Implementing a coaching model for the development of online teachers

ABSTRACT

This paper details a six-step model for coaching online teachers that has been successfully implemented at an Australian university. Drawing on three fields of literature – online teaching, community of practice theory and coaching programs – the model involves (1) on-boarding and goal-setting, (2) coaching conversations about online teaching strategies, (3) implementing those strategies in the classroom, (4) collecting and triangulating data about their implementation, (5) sharing feedback and data with teachers, and (6) reflection. The success of the model to date and lessons learned from its implementation, will be of interest to the emerging field of academic professional development.

KEYWORDS:

• Online teaching
• coaching
• teaching practice
• community of practice
• data visualisation

Acknowledgments

This work would not have been possible without Claire Hopkins and Michael Moore. The progress of this coaching program continues to be sustained by Aniruddha Sreenath, Anushrutha Sukumar, Preeti Tahiliani, and Bill Simmalavong.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dawn Gilmore

Dawn Gilmore is the Director of the Centre for Academic Quality and Enhancement at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.