This website is full of information that you can use to create and sustain a dialogue between you and your match. Here are some tips:

• encourage her to work through the Activity Blocks and share her learnings with you
• suggest that you learn together about other amazing women in science and engineering
• explore possibilities for a future career
• suggest that she join a discussion forum on topics that interest her in science and engineering
• get involved in the Discussion Planet (web forums)
• solve a puzzle or
• point her in the direction to find out what’s out there for young women like her, such as science opportunities, youth conferences, and even scholarships that she can apply for

Ideas for Mentors

To help you develop a successful relationship with your match we have put together a list of suggested discussion topics to get you started. There are also Activity Blocks for the participants to work through on their own and share learnings and questions with you.  You can see copies of the Activity Blocks in your Mentor Forum area. If you have any ideas to add, please send them to us!

Girls range in age from 11-18. They are all individuals and as you get to know your match you will develop an understanding of what to expect from her. As a general guide here are some links that describe what you might expect from girls of different ages.

Information about GenerationY (resources and articles about those born between 1980 and 1994, according to some yardsticks and 1978 and 1984, according to others). Information about ages 7-11 and 12-18 with interesting ideas for age-appropriate science and math skill-building activities.

Netiquette noun, Etymology: blend of net and etiquette, etiquette governing communication on the Internet.

Good manners are always in style. While online communication may be less formal than a written letter there are still some guidelines to follow to make the experience as positive as possible. Also remember that you are being a role model! First impressions are important especially when you can’t see the person with whom you are communicating.

Keep in Mind:

• send smaller messages more frequently
• read and respond in a timely fashion (if you need time to research your response, send a quick reply letting your match know that you will be sending a longer message in a couple of days – and make sure you do!)
• leave line spaces between paragraphs to make the message easier to read
• TYPING IN CAPITALS IS THE ONLINE VERSION OF SHOUTING!
• Begin the message with the person’s name
• Use a descriptive title in the subject line
• Smileys and emoticons can be fun
• Acronyms are commonly used (there are many web pages with extensive lists) some common ones are – TTYS talk/type to you soon, BFN bye for now, WBS write back soon
• Read through your message before hitting the send button – checking for typos and missed words only takes a few seconds and creates a good impression