Comment communiquez-vous avec les mentors enseignants en ligne?

Mentoring is a meaningful relationship of wisdom exchange. It serves as a medium for knowledge, wisdom, and direction to be transmitted from an experienced person to a less experienced one. The strength of mentoring lies in its capacity to go beyond straightforward information transmission by connecting empathy, feelings, and connection. This emotional link develops trust, promoting self-esteem and drive. Technically speaking, it offers a secure environment for questioning and learning while also imparting useful knowledge and enhancing abilities. Genuine interest on the part of the mentor in the mentee's development produces a magical reaction that transforms instruction into outstanding personal and professional growth.

Mentoring is about building a relationship that inspires the mentee. To avoid frustrations, the 2 parties should establish clear goals and commitments. This will serve to measure as to whether the mentorship was successful or not.

Establishing expectations early in the relationship is important. It means the time commitment will be clear and helps establish the boundaries that can ensure the relationship flourishes. Some negotiation at the start may be necessary.

Building a sense of trust and empathy is indeed a very important factor in online mentoring. Mentors can schedule a session in between specifically dedicated for interacting with their mentees. Maybe a weekly call is a great option. For this they can establish a code of conduct in order to keep the conversation in the right direction. The code of conduct can include respect, holding hands, empathy, transparency, collaboration, active participation etc. The mentors can also gamify the learning path and keep interesting rewards upon achieving a certain milestone of the learning path. This way mentees stay interested and want to show up for the interactive session. Mentors should always have something interesting and insightful to serve.

I have started my online teacher mentor when Covid strike and had to come up with way to help how best my students at home. I started with (HeLP)Home Electronic Learning Pack. This was simply preparing activities for students and sending them home for students to do and send back. I then when into face to face online teaching when I travelled out to a different location and my students wanted me to teach them using Zoom. I tried Zoom and then changes to WhatsApp Video call. At times when I was unable to be on face to face online, I used Google Slide classroom to send work to students. Online Teaching has helped me to develop my online teaching skills.

There are a now a fleet of online platforms so both parties should choose what works best for them so that the training be effective.

In person is ideal, but if the relationship is conducted online it is great to be able to see the person you are talking with, so some sort of video application is useful. This is because so much communication is nonverbal.

My mentees and I always engage in a video session immediately. This is the first contact we have (beyond booking, confirmation, and a preliminary questionnaire) This is all automated via my CRM, Dubsado. The questionnaire is sent to each potential mentee prior to our first video chat. Once the questionnaire is submitted, I read over the responses to get to know my mentees' needs and expectations. This allows me to set clear expectations in a preliminary video call and in the mentor/mentee contract. If the mentee is unable to video chat, a phone call would be acceptable (I'd usually suggest a Facetime or Google Duo call because most mentees have smartphones.) In-between my monthly video sessions, I am available to mentees via voice chat.

The advice to carefully select appropriate tools for online mentoring is practical and important for ensuring effective communication and engagement. The choice of tools can significantly impact the quality of the mentoring relationship, and considering factors such as availability, accessibility, reliability, and security is essential. Different tools serve different purposes—email for formal, detailed communication, video conferencing for building rapport and discussing complex topics, and chat for quick exchanges—so it’s wise to choose based on the specific needs of the interaction.

It is very important to have crystal clear boundaries regarding the availability and response time. This can help avoid disappointment in the future.

What you say and how you say it are equally important. Be clear and kind. If using only written communication, emoticons are helpful. Children respond well to feedback sandwiched in praise, but adults seeking a mentor will benefit from candour.

Mentoring is mostly of a successful relationship. Without respect the parties can not bring the best in themselves. It's proven that people give their best when they feel dignified. Clarity saves time and energy.Therefore being clear to each other will keep both parties focused on their goals.

Part of my job as a mentor is to give advice without making my student wrong. Being clear with instructions and focusing on how to succeed is one approach. I also use words like “many people do this (insert the wrong way to do it)” or “I used to do it this way and then I learned to do it a more efficient way” so that I’m not just saying “you’re doing it wrong” and they are more likely to see the difference and possibly relate with me rather than focus on being offended or a blow to their ego. I am clear about what’s not working and also about how to change the process to find more success. And respecting them as individuals with their own set of skills as professionals as opposed to treating them like dumb babies.

The advice to prioritize clarity and respect in online communication is essential, especially in mentoring relationships where non-verbal cues are absent. Clear, concise language, along with correct grammar and punctuation, helps ensure that your message is easily understood and professional. Using polite, positive language is critical in maintaining a respectful tone, while emoticons or emojis should be used thoughtfully to avoid misunderstandings.

The advice on seeking and providing feedback in online mentoring is well thought out and covers key aspects of effective feedback. Regularly asking for feedback, clearly stating your goals and needs, ensures that feedback is relevant and targeted to your development. Providing frequent and timely feedback, particularly with agreed-upon criteria, helps maintain a constructive flow of communication.

I actually disagree with the sandwich technique. It has become irrelevant and outdated. Many people are so aware of it, that they disregard the positives and focus only on the negatives. Because of the sandwich technique, the positives are seen as mere "fillers", that don't carry any weight to them. Providing negative feedback in a caring and empathetic manner while showing real examples and discussing possible solutions is much more helpful.

The sandwich technique works only when we are trusted. The trust comes from the giving of regular constructive feedback.If it comes only when something needs to be corrected, it becomes counterproductive of fake.

Effective leadership can be boiled down to 2 things: seek and give feedback. it's a 2 way-street. Both mentor and mentee should seek and give feedback. This helps direct and redirect training against success the .When the mentee is given constructive feedback it stimulates him to do even better.It also energises the mentor. Take my own example.Last week I asked my former employer if she could spare some time to review one of my upcoming book. In the letter I sent her on WhatsApp,I gave her a generous feedback on her impact on me. In turn she gave me a more inspiring one. Mentor and mentee should be open and be generous when it comes to SEEKING and GIVING feedback.

Some people are sensitive to criticism, so part of your initial contract needs to be how often and how harsh any feedback should be. Regardless, ask if the advice is welcome before sharing it.

People are more influenced and inspired by people they like. So trust and rapport are the starting point. Being honest and kind are the key ingredients.

Building rapport and trust is key to any mentoring relationship. Often a mentor is chosen because they are already admired and respected. If your mentor is chosen for you, this will need to be actively developed over time. Listening with the intent to understand, and honouring your obligations by being on time and present in meetings will further your credibility. Finally, your actions speak much louder than your words, so demonstrate your integrity in what you do as well as what you say.

Firstly, being a mentor is about creating a safe environment, where everybody can open up, talk about his/her fears and focus on common goals. It’s essential to build trust and create a deep bond and that’s possible online if you are ready to share not only your professional achievements, but also your personal dreams, ambitions and hardships you’ve overcome. People truly connect when there is honesty and transparency. Correctly chosen words via email, texting, phone calls or video calls are powerful.

Online teacher mentoring is a valuable way to support and develop your skills as an educator, especially in the context of online learning. However, communicating effectively with your online mentor can be challenging, as you may not have the same opportunities and cues as in face-to-face interactions. In this article, we will share some tips and best practices on how to communicate with online teacher mentors, based on the following aspects:

Adding a personal touch, I've found that sharing relatable anecdotes can foster deeper mentor-mentee connections. During my teaching journey, I encountered a challenging concept that seemed insurmountable. My online mentor, with their insightful guidance, transformed my perspective and approach, turning the obstacle into a triumph. Remember, each interaction is an opportunity to learn and inspire. Share those 'Aha!' moments, discuss innovative teaching strategies, or even exchange a favorite teaching quote. These seemingly small exchanges can ignite a spark of inspiration that fuels your growth as an educator, making the online mentorship experience truly transformative.

Devemos sempre aplicar alguns princípios básicos: Estabelecer uma relação de confiança, pois sem confiança e compromisso mútuo não há evolução do processo. Avaliar as expectativas e necessidades de cada um Escuta atenta e ativa, na busca do melhor entendimento para ambos, com surgimento de insights e ideias que agreguem valor Sempre adicionar atualizações sobre a evolução do processo, com feedbacks de mentor e mentorado