Learning Lab Toolkit

This space is designed just for Mentors—your go-to guide for supporting Associates as they grow their teaching voice and support new players with clarity and care. Whether you’re leading a Power Hour, guiding a discussion on Facebook, or providing quiet encouragement, you play a critical role in shaping the culture of the Learning Lab.

Great mentorship begins with a clear purpose. In the Learning Lab, your role is not to correct or control—it’s to model curiosity, promote clarity, and empower new instructors to grow with confidence.

Core Concepts:

Guide, don’t gatekeep: Offer clarity and direction without overstepping. Allow Associates to exercise their teaching voice even if they’re still refining their skills.
Respond with curiosity: Instead of jumping in with corrections, consider questions like: “What do you think the rule is?” or “Where could we check to confirm?”
Normalize growth: Remind Associates (and players) that learning is a process and mistakes are part of mastery.
Use encouragement strategically: Begin with affirmation (“Great observation!”) and then guide gently toward clarity.
Model what we teach: If we value kindness, clarity, and humility, it should show in every comment, correction, and collaboration.

Sample Phrases for Mentorship Conversations:

“You’re on the right track—let’s break it down together.”
“That’s a common spot to get tripped up. I used to mix that up, too!”
“Let’s see what the Wiki says so we can be sure.”
“I love that you jumped in—here’s a way to strengthen your explanation.”

As a mentor, your role is to guide Associate Instructors with encouragement, not evaluation. Think of it as scaffolding their confidence—step by step.

Give Feedback with Warmth

Lead with something they did well before offering a correction.
Use “we” language to normalize learning (e.g., “We all mix that up sometimes”).
Keep it light—humor and humility go a long way.

Example:
“You’re off to a great start! One quick note—Charleston skips are only optional if a player passes all 3 tiles. Let me know if you want the full breakdown.”

Spot Learning Opportunities

When an Associate comment lacks clarity, consider it a chance to model better phrasing.
Privately message first, unless correction is time-sensitive and public clarification is needed.
Use topic guide excerpts as reference when redirecting.

Example:
“Great energy in that reply! A little tweak could help with clarity—want me to share a sample phrasing that hits tone + accuracy?”

Redirect Without Embarrassment

Avoid calling out mistakes. Use a “supportive nudge” instead.
Offer to co-comment if they’re unsure how to clarify.
Affirm effort—even when the response needs revision.

Example:
“Thanks for jumping in! Let’s double-check the NMJL source together—I’ll tag the Wiki link so we can help everyone stay aligned.”

Your resource for Power Hour prompts, discussion starters, and fill-in sessions.
Use the topic guide when Associates bring no questions or need a structured point of entry. Each topic includes:

Key Talking Points
Engagement Prompts
Optional Practices and Takeaways

Access the Topic Guide and supporting materials

The Learning Lab is a dynamic environment. Sometimes, comments go off course or conflicts arise. The following are some common situations and responses.

An Associate gives an incorrect answer
What to do:
- Gently correct in a direct message:
  “Let’s clarify this part—[insert correct info]. Always good to double-check the Wiki!”
- If needed, send a direct message encouraging they review the the wiki or Mah Jongg Made Easy.
A non-guild member answers a question
What to do:
- Use a short, friendly direct message like:
  “Mahj Life Instructor Guild members who are moderators are approved to answer player questions. If you’re interested in joining the Guild, here’s the link: https://mahjlife.com/instructor-guild-membership.”
- Remove the comment after messaging.
A player disputes a rule
What to do:
- Redirect respectfully:
  “We follow NMJL rules here, and this can be a tricky one. Let’s check the Wiki together.”
- Avoid debating—point them to the source and let the resources speak for themselves.
Overtalking or thread hijacking
What to do:
- Comment or direct message: “Let’s keep this thread focused on the original question—great topic for a new post if you want to dive deeper!”

Decision Flow: Pause – Redirect – Remove

Pause: Is the comment truly disruptive, or just imperfect?
Redirect: Can this be corrected in the thread or in direct messages?
Remove: If harmful or misleading, delete—but always message first.

When to Involve the Guild Leader:

If unsure how to handle a situation
If a member repeatedly disregards rules
If a conflict becomes personal or escalates

Mentor Roundtable

Just a quick reminder that our next Mentor Roundtables occur on the first Monday of the quarter from 10:00 to 11:00 AM ET. As always, we’ll meet for one focused hour to reflect, refine, and reinforce what makes the Learning Lab thrive.

During this quarterly touchpoint, we’ll:
• Troubleshoot recent Learning Lab challenges
• Discuss trends among players and associates
• Collaborate on improvements and uphold our shared standards

Your voice matters. Your leadership ensures the Lab remains a safe, smart, and skill-building space for all.

Thank you for bringing your insight and heart to the table.

Learning Lab Toolkit