Enabling Constructivist Teaching Through Telementoring

Summary On-line mentoring is a relatively new way to support students and teachers in the pursuit of ambitious constructivist learning. Using examples from classroom practice, this paper describes such “tele-mentoring” relationships, and how they differ from traditional mentoring, apprenticeship and tutoring. The design and use of a telementored curriculum unit in middle school science is then discussed, and a set of general guidelines is provided to aid teachers and administrators in designing and carrying out their own telementoring initiatives.