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EDUN N25-05-014

00501

18 Jan 2001

HP EMAIL MENTORING PROGRAMME 2001

The HP Email Mentoring Programme, a collaboration between Ministry of Education and Hewlett-Packard, will be launched on 20 Jan 2001. Under the structured programme, Hewlett-Packard will sponsor qualified personnel, both local and overseas, to mentor students involved in project work in a unique one-to-one relationship through the use of email. The service will be provided by International Telementor Centre, which facilitates electronic mentoring relationships between professional adults and students worldwide.

2.     The primary objective of the HP Email Mentoring Programme is to create project-based online mentoring support in mathematics, science, engineering and communication for students and teachers. The other objectives are as follows: · for mentors to encourage students to strive for academic excellence; · for students to become proactive learners; · for students to be encouraged to pursue their interests in a professional, fun and efficient manner; and · for strong, healthy relationships to be formed between mentors and students.

3.     The HP Email Mentoring Programme aims to foster a relationship between the teacher, the mentor and the student. Each participating student will receive guidance from his or her mentor under the direction and supervision of the programme teacher. The relationship is based on the student's project work, which will span a minimum of eight weeks.

4.     The programme is now in its fourth year of implementation. Over the last three years, more than 200 students benefited from the programme. Teachers found the programme beneficial as learning was made more exciting when it is extended beyond the classroom. The projects had also helped to widen the students' perspective on learning and enriched their educational experience. In addition, the students also picked up valuable life skills such as resourcefulness, responsibility and self-confidence. The students enjoyed the programme and felt that their mentors had guided them to learn in an engaging and fun way.

5.     The service cost for each student to participate in this programme is US$100. Hewlett-Packard and Thomson Financial will sponsor students for this year's programme. Sponsorship by other companies for students to participate in the programme is also welcome.

6.     This programme will be open to all schools, for students from Primary 4 to Pre-U 2 who are identified by their schools. These students must satisfy the following criteria: · have an aptitude in Mathematics, Science and Technology and · have little supervision outside the classroom.

There are two phases in the programme to cater to teachers who may start their projects at different time of the year. The programme schedule is as follows:

For more information on the programme, please visit the website, http://www.telementor.org.