Enabling constructivist teaching through telementoring

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 "telementoring" 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.