Dimensions of Design in K-12 Telementoring Programs

Teachers and researchers have been designing telementoring programs for more than fifteen years, yet there are many possible program designs that have not yet been attempted, and enormous potential yet to fulfill. An attempt is made to map out the “design space” of K-12 telementoring by discussing the major decisions made in designing a telementoring program, and the relationship of these decisions to one another. Where possible, research findings and examples of specific programs are cited in this discussion. By providing a look “under the hood” of telementoring programs, the chapter aims to help teachers become more equal partners in the effort to refine existing programs and develop new ones. Encouragement is offered to researchers to more fully articulate the rationale behind their designs in their writing, and to carry out more research on the efficacy of particular design choices, so that the field can develop cumulative literature on telementoring design.