Initial Insights Mentoring in this millennium is very different from mentoring in the past as a result of the increased use of technology and the availability of instant access via the internet. In this electronic era, we are not limited by distance and can instantly communicate with people across the globe. Since we lack the normal physical clues, such as body language and tone of voice, electronic communications have not always been perceived as the composer of the message intended. This can create serious problems in mentoring situations that do not occur in face to face encounters. As a response to this need, electronic mentors have to develop new communication skills and be very careful in the phrasing and context of messages.
Spelling is no longer an issue and sentence fragments are common place in virtual meetings.
The use of techno-jargon can be confusing and frustrating for people who do not speak the language, but using the jargon makes communication easier and faster for those who are familiar with it. One of the advantages of mentoring in the electronic communication era is the variety of electronic resources which are available at our finger tips. I can send important information to my sister in Virginia instantly, chat with her in real time in a virtual room or scan and instantly send family photographs. The things that I find absolutely amazing are so common place and such an integral part of our society that my grandson, who is four years old, just assumes that everyone has a computer. During the course of this project, I also noticed that there were many variables which also influenced the effectiveness of mentoring relationships.