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Integrating Technology into Mentoring: A New Approach for Student Success

Since 1999, our mentoring program has paired high school students with mentors for academic, career, and personal development. By combining online communication with in-person meetings, we foster strong relationships essential for growth. Challenges faced include building quality relationships and ensuring mentor commitment while tackling limited access to resources for mentees. Our innovative use of technology ensures safety, sustainability, and effective management, leading to a significant impact—85% of mentees report being better students, showcasing our program's success.

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Integrating Technology into Mentoring: A New Approach for Student Success

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  1. Mentoring: A New Approach Effectively Weaving Technology into a Mentoring Program

  2. Founded in 1999 • High school students matched one-to-one with mentors • Academic, career, and personal development • Relationships developed online and in-person • Currently 1,000 mentor-mentee matches

  3. Challenges of Mentoring Programs PARTICIPANTS • Mentors & Mentees struggle to build quality relationships • Mentors cannot travel to home communities of mentees • Mentors do not have enough time to commit • Mentors need flexibility in volunteer commitment • Mentors want to take advantage of emerging technologies • Mentees have limited access to quality mentors • Mentees lack trust in previously unknown adults • Mentees lack access to resources and opportunity

  4. Challenges of Mentoring Programs PROGRAM STAFF • Recruiting & screening quality mentors • Matching mentor-mentee pairs • Ensuring safety of mentee and mentor participants • Relationship building among participants • Evaluating quality and success of the program • Scalability of program management

  5. Technology as a Solution Incorporating technology will benefit program staff and participants • Safely and effectively manage a high-quality, sustainable program • Increase the number of adults volunteering as mentors • Ensure strong mentor-mentee matches • Connect mentors with high-need youth

  6. iMentor’s Mentoring Model Using technology to develop mentoring relationships online Regular Email Communication Regular In-Person Meetings + Email facilitatestargeted, in-depthconversations In-person meetingsgrow strong, personal relationships

  7. Program Impact iMentor’s Example. Online Mentoring Works. A New Class of Mentors & Mentees • 98% of mentees have never had a mentor; 60% of never heard of “mentoring” as a concept or that mentoring programs existed • 70% of mentors had never served as a mentor • 93% of volunteers would recommend iMentor to their peers

  8. Program Impact iMentor’s Example. Online Mentoring Works. Strong Relationships • 89% of mentees said they could “trust and depend on” their mentors • 88% of mentees said the program made them more confident interacting with adults

  9. Program Impact iMentor’s Example. Online Mentoring Works. Building Academic & Career Success • 85% of mentees said iMentor made them a better student • 88% were exposed to opportunities and experiences they wouldn’t have otherwise had access to • 75% were more comfortable using email and other technologies

  10. So… what is iMentor Interactive?

  11. iMentor Interactive The Online Mentoring Solution

  12. Technology as a Solution • Safely and effectively manage a high-quality, sustainable program

  13. Technology as a Solution • Increase the number of adults volunteering as mentors

  14. Case Study Partners: United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, Bridgeport Public Schools, School Volunteer Association, Bridgeport Public Education Fund and Pitney Bowes 2008/2009 Program Participants Mentees: 10th & 11th grade Mentors: Community Volunteers (78% have never been a mentor before) Number of Pairs on iMi: 100 Staffing: Program Coordinator (1) Program Structure Program Coordinator (PC) manages 100 mentor/mentee pairs Students attend one of 3 high schools (“partner sites”) PC holds weekly in-class sessions with students Mentors/mentees email (using curriculum) once per week One-year matches

  15. Technology as a Solution • Ensure strong mentor-mentee matches

  16. Technology as a Solution • Ensure strong mentor-mentee matches

  17. Technology as a Solution • Connect mentors with youth through email and events

  18. Case Study Partners: Local Elementary Schools 2008/2009 Program Participants Mentees: 4th grade students Mentors: Community Volunteers Number of Pairs on iMi: 25 Staffing: Program Admin & Coordinator (work on mentoring part time) Program Structure Students attend one of 2 elementary schools (“partner sites”) Mentors meet students after school for hourly visit, incorporate email writing as part of the visit Mentors/mentees email once per week One-year matches

  19. Questions?

  20. Learn More For more information about iMentor Interactive Contact Us: 212-461-4330 info@imentor.org www.imentorinteractive.org

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