Potential Mentorship Activities
Here are a few ideas of activities for mentees and mentors to consider as they plan out their mentorship experience.
Project Walkthrough
Mentor walks through the steps, decision points, and iterations they took with a past project. Mentees are encouraged to ask questions.
Critique
Mentee presents a piece of original work (in progress or completed) and asks for feedback in key areas. Uses the #share-critique framework.
Guided Project
Mentor assigns a short project to the mentee. Together they develop a plan and the mentee can ask questions and get feedback as they work.
Why, Not How
A more theoretical session focused on the reasons why a particular dataviz convention exists, and when it’s okay to break it. The subject is chosen together by the mentor and mentee, perhaps informed by another exercise. The mentor presents/talks a little, then the mentee can ask questions.
Graphic of person with an eager expression.
Expanding Skills
Mentor and mentee decide together on a skill that the mentee would like to work on, which the mentor has some experience with. The mentor suggests learning materials, sets “homework”, and supports the mentee to achieve a certain level of skill in a set period of time.
Write Together
Work on a piece - researching, writing, and creating visuals together - and co-author something for Nightingale (the DVS publication) or another publication.
Career Guidance
Mentor advises the mentee and helps them navigate the profession and make career decisions. Mentee is tasked with coming up with questions to ask.
Process Walkthrough
The mentor screen-shares while doing a task, talking through their steps and thought process. The mentee asks questions and make notes.