Instructional Coaching For Implementing Service-learning - Serve Learn

Instructional Coaching and Service-Learning

Instructional coaching is about improving instruction to achieve better outcomes related to student learning and well-being. Once a goal has been set, an instructional coach partners with teachers to identify a strategy the teacher can implement to achieve their goal[5]. This is where service-learning and instructional coaching interlink.

Service-learning is an instructional pedagogy based on experiential learning principles where students are taken out of their typical learning environments and challenged with learning in different ways to meet community needs that provide them with different experiences. For teachers to implement service-learning into their curriculum, they may need more information on teaching strategies and techniques that are involved in this pedagogy.

This is the perfect time to introduce instructional coaching into the mix. Instructional coaches are experts in their fields, and in the case of service-learning, will be able to assist teachers with:

• Incorporating service-learning activities and techniques into their curriculum
• Provide ways to explain and showcase complex concepts through service-learning
• Design and implement lessons that include research-based instructional strategies
• Providing the support needed to enhance student communication and interaction skills, facilitate teamwork and foster citizenship as well as an understanding of others, real-world issues and differences
• Develop teaching activities around service-learning that encourages critical thinking, problem-solving skills and decision making while developing kindness, empathy and caring dispositions.

We have all had various experiences with coaches. Most think of a sports coach when asked to reflect on a coach. Coaches are able to help individuals and teams improve. In sport it is obvious if the team is winning, and players are working together. Instructional coaches are similar, they are able to look at the big picture of learning, listen to the teacher’s need for support to meet a goal, and help guide instruction to meet that goal and ultimately improve student learning.

Instructional coaches need to know themselves, their skills and attributes to be able to effectively coach others. Deep reflection is ongoing as to improve and hone one’s skills as a coach. It takes time to develop trusting relationships with teachers, so that teachers feel and know that coaching is non judgemental. A great way to start conversations with teachers is “How can I help?”. Active listening skills are key to effective collaboration and co-teaching, as is a coaching tool to effectively plan and collect data in a coaching cycle.

Instructional coaches play an important role in helping teachers build on their knowledge and skills. Experienced coaches also prove to be invaluable when implementing new teaching tools and strategies like service-learning. Everyone needs someone to help guide, support and motivate them, and teachers are no different. This is why instructional coaching has become even more important over the years within the field of education.