Chapter 4: Reflection Rounds in the Context of Virtual Mentoring

This chapter presents original findings from a study aimed at describing and analyzing a pioneer online mentoring program for beginning in-service teachers developed in Chile. The virtual mentoring program was designed by a University (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso [PUCV]) in association with the Organization of Ibero-American States (Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos [OEI]), as a means of developing a cost-effective method of mentoring that could be replicated throughout the country. The cost-effectiveness of the program was especially relevant in a context where, during the last five years, public policies were initially supported by President Bachelet’s administration, but were later dropped by President Piñera’s administration. Face-to-face mentoring programs between certified mentors (senior teachers qualified as teachers of excellence by the national teacher assessment system) and beginning teachers were thus left without funding.