Peer Coaching in Higher Education describes a simple, five-step method for the improvement of teaching in colleges and universities. Professors and instructors in small groups, as departmental faculty, or as inter- and intra-departmental partners can increase faculty collegiality and improve their teaching techniques for increases in student learning. Gottesman explains the theory and practice of peer coaching, specifically describing its application among the faculty and students of five universities. She provides directions for a faculty conducting its own peer coaching seminar, including necessary hand-outs and examples. Actual peer coaching exchanges give faculty ideas about the extended applications of this process.
Many of the current challenges facing institutions of higher education require a shift in thinking, practice, and approaches to change. The changing nature of college students, along with increased emphasis on student learning outcomes, have institutions seeking to effect improvements in the instructional practices of faculty members. Establishing a robust model of faculty peer coaching can accelerate improvement efforts that strive to create engaging higher education classrooms centered on inclusive and equitable teaching practices, which more effectively meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. Informed by research and experience, this book is a guide to developing, launching, and refining faculty peer coaching initiatives in higher education with the goal of improving instructional practice and student learning outcomes. Peer coaching is a collaborative, reciprocal practice where faculty members observe, reflect, and improve their instructional practices leading to increased learning for all students. Research has shown that peer coaching can positively impact teaching practices, especially when coupled with other professional learning. This book provides a rationale for peer coaching as an effective strategy for faculty development, outlines a model for peer coaching, and supplies readers with support in the creation of a robust peer coaching initiative in institutions of higher education. Peer coaching has the potential for significant culture and community change for faculty members which can lead to improved student learning. ENDORSEMENTS: I was privileged to read an early draft of this book, and I hadn't turned many pages before I knew I had to offer a peer coaching program in the very next semester. Faculty response was unanimous: "Thank you for this experience. I learned so much, and I want to continue." I sure wish I'd had this book when I started in faculty development! I was trying to help a department implement "formative peer review of teaching, "to not much avail. Now I realize that what we really wanted was peer coaching. — Victoria Bhavsar, California State Polytechnic University Pomona How can I be a better teacher? What can I do to ensure my students are learning and engaged? If you have ever asked yourself these types of questions, then this is the book for you. Infused with extensive expertise and research-based practices, Rainville, Title, and Desrochers provide proven strategies and approaches to peer-coaching that will change how we teach, engage as colleagues, and ultimately improve instructional practices. Helping the reader develop a climate of trust, respect, and support, the authors provide scaffolded processes that will generate leadership development as well as greatly enhance our knowledge and ability to be effective teachers and mentors. A timely read for the changing world of college students and higher education. — George J. Petersen, Clemson University Can you believe that three professors induced a college faculty to meet in pairs to discuss and enhance their teaching? Well, they did. The bane of professional learning is privatism in teaching, and professors normally work in well-fortified silos. Sharing thoughts about teaching and curriculum brings colleagueship to a new level and elevates the socio-professional environment of the institution. These folks demonstrated that it can be achieved. — Bruce Joyce, Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Peer Coaching is a collaborative, reciprocal practice where faculty members observe, reflect, and improve their instructional practices with the goal of improved learning for all students. This edited book includes chapters describing faculty peer coaching initiatives in universities world-wide. Section one includes chapters that give an overview of what faculty peer coaching is and what the benefits of faculty peer coaching can be. The second section of the book explores the theoretical and practical implications of engaging in faculty peer coaching and the trust and vulnerability that comes along with opening up your instructional practices to a colleague. Section three of the book includes several examples of peer coaching initiatives across various disciplines in higher education settings. Section four situates peer coaching in the broader institutional framework. This book is a must for leaders of faculty development initiatives, directors and staff from teaching & learning centers, department chairs, faculty, graduate students, deans, student services staff, chief academic officers, and educational consultants.
This book portrays the various ways in which mentoring occurs in higher education. Targeting the stakeholders who benefit from mentoring, namely faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and their professional colleagues, this book supports those who are involved in the mentoring process. It synthesizes the professional literature on mentoring and shares examples of effective practices that address the needs of mentors and their protégés. The book describes mutual benefits of mentoring, along with the characteristics of effective mentors and the ways in which they may support their protégés. The relationships discussed in Mentoring Processes in Higher Education surround mentoring new faculty; peer mentoring for professional development; mentoring through research, scholarship, and teaching opportunities; and mentoring through field experiences, athletics, and student organizations. The book shares the voices of mentors and their protégés as it illustrates how mentoring relationships form the basis for reflection, a transaction of ideas, and growth in knowledge and skills to ultimately advance the institution and field through a collaborative environment in which stakeholders thrive and are valued for their contributions. The cyclical effect of positive mentoring is illuminated through real-life examples that show how protégés eventually become mentors in a continual process of support.
Peer Coaching is a collaborative, reciprocal practice where faculty members observe, reflect, and improve their instructional practices with the goal of improved learning for all students. This edited book includes chapters describing faculty peer coaching initiatives in universities world-wide. Section one includes chapters that give an overview of what faculty peer coaching is and what the benefits of faculty peer coaching can be. The second section of the book explores the theoretical and practical implications of engaging in faculty peer coaching and the trust and vulnerability that comes along with opening up your instructional practices to a colleague. Section three of the book includes several examples of peer coaching initiatives across various disciplines in higher education settings. Section four situates peer coaching in the broader institutional framework. This book is a must for leaders of faculty development initiatives, directors and staff from teaching & learning centers, department chairs, faculty, graduate students, deans, student services staff, chief academic officers, and educational consultants.
"This book reviews the benefits of coaching among higher education professionals and provides relevant applications of coaching and their effectiveness within the sector of for those stakeholders who want to improve their understanding of coaching in general"--
How can educators work together more effectively to improve professional practice in a way that enhances student performance? The answer, says author Pam Robbins, involves combining collaborative activities and peer coaching—teachers supporting teachers. This book describes how any school can implement these proven practices and experience positive changes in teaching, school culture, and learning. Robbins explains how to develop a collaborative, learning-focused culture and build trust among colleagues; offers strategies for participating in difficult conversations that yield useful feedback; clarifies how to develop, sustain, and evaluate peer coaching efforts; and showcases exemplary peer coaching practices used in real schools. She also includes coaching tools, scenarios, process guidelines, and reflection questions that make it easier to transfer these ideas into a school setting. Peer coaching offers a job-embedded learning strategy; it’s a valuable structure for supporting schoolwide and districtwide priorities such as analyzing data, improving instruction, integrating technology, and implementing standards. In short, it creates an effective way to support the growth of every teacher and enrich learning processes in any school. Pam Robbins is a former teacher, coach, director of professional development, and school leader. She consults with high-performing and low-performing districts and designs and conducts workshops on leadership, school culture, organizational change, mentoring, and peer coaching.
Peer coaching, a mentoring process for individuals of equal status, is a highly effective, but underused professional development tool. This book provides the first rigorously researched and road tested three-part model for fostering peer coaching relationships at work.
