Mentor Matching Engine
Smartforce initiatives continually amplify the work of organizations that engage and nurture student interest in STEM education pathways. We are currently highlighting Mentor Matching Engine for its impact on students across the state of Illinois, which represents the majority of student attendees at IMTS. Check back as we continue building partnerships like these in Illinois and across the US.
The Mentor Matching Engine (MME) is an online collaboration tool powered by the Illinois Science and Technology Institute that links high school students with mentors anytime, anywhere. Through MME, students are able to connect virtually with experts across the world to guide them through long term research projects. The program has been proven to raise student confidence in 21st century skills, with 88% of students indicating improved communication skills and 92% in research skills in the 2021-22 academic year.
Most importantly, MME allows students to develop meaningful relationships with mentors they couldn't otherwise access and gives students a line of sight to future academic paths and careers. MME aims to remove the barriers of traditional mentorship, providing a streamlined path for students across the state of Illinois to receive meaningful feedback and direction, both in their projects and beyond.
For more information about the platform or the program, contact the Program Manager or Mentorship, Tanvi Dharap.
To learn more about becoming a mentor on MME and making a direct impact in the lives of students across the state of Illinois, sign up here!
Follow along with the ISTI story through our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, where students showcase projects in the hard sciences and the social sciences. You can also see interviews with current mentors and teacher testimonials.