E-mentoring as a Critical E-learning Approach: The Impact of Social Presence on E-mentoring

One important form of e-learning is e-mentoring. Virtual mentoring can occur within the context of formal organiza- tional programs or develop spontaneously between individuals online. While e-mentoring is burgeoning as a practice, theoretical research related to this important phenomenon has been limited. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that social presence theory presents a useful conceptual framework for understanding mentors’ willingness to participate in e-mentoring relationship and on their satisfaction. In sum, mentoring relationships that offer a blended approach with both high and low social presence forms of computer-mediated-communication (CMC) will be more satisfying to men- tors than those with low social presence CMC forms only. Implications for research and practice are discussed.