We've talked about why is this program being launched and the benefits to students. But what about the benefits to mentors, parents and other adults?
For the mentor, having a trusting, nurturing, positive relationship with a young person can be a wonderful experience. It can:
- give you a fresh or very different outlook on life
- provide you with what it's like to be a student today from a YOUTH'S point of view
- give you insights that can help you in interactions, on or offline, with all youth
- expose you to people with backgrounds and experiences different from your own
- allow you to provide a positive influence on the life of a young person.
- give you the opportunity to help support a student's academic performance, and build skills that will serve the youth for the rest of his or her life.
In addition, we hope that by participating in this program, mentors will
- learn how the Internet can be a positive influence on the lives of youth
- share technology expertise with youth, to help them use computer and Internet tools to pursue their dreams and connect with resources that can make their lives better
- learn first hand how the Internet can be used effectively to enhance student academic achievement
- learn first hand how volunteers can help enhance student learning
We want this program to benefit BOTH youth and mentors!
Also, we hope parents and teachers at Sanchez Elementary School, through this program, will
- learn how the Internet can be a positive influence on the lives of youth
- learn first hand how the Internet can be used effectively to enhance student academic achievement
- learn first hand how volunteers can help enhance student learning
Learnings and best practices from this program (but no real names or contact information of participants) will be shared via the Virtual Volunteering Project and the National Mentoring Partnership, two nonprofit organizations working in collaboration to help develop quality standards and resources for online mentoring programs throughout the U.S.
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 |
