Resources for Mentors¶
Google Summer of Code Mentor Guide¶
This is Google's complete guide for anyone mentoring in the Summer of Code program. The guide walks you through everything from selecting good contributors and defining projects to managing the mentorship relationship, handling evaluations, and addressing problems when they arise. It covers the full program lifecycle, including the "community bonding period" where mentors and contributors get to know each other before diving into code.
rOpenSci Champions Program Mentor Guidelines v2.0¶
This guide from rOpenSci covers the necessary guidelines for the Champions Program Mentor, from mentor tools, required skills, and communication styles to code of conduct.
The Carpentries Instructors Handbook¶
The Carpentries is an organisation that teaches coding and data skills through workshops worldwide. Their Instructor's Handbook is for people who've been trained and certified to teach these workshops. The handbook covers practical operations: how to organise workshops (self-organised vs. centrally-organised), time commitments, communication channels they use, certification requirements, and FAQs.
Virtual Mentorship in Open Source¶
This article from Opensource.com explores how mentorship works in fully remote/virtual contexts. It covers building relationships without in-person interaction, using video calls effectively, communicating across time zones, maintaining engagement virtually, and tools that support remote mentorship.
The Power of Mentorship in Open Source¶
This article highlights how mentorship helps computer science students transition into open-source contributors. It addresses the gap between what students learn in school and what they need to know to contribute to real open source projects. The piece discusses why students struggle to get started in open source (intimidation, not knowing where to begin, fear of making mistakes) and how good mentorship bridges that gap. It highlights the difference mentorship makes in retention: students with mentors are much more likely to stick with open source contributions.
Being a Mentor in Open Source Projects¶
This research paper explores the mentor experience in open source. While many resources focus on mentees or program design, this one specifically examines what it's like to be a mentor, including motivations, challenges, rewards, and the skills required.