Coaching Teachers-Promoting Changes That Stick: What I Learned
Categories: Goals and Motivation, Instructional Coaching
I recently finished my first MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) offered on Coursera and man oh man, am I glad I signed up! Talk about a saw sharpening experience. I had never even heard of Coursera or knew that MOOC’s existed, before a friendly reader {thanks, Deb!} notified me of the course Coaching Teachers: Promoting Changes that Stick. First of all, it’s FREE, which is pretty sweet. The teacher, Orin, is super engaging and fun to learn from. It’s packed with great videos, visuals, readings, and sample coaching sessions to observe. This recent session just wrapped up, but you can add the course to your “Add to Watchlist” so you’ll be notified of upcoming sessions. If you’re a new or experienced coach looking to improve your practice, I would highly recommend this course.
Because I really thought the learning was valuable, I wanted to share some of my big takeaways with you so you can get in on some of the learning action until the course becomes available again. And since I love a good visual and haven’t done an infographic in awhile, I thought this was a good opportunity to put one together. Take a look!
So you see, lots of learning to get excited about. I definitely did a lot of reflecting on the question: “Am I a good coach or am I an effective coach?” and I’m pumped to improve and refine aspects of my own coaching practice to be more consistently on the effective side. Need a teacher companion for better results? Good teachers use tried and tested instructional techniques. They hone their craft through professional development, try new pedagogical methods, reflect carefully on their teaching and seek to improve through lesson observations and feedback
One area I’m going to work on is the quality of my feedback. I realize that I have a tendency to talk too fast {I just get excited!} and can rattle off too many focus areas in a debrief, rather than really zooming in on one bite size, high leverage area/skill at a time.
What about you? What area do you struggle with or would like to improve in your own coaching practice? Let me know in the comments below, and please share this infographic if you like!
Oh my goodness Kristin. I hope you shared this info graphic with Orin. He will love it!! Awesomely done!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and take on this training. I’ve already done the add to wishlist and can’t wait to learn more for myself:)
On another note…your infographic is amazing! Would you share what program or website you use to create these masterpieces??
Hi Mary!
Glad you’re signed up. I create my infographics using Adobe Illustrator. I’m glad you like them!
Kristin
I’ve enrolled in a Coursera course before, but failed to follow through with it due to prioritizing others and their learning before my own. After reading your thoughts and reflecting on your previous article about sharpening your saw, I’m determined to try it again. I really think scheduling a time to sharpen my saw and placing it on my calendar will help. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Erica,
Good for you for sticking up for your own learning! Scheduling it definitely does help. I try to hold myself accountable too by taking some time to reflect at the end of the week…did I do any saw sharpening or not? If not, my excuse better be good!
Kristin
Wow! I am so inspired to take this course and learn more. I have also shared this with other literacy coaches in our district. Thank you so much for sharing!
Also, I am so glad that I have stumbled upon your blog. Thank you for all the tidbits you share. I am in my fourth year as a coach, and thanks to you, I am more organized, efficient, and reflective than ever before. I am always excited to see that you have posted something new! :)
Stephanie, thanks so much for your comment!! It made my night :)
Kristin
This looks like a great resource! I was trying to find the course but the link seems to be broken. I searched on coursera but could not find it, any ideas?