ERIC Number: EJ797351
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Jul
Pages: 35
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-7069
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Technologically-Based Mentoring Provided to Teachers: A Synthesis of the Literature
Gentry, Lauren B.; Denton, Carolyn A.; Kurz, Terri
Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, v16 n3 p339-373 Jul 2008
Instructional coaching or mentoring, as a form of professional development for teachers, has gained importance as educational policy has called for the implementation of research-validated instructional practices by highly qualified teachers. Technology-mediated mentoring has strong potential for overcoming barriers of accessibility and cost-effectiveness associated with traditional on-site mentoring. The purpose of this article is to synthesize existing peer-reviewed empirical studies on technology-mediated mentoring for inservice teachers. Three mediums for technology-based mentoring were explored: technology-enhanced professional development coupled with access to a mentor, electronic mail, and online discussion forums. The synthesized studies primarily incorporated mixed-methodologies or were qualitative. Results suggest that, although usage of some technology-based mentoring implementations was low or variable, those who accessed the resources generally reported having a positive experience, reporting shifts in their attitudes towards instruction and changes in instructional practices; however, few studies substantiated teacher self-reported improvement in knowledge and practice through direct observation. While existing research is both informative and encouraging, more rigorous qualitative and quantitative research, particularly quasi-experimental and experimental studies, is needed. As no located studies addressed the impact of the technology-based mentoring of teachers on the outcomes of students, particular attention should be paid to this significant outcome variable in future research. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Mentors, Computer Mediated Communication, Statistical Analysis, Professional Development, Educational Policy, Teaching Methods, Educational Technology, Literature Reviews, Inservice Teacher Education, Teacher Attitudes, Influences, Instructional Improvement, Internet, Discussion Groups, Electronic Mail
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. P.O. Box 1545, Chesapeake, VA 23327-1545. Tel: 757-366-5606; Fax: 703-997-8760; e-mail: info@aace.org; Web site: http://www.aace.org
Publication Type: Information Analyses; Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A