Onsite Mentoring: A case study on supporting mentor teachers with a contextualised digital platform
Abstract
This article presents a contextualised case study developed in response to the persistent complexities of supporting mentoring teachers. Recognising the multifaceted challenges inherent to mentorship, this study trialled a digital platform (pataka.ac.nz) designed to alleviate pressures such as time constraints and professional isolation. The platform provided a digital collection of resources to support mentoring conversations and fostered connection among mentors through collaborative resource generation and sharing. Additionally, student teachers played a key role in distributing resources, enabling mentors to access materials as needed. The findings emphasise the importance of accessibility, collaboration, and coordinated actions in addressing mentoring challenges and strengthening professional practice. While no single solution exists, this case study highlights the potential of interconnected research and practice initiatives, including digital platforms, to positively support mentor development and enhance mentoring relationships.
Downloads
References
Alton-Lee, A. (2003). Quality teaching for diverse students in schooling: Best evidence synthesis. Ministry of Education. https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/7705/BES-quality-teaching-diverse-students.pdf
Borko, H., Stecher, B., Alonzo, A., Moncure, S., & McClam, S. (2005). Artifact packages for characterizing classroom practice: A pilot study. Educational Assessment, 10(2), 73–104.
Carmi, T., & Tamir. E. (2023). An emerging taxonomy explaining mentor-teachers’ role in student teachers' practicum: What they do and to what end? Teaching and Teacher Education, 128,(104121). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104121
Education Review Office. (2023). Ready, set, teach: How prepared and supported are new teachers?. https://ero.govt.nz/our-research/ready-set-teach-how-prepared-and-supported-are-new-teachers
Feiman-Nemser, S. (2001). Helping novices learn to teach. Journal of Teacher Education, 52(1), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022487101052001003
Fish, L. (n.d.). Meeting your class. Pātaka. https://pataka.ac.nz/for-mentors-to-share/meeting-your-class/
Fish, L., Major, J., & Nathan, W. (2024, February 29). Educative mentoring: What do we know / wonder / learn? NZARE Blog. New Zealand Association for Research in Education. https://nzareblog.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/educative-mentoring/
Gray, D. E. (2021). Doing research in the real world (5th ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.
Hoben, N. (2021). Challenges for mentors in working with secondary school pre-service teachers. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 56(1), 41–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40841-021-00198-0
McConnell, A. (2020). The Challenges of Addressing Wicked Problems in the Policy Process. Policy & Politics, 48(4), 599–614.
McDonald, L., & Flint, A. (2011). Effective Educative Mentoring Skills: A Collaborative Effort. Teachers’ Work, 8(1), 33-46. https://doi.org/10.24135/teacherswork.v8i1.541
NZCER. (n.d.). Teaching, School, and Principal Leadership Practices Survey Tool. https://tspsurveys.org.nz/
NZEI Te Riu Roa. (2021). Initial Teacher Education 2040: Discussion Paper. https://campaigns.nzei.org.nz/initial-teacher-education
PPTA. (2017). Principles for Partnerships. https://www.ppta.org.nz/publication-library/document/354
PPTA. (2023). Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement. https://www.ppta.org.nz/collective-agreements/secondary-teachers-collective-agreement-stca/part-4-remuneration-your-pay#ATA-4.11[1](https://www.ppta.org.nz/collective-agreements/secondary-teachers-collective-agreement-stca/part-4-remuneration-your-pay).
Radio New Zealand. (2023, March 20). Many new teachers feel unprepared for classroom - ERO. Radio New Zealand. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516632/many-new-teachers-feel-unprepared-for-classroom-ero
Ramsey, Z. R., McFeely, H., Cusimano, J., & Crawford-Garrett, K. (2022). “It’s not just any teaching program”: The new professionalism, educational inequity, and Ako Mātātupu: Teach First New Zealand. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 30(99). https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.30.6999
Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. (2025). Effective mentoring practices for secondary teachers in Aotearoa NZ. Wellington Uni-Professional. https://wellingtonuni-professional.nz/course/—effective-mentoring-practices-for-secondary-teachers-in-aotearoa-nz/
Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. (2017). Our Code, Our Standards. https://teachingcouncil.nz/professional-practice/our-code-our-standards/
Wang, H., & Loughland, T. (2025). Exploring discursive patterns in post-lesson mentoring conversations. Teaching and Teacher Education, 159,(104994). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2025.104994
Copyright (c) 2025 Lindsay Fish

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.