General Introduction

This digital learning object was developed for use primarily by faculty and students in the context of higher education, but it may also be a useful resource for individuals in professional organizations.

Mentoring is a learning process where helpful, personal, and reciprocal relationships are built while focusing on achievement; emotional support is a key element. Within mentoring relationships, mentees develop and learn through conversations with more experienced mentors who share knowledge and skills that can be incorporated into their thinking and practice. By comparison, tutoring or coaching is provision of academic and professional assistance in a particular area with a sole focus on competence.

The process of mentoring may be viewed under three models –

           1. apprentice

           2. competency

           3. reflective

In the apprentice model, the mentee observes the mentor and learns. In the competency model, the mentor gives the mentee systematic feedback about performance and progress. In the reflective model, the mentor helps the mentee become a reflective practitioner. This learning object subscribes to the reflective model in which mentoring is seen as an intentional, nurturing and insightful process that provides a powerful growth experience for both the mentor and mentee. You will be introduced to a mentoring relationship process that develops through four stages – preparing, negotiating, enabling and reaching closure.

Mentoring relationships can be formal or informal. Formal mentor relationships are usually organized in the workplace where an organization matches mentors to mentees for developing careers. Informal mentor relationships usually occur spontaneously and are largely psychosocial; they help to enhance the mentee’s self esteem and confidence by providing emotional support and discovery of common interests.

Technology is increasingly used in the mentoring process because of its widespread accessibility and potential to overcome the barriers of time and geographical location between mentors and mentees. This learning object will introduce you to a number of benefits of technology-mediated mentoring as well as specific challenges that have yet to be resolved. You will also be introduced to selected strategies that would enhance communication and understanding when mentoring relationships occur at a distance.

It is important to realize, however, that the purposes and goals of mentoring programs and the human nature of mentoring relationships must drive the mentoring process, rather than the advantages provided by technology.