Technical Support
Assessment FirstBefore starting an e-mentoring program, the Local Program Coordinator and/or Teacher should conduct an informal assessment of computer access, availability, and reliability. How many computers are available to students in the program? Do systems often go down? If so, you may need to remedy technical issues before starting an e-mentoring program. Is there a technical support person within the school system? If so, the Teacher should enlist that person's support.
Establish a Listserv
Has a listserv been established for the Teacher to communicate
with Mentors? The effectiveness of the Teacher in maintaining communication
through the listserv is critical to the success of the program.
Keep Communication Flowing
The Teacher and Employer-Liaison should encourage communication
from Mentors on a regular basis. Mentor concerns should be brought
to the Teacher and, if necessary, the Employer-Liaison. Mentors
and the Employer-Liaison should keep the Teacher informed about
any absences or times when the Mentor will be unable to e-mail.
Students who have participated in past e-mentoring programs have
said that they loved the mentoring experience but were very disappointed
if the Mentor did not e-mail as expected, or if the Teacher failed
to inform the Student that the Mentor would be absent. The Local
Program Coordinator should contact the Teacher periodically to assure
that the program is running smoothly and find out if any support
is needed.
Monitoring E-Mails
How will the Teacher monitor Students' e-mails? All e-mails from
Students should be reviewed by the Teacher before being sent. All
e-mails from Mentors should first be sent to the Teacher, who then
sends them to the Students. If the Teacher prefers to have a separate
e-mail account for e-mentoring, there are several sources of free
e-mail accounts on the Web.
Suggestions
- If computers are limited, have students write their e-mails
longhand. Then they can alternate entering messages into the computers.
- Explore sources of support in the community, including Employers,
who may be willing to assist with purchase of computers or upgrades
to the school's computer system.
- Having Students e-mail their Mentors at home is not recommended.
Connecting to Success is a school-based program, and maintenance
of boundaries supports the building of trust, clear expectations,
and self-mastery among Students.
- Teachers may want to consider having a paraprofessional, volunteer,
aide, or intern assist with the program.
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