How to E-Walk the E-Talk

Communicating online is not the same as face-to-face verbal communication. Thinking through the differences and learning some strategies for online communication can help with development of electronic mentoring relationships. The following are several considerations important to mentors, teachers and mentees.

Access to E-Mail

Consider this when planning the frequency of e-mails. Keeping up with regular e-mails and informing others when you will be out of communication are important aspects of a successful e-mentoring relationship. Keep in mind that access to e-mail is sometimes limited in schools.

Time Constraints

A typical problem for both mentors and students is lack of time. Also, students and teachers often have drastically different schedules than do mentors. The teacher should act as an online facilitator, receiving and sending information about absences, events, progress, and lesson plans.

Boundaries

It is more difficult to maintain healthy boundaries with students when e-mail is the only form of communication. E-mail eliminates all body language, which communication studies have shown accounts for more than 90% of human communication. Each e-mail should be carefully written with a positive impact in mind. When reading the student's reply, think about the mentee's underlying needs.

Common Interest

Common interest is the basis of any successful relationship. Mentors should ask their mentee how they spend their free time. It is inevitable that a common interest will be discovered.

Saving a Copy

A copy of all communication should be saved in a format that is convenient. Mentors may want to create an electronic file through an e-mail program or print out hard copies. At some point, the mentor may want to look back on what was said earlier.

Emoticons

Mentors and protégés can add fun with emoticons. These are sideways pictorial representations of a human face expressing emotion. Here are a few.

:-) User is happy.
;-) User is winking.
:-( User is unhappy.
:-/ User is embarrassed.
B-) User is proud.
;:-) User has an eyebrow raised.

Parenthetical Comments

Mentors and protégés may also have fun using parenthetical comments set off by asterisks to convey emotion. Here are a few typically used online:

*l* Laughing
*lol* Laughing out loud
*rotf* Laughing so hard I'm rolling on the floor
*sigh* Slight disappointment
*bs* Big smile

What Works

In general, the following elements have been found to facilitate successful e-mentoring exchanges (Harris, 1996):

In-person assistance for students
Communicating regularly
Student-centered, inquiry-based communication
Balanced communication that is both intellectual and emotional

Reference

Harris, J. (1996). It's a simple idea, but it's not easy to do -- Practical lessons in telementoring. Learning and Leading with Technology, 24(2), 53-60.