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1.0 Title Of the ArticleUsing e-Mentoring to Sustain Distance
Training and Education
Daniel James Homitz and Zane L. Berge
The Learning Organization Vol. 15 No. 4, 2008 pp. 326-335
2.0 Summary of the ArticleThe purpose of the study is to examine
e-mentoring as a way to sustain distance training
and education. The study explores the role of mentors, the
benefits of the programs to the
mentor and the sponsoring organizations, and ways of overcoming
c
hallenges faced by e-
mentoring in distance training and education. Distance training
and education take place
as the numbers of individual who are keen to continue to advance
their careers has
increased rapidly. Furthermore, many organizations have moved
their training programs
out of the classroom and into computer-based offline and online
formats for distance
education because of the classroom-based learning is not always
practical and
economical. However, distance learning comes with its own
problems especially in term
of conducting and sustaining distance learning. Due to these
difficulties, monitoring or e-
monitoring system comes to surface as a new means to improve the
effectiveness of
distance training and education. From the study, the researchers
had concluded that good
mentors, experts in subject matter as well as support from the
management are the keys
that help to sustain the effectiveness of distance training and
education.
3.0 Research Design and Methodology
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The paper does not clearly describe about research design and
methodology.
4.0 Review of The Research Design and MethodologyBased on the
article, the researchers do not define clearly which research
design and
research methodology had been adopted. From my point of view,
this qualitative study
combines a synthesis of previous research with a review of
literature. Generally, this kind
of study emphasizes detail with regard of the contemporary
real-life situations and
provides the basis for the application of ideas and extension of
methods. If the study
adopted case study research
method, t
hen t
he researc
hers s
hould be able to determine and
define research questions and moreover select the cases and
determine data gathering and
analysis techniques. But, from the articles, the researchers do
not clearly state about
selected sample as well as the way how they gather data and how
they analyzed them. A
study that based on a small number of cases can offer no grounds
for establishing
reliability or generality of findings. Therefore, if this study
only be based on a small
number of cases, then the framework described in the study might
be practical to a
particular situation only. Referring only to the previous cases
or researches sometimes
does not give a general view about something. It is only others
feeling or a perception
which is might be right and applicable at that time. For
instant, previous study says that
online coaching program (e-mentoring) can benefit any employee,
especially successful
for female protg (Dartmouth University, 1999; Perren, 2003;
Rossett, 2002a, 2002b,
2002c). Is this because of female nature or other aspects?
Further research should be
carried out to find out why e-mentoring tend to be successful
for female. Besides
adopting qualitative research design, this study can also be
carried out through
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quantitative research design. A survey research method can be
one of the methods to
choose from. The researchers may use either questionnaire or
interview as a tool or even
combination of both in gathering data. Through this method,
perhaps the finding is more
precise as all aspects of the study are carefully designed
before data is collected.
5.0 ConclusionDefining research design and methodology is vital.
Research design and methodology
help researchers to arrange their research in such a
well-organized plan and help
researchers support t
heir findings wit
hstrong and good evidences. A clear and concise
statement of our research design and methodology are absolutely
essential for doing good
quality research.
