Mentoring Pre-service Teachers
Ever thought about becoming a mentor teacher? Use your experience to show graduate educators the ropes! This course empowers you to support the next generation of educators.
New course starts 29 January
Enrolments close 25 January
Next course starts 22 April
Join our waiting list
Please note: UC Online has a minimum enrolment threshold that must be met to enable opportunities for interaction, discussion, and feedback. If the minimum number of enrolments required for a course is not met, enrolled students will be given the option to defer their enrolment to the next course date, or receive a refund.
To take this course, you must:
- Be a qualified teacher
- Have a teaching degree and/or extensive and relevant previous teaching experience
Technology Requirements
We recommend a laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection. For most courses you'll need to download and populate assignments. These are usually available in Microsoft Word.
Course fees
Course fees must be paid before learning can begin, either via online credit-card payment, or by contacting info@uconline.ac.nz to request an invoice. Please note: fixed invoice payment dates apply, so we recommend getting in touch with us as soon as possible to request an invoice, as this option is subject to availability.
Our courses are flexible, enabling you to plan your study around your other commitments. You can choose to study when it suits you during the learning period (29 January – 1 April, with a one-week study break from 26 February - 3 March), followed by a 2-week period for marking and feedback (2 – 15 April).
We recommend completing around 6 hours of study a week during the 8-week learning period (excluding the study break)– you can view the course overview here for more details on assessment timings.
Module 1: Te Pakiaka o te tōtaraThis course has one assessment where you will be asked to submit an audio recording of a mentoring feedback conversation (maximum 30 minutes) and use the recording to identify what went well, what didn't, and any areas for improvement.
Upon successful completion of the course you will be issued a digital badge to recognise your learning achievements. This can take up to 2 months to be delivered after the marking and feedback period.

Grant Buchanan
Lecturer | School of Teacher Education

Nikki Tod
Lecturer | School of Teacher Education

Sandra Williamson-Leadley
Senior Lecturer | Education
Grant Buchanan
Grant also teaches Physical Education courses with primary pre-service teachers and works as a professional practice lecturer. He completed a master’s thesis on mentoring in primary schools in New Zealand. His research focuses on understanding the ecological nuances of mentoring teachers and using mentoring to build professional capability.
Nikki Tod
Nikki's professional background includes ten years of classroom teaching in primary schools. This includes senior leadership positions, mentoring pre-service and beginning teachers, and lecturing in Initial Teacher Education at UC for over twenty years.
Her Master of Education research focused on educational leadership (with an emphasis on professional learning for developing teachers) and culturally-responsive practices. She's committed to best practice in ITE and values the mentor-mentee relationships that underpin the growth of a mentee’s teaching practice.
Sandra Williamson-Leadley
Sandra's professional background includes 17 years as a primary school teacher in NZ. This includes senior leadership positions, mentoring pre-service and beginning teachers, and ten years as a teacher educator.
Her doctoral research focused on the perspectives of primary teachers regarding the impact of professional development when integrating educational technologies in their classroom practices. She's been involved in mentoring as a student and associate/mentor teacher, and is now a professional practice lecturer for initial teacher education students on placement.
Please note: our instructors develop and present video content within their courses, but are not always the course facilitator. The course facilitator will engage with learners in the course forums, answer queries and mark assignments.
This course is ideal for
- Associate teachers
- ECE teachers mentoring pre-service teachers
- Mentor teachers supporting graduate teachers
- Practicum lecturers
- Early childhood leaders
- Other teacher educators
- Anyone interested in leadership
What you'll learn
- The difference between mentoring and coaching
- How to build effective mentoring relationships
- A Māori worldview of mentoring and how the principles of Te Tiriti influence relationships
- How to facilitate difficult learning conversations
- How to create SMART goals
This course includes
- 5 Modules
- 1 Assignment
- Audio and video – Closed caption English transcripts available
