Setting your own schedule is one of the chief attractions of online/virtual mentoring vs. face-to-face mentoring. However, there's nothing virtual about the commitment you are making. There's a young person out there counting on you to respond to his or her inquiries and thoughts, and who wants to hear your feedback on what he or she has to share.
It's so easy to say yes to mentoring via the Internet that many people sign up to do so before really considering their expectations and availability, and before thinking about the commitment they are making.
Before you volunteer to be an online mentor, consider the following to determine if you are ready:
- Do you have regular, ongoing access to the Internet?
If you are going to take a month-long trip where you will not have access to the Web, or your computer is not currently working properly, now is probably not a good time to be an online mentor. You will need to have consistent, ongoing access to the Internet from August 2000 through January 2001 to participate in this program.
- Do you know how to communicate well via written communication?
Most of your communication during this experience will be via e-mail. Good writing skills are important, as is the ability to understand the uniqueness of online culture -- for instance, "smileys":
- Do you like reading text online? Or surfing around on a web site? Or reading directions and guidelines online?
This program is going to involve reading and responding to written communications. It's a 100% online program! That means you are going to be using e-mail and surfing the web. It also means you are going to receive your training and guidance to participate in this program ONLINE. If these are not activities you enjoy or can commit to, this program is probably not right for you.
- Can you make a commitment to check your e-mail (via our web site) every week during the duration of this program?
Again, there's nothing virtual about your commitment in this program! There's someone out there counting on you!
- Do you have a set time of day or week when you will participate in this program?
Don't just assume that you will have some time that pops up each week to write your protegé and read his or her messages; schedule a time each week, however approximate, to do this.
- Is this the right time for you to take on a this project?
If you are feeling overwhelmed by other responsibilities, now is probably not a good time to be an online mentor.
- What benefits do you expect out of volunteering virtually? What do you hope to accomplish? What do you hope your protegé gets out of this relationship?
Answering these questions for yourself will help you know if your expectations are in line with our project goals and defined benefits to adult participants.
If you answered no or had difficulty answering any of these questions, perhaps you are not ready for online mentoring at this time.
VERSION: December 15, 2000
Return to the main page of the Sanchez Elementary School Online Mentoring Program
VERSION: December 15, 2000
Return to the main page of the Sanchez Elementary School Online Mentoring Program
This web site is Copyrighted © 2000 by Jayne Cravens
Permission is granted to quote from this web site so long as the author and web site are noted.
Please notify me if you intend to use these materials or to quote me. You don't have to, but it would be appreciated.
This resource was developed by Jayne Cravens for Sanchez Elementary School in Austin, Texas;
the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin; and the Virtual Volunteering Project.
This online mentoring program is no longer operational; these web materials have been preserved to help other schools develop their own online mentoring programs. You can find more online mentoring resources here |
