SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO MENTORING

Abstract

A system and method for an exchange to connect people at all levels, young and old, in school and out of school, for the purpose of sharing knowledge and the goals of improving people's lives and career opportunities.

Claims

1. A system for coordinating and providing for mentoring services from mentors to mentees comprising: a panoply of computing devices; a network connecting said devices; a computer program running on a platform; and a website accessible on said network running under the control of said program and accessible to said devices, whereby potential mentors create profiles on such website using such devices for access by potential mentees using such devices by which said program coordinates the matching of potential mentors with potential mentees so that said mentors may provide mentoring services to said mentees.

2. The system of claim 1 in which said network is the internet.

3. The system of claim 1 in which said platform is selected from the group comprising: a server and the cloud.

4. The system of claim 1 in which such devices are selected from the group comprising: laptop computers, desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.

5. A method for coordinating and providing for mentoring services for mentors to mentees comprising the steps of: creating by potential mentors of information relating to mentor skill sets and profiles describing areas of proficiency and availability for providing mentoring services in said areas; posting of said mentor information on a website resident on a network; creating by potential mentees of information relating to mentee profiles describing areas of needed mentoring services and availability for receiving said mentoring services in said areas; posting said mentee profiles on said website; and matching said mentor availability in an area of needed mentoring by a mentee said availability of said mentee, whereby mentoring services are provided by said mentor to said mentee in said area of needed mentoring services at mutually available times.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The instant invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof as shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings:

[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a webpage for matching of potential mentors with potential mentees so that said mentors may provide mentoring services to said mentees.

[0011] FIG. 2 depicts a webpage by which a potential mentor enters his or her availability and skill set information.

[0012] FIG. 3 depicts a webpage by which a potential mentor enters his or her profile information.

[0013] FIG. 4 depicts a webpage by which a potential mentee enters his or her needed mentoring and profile information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The system and method disclosed herein provides a platform for the exchange of information between mentors (or Givers) and mentees (or Takers). Givers start by creating a profile as shown on FIG. 3. The Giver will then provide a checklist of skill sets and knowledge he or she is proficient in (such as python programming, statistics, or machine learning) as shown in FIG. 2. The Giver also provides his or her availability (in one hour slots) as shown in FIG. 2. Finally, as shown in FIG. 2 the Giver also has the option of providing notes (more details) on each skill set. The Taker also starts by creating a profile as shown in FIG. 4. The Taker then goes to the Exchange webpage as shown in FIG. 1 to find the knowledge that Taker requires. If he or she finds a match he or she will click on a calendar invite and confirm the meeting. If he or she does not find a match he or she can email the administrator of the website and the administrator will attempt to help that Taker find a match by other means, or may add the Taker's request to a backlog that is triggered if and when that knowledge or skill set becomes available from a Giver.

[0015] After the calendar invite is sent, the Giver and Taker will determine how they want to transfer the knowledge or connect, that is, for example, via email, phone, or in-person.

[0016] Volunteer credits will be assigned by the system and method of this invention to Givers (for each hour shared) and tracked so that those Givers are recognized for his or her contribution. It is suggested in this system and method, but not required, that Takers also give back by mentoring in the future (that is, give an hour, take an hour).

[0017] A rating system is constructed by the present system and method to better evaluate Givers and Takers but initially an honor system model will be applied. That is, the Giver will provide information on his or her knowledge and proficiency.

[0018] As may be appreciated, the specification of the invention set forth herein relates in great part to the preferred embodiment of the invention, but other embodiments of the instant invention are also to be understood to be covered hereby.