Mentor Checklist

Course link that the student will take – https://learn.wordpress.org/course/wordpress-credits/ 

BEFORE THE PROJECT STARTS (Onboarding phase)

• Set up a call with the student to introduce and get started. You can schedule a group call as well if they understand the same language.

Get the student set up

• Confirm they’ve created their WordPress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. https://wordpress.org/ profile.
• Confirm they’ve joined the global WordPress SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/ (and their local/regional Slack, if one exists for their language/area).
• Make sure they know the key channels: #wpcredits (general) and where to reach you.
• Create a Slack DM group, MentorEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues. <> Mentee, for regular check-ins.
• Send/confirm they have their individual tracking/form link (usually shared in their Welcome email; you can also pull it from your Airtable dashboard if they lose it).

Confirm foundational courses are completed

• Open sourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. basics and WordPress.
• Differences between WordPress.comWordPress.com An online implementation of WordPress code that lets you immediately access a new WordPress environment to publish your content. WordPress.com is a private company owned by Automattic that hosts the largest multisite in the world. This is arguably the best place to start blogging if you have never touched WordPress before. https://wordpress.com/ and .org.
• How decisions are made in the WordPress project.
• Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced WordPress User course(s): 1 to 3, depending on their existing skill level.

Help them choose a real contribution project

• Walk them through the list of teams (CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress., Polyglots, Support, Documentation, Test, Playground, Community, Training, TV, Photos, Design, Themes, DEIB, AccessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility), MetaMeta Meta is a term that refers to the inside workings of a group. For us, this is the team that works on internal WordPress sites like WordCamp Central and Make WordPress., Hosting) and point them to make.wordpress.org/[team-name] for each.
• Double-check the project idea against what qualifies: it should tie to a team’s real goals, produce something useful to the wider community, and involve collaboration, not be a personal blog/portfolio or disconnected one-off experiment.
• If relevant, share hosting/pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. discount codes for their personal website (these come from the program, not the course itself).

Set expectations early

• Explain the weekly meeting rhythm and 24-hour async response expectation.
• Review the Code of ConductCode of Conduct “A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the norms, rules, and responsibilities or proper practices of an individual party.” – Wikipedia with them.
• Make sure they understand lessons unlock sequentially, and they must submit their tracking form after each one.

DURING THE PROJECT (active contribution phase)

Weekly rhythm

• Hold a ~30-min weekly meeting (same day/time) or a group meeting if several students share a language.
• Cover: progress since last check-in, blockers/questions, goals for next week, feedback and encouragement.
• Respond to Slack/email within 24 hours on working days, even if just to confirm receipt and give a timeframe.

Tracking and verification

• Check their Airtable submissions before each weekly meeting.
• Verify their website/posts are genuine updates and reflections on the contribution work (not off-topic content).
• Verify Slack participation and any event attendance links they’ve shared.
• If something doesn’t fit the course’s purpose, ask them to revise it via their tracking link.

Reporting

• Post a short biweekly update in #wpcredits-private summarizing each student’s status.
• Escalate immediately (don’t wait for the biweekly cycle) if there’s an urgent issue.

Troubleshooting as it comes up

• Not engaging: reach out proactively, simplify tasks; escalate to education@wordpressfoundation.org if there’s no response after 4+ attempts over 2+ weeks.
• Overwhelmed/behind: help reprioritize, set mini-deadlines, celebrate small wins.
• Wants to change project scope: understand why, connect them to the right team, check feasibility, have them keep (not discard) earlier work.
• Technical/workflow blockers: point to Slack/forums/docs, give a quick demo, encourage documenting the fix.

Closing out

• Confirm their final reflection post is published (Wrap-up stage).
• Ask them to fill out the feedback forms using the correct email (the same one they have in the personal link, without spelling errors and without capital letters).
• Point them toward ongoing resources if they want to stay involved (Learn WordPress, Make WordPress, WordPress.tv, WordPress Education).