The Virtual Mentor: Harnessing the Power of Technology to Connect College and Career Ready Leaders

Research shows that mentoring is a way to enhance learning teaching and learning outcomes. CAMP (Collegiate Achievement Mentoring Program) Osprey is a mentoring program where collegiate students serve as leadership mentors to at-risk K12 students. To overcome geographic and financial barriers faced by our high-poverty, urban and rural partners, the program harnesses the use of “virtual leadership mentoring” and videoconferencing technology to connect students throughout the nation. This report examines the theoretical and conceptual frameworks embedded within virtual mentoring and illustrates the benefits and best practices that effective virtual mentoring can play in leading to significant and lasting mentoring relationships.