What happens if I sign up to be a mentor or request a mentor?

Once you have completed and sent your E-mentor Application or Teacher Request Form, you will receive a confirmation from Silicon Prairie. Your information will be entered into a database. You will not be assigned a project, student, or mentor until the Education Coordinator contacts you and you agree.

How will e-mentors be matched with students in a school?

As schools design projects and request mentors, Silicon Prairie will contact potential mentors to discuss the project and check if they are available to participate.

What happens after e-mentors have been assigned?

After your initial contact with the Silicon Prairie Education Coordinator, e-mentors and teachers will be given the contact e-mail addresses. The teacher will contact the e-mentor through e-mail to give a summary of the project, its goals, activities and timelines. E-mentors are encouraged to work with the teacher in establishing the timeframe and mentoring activities that are most appropriate.

How will the e-mails occur?

The students will initially e-mail the mentors. They will be given an assigned e-mail address for the project, that will be monitored by the teacher. Since they will be communicating with you as a group during the school day, you will not receive messages from individual students. Neither students or mentors are to communicate through personal addresses that are not authorized for the project.

How long will the project last?

Each project will have a unique time frame determined by the mentor and the teacher. It is estimated that most projects will last several weeks and will involve two or three communications per week.

Will there be other responsibilities?

E-mail will be the primary means of communication with the students and teachers. However, some face-to-face interaction will greatly strengthen the student-mentor relationship. If possible, the mentors should try to meet with the students at least once during the project. This may include a visit to the class or an invitation for the class to visit the mentor's work place. The mentor and teacher will need to make these arrangements.

What if there are problems?