn?
​Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:​​​
Demonstrate and execute authentic research practices to tackle real-world problems as a model to near-peer students.
Assist near peers in building confidence as researchers and in acquiring and accessing resources needed to complete course-based undergraduate research.
Develop higher-order impactful communication skills to convey concepts and processes while providing quality formative feedback to students.
Use self-assessment and reflective writing to evaluate and improve performance as a peer mentor.
What Will You Do?
​OURS309: Peer Mentorship - Supporting Students In Course-Based Research utilizes a blended learning format.
In Fall 2025, Peer Learning Mentors will:
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Attend a one-hour, in-person, weekly Peer Learning Mentor meeting in ATL 2339 on Mondays from 5-6 PM to discuss weekly lesson plans and prepare for mentoring FIRE Semester 1 students.
- Utilize one hour weekly to lesson plan and prepare for your FIRE Semester 1 (FIRE120) section and complete readings and reflections to support mentoring FIRE students.
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Attend and engage in classroom activities for one hour per week (ex., facilitate discussion, assist with team projects, answer questions) in your assigned FIRE Semester 1 (FIRE120) section.
Interested?​​
Questions about FIRE Peer Learning Mentors should be sent to Dr. Sara T. Strey (sstrey@umd.edu).