Perception of Early-Career Biology Teachers on the Impacts of Mentoring Modes on Instructional Delivery Effectiveness

Abstract

Advancements in technology have led to virtual mentoring complementing or replacing face-to-face mentoring, but the perceived effectiveness of each by early-career biology teachers remains understudied. This study investigated the comparative effectiveness of on-site and virtual mentoring modes as perceived by early-career biology teachers. Three research questions and two null hypotheses were answered and tested, respectively. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study involved 80 early-career biology teachers with less than five years of teaching experience, divided into on-site (n=40) and virtual (n=40) mentoring groups. Data was collected through a validated questionnaire having a reliability coefficient of 0.81. Percentages, means, standard deviations, and t-tests were used for data analysis. The findings revealed that on-site mentoring was perceived to significantly improved content knowledge, instructional strategies, and professional rapport. In contrast, virtual mentoring fostered reflective practice and provided extensive resource access but faced challenges such as scheduling conflicts and technological barriers. Significant differences in perceived effectiveness and challenges between the two modes of mentoring led to the rejection of both null hypotheses. On-site mentoring was perceived as more effective due to its immediate, hands-on support, while virtual mentoring offered valuable flexibility and resource access despite its challenges. A blended mentoring approach was recommended to combine the strengths of both modes for early-career biology teachers.