My coaching dilemma
I currently coach/manage an instructor who is 40 years older than me and has about as much teaching experience. He is therefore very set in his ways and is constantly comparing education today to when he was in school. He is always frustrated, saying that students don't have the same dedication or discipline these days. While I agree on one hand, I also see that the world is a different place, and these students have responsibilities and priorities that didn't exist 40 years ago. My question is, how can I get him to open his mind to the evolution of education and stop being such a curmudgeon?
Perhaps allowing this individual to sit in on a class in which the instructor uses various forms of "new" technologies/discussions/student involvement could help him to experience what's possible in "today's" classroom. After all, sometimes our imagination is worse than the real thing - especially if we've already decided we don't like it.
Pamela,
this is an excellent point & idea. I think we will start to see more with coaching & mentoring through the power of social media in the future.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I find myself utilizing informal technology sources, such as facebook, which draws in students who could otherwise be left out.
Danielle,
yes, it is always important to connect with those we are coaching.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree with the suggestion of showcasing what is available now with technology in classroom settings. I have found that when you incorporate their "lifeline" AKA cell phones in an education setting it allows students to be more involved and also limits the negative use of thier devices. It also helps with the students who are quiet and less involved, they feel less anxiety discussing topics in a more indirect method.
Carrie,
In my opinion you did everything you could. You approached the situation correctly. Per this ML118 course on coaching, your plan of action was dead on. It sounds like it was more of a personal issue with the gentleman since you were a younger woman, than an issue with you being professional.
Hello,
I had a similar challenge when I became a Dean at a career college. This man was twice my age, had a PhD in Physics and didn't necessarily care for a young woman as his supervisor. He expressed sarcasm with humor and was incredibly negative about "the higher ups". I began the conversations initially trying to get a feeling of where the hostility and animosity was coming from, to understand his feelings which drove his behavior. So, I listened carefully and explained back to him to see if I understood correctly. We met weekly to discuss the department he worked with, the students and ultimately he always went back to his negative place. Once I had a good background and understanding I used the weekly meetings to explain what I had been observing providing specific examples like, "This morning I overheard you speaking with Dan and you said..." I took his exact words and explained how a student or another colleague might interpret his comments made in the hallway. I always asked for agreement about the behavior and asked him what behaviors did he feel were most important to work on. The challenge was that he knew he was promoting negativity and agreed with me on action for changes, but lacked follow through. He would make good suggestions and agree with the plan then walk out my door and continue the behavior when he thought I wasn't paying attention. Not only was it unprofessional, it was frustrating. Ultimately, he was not a good candidate for coaching I learned, created a detailed performance plan for him, asked for his understanding and agreement and he quit. I have had struggles coaching individuals when they do not accept change and especially those who do not want to be accountable for their student's success.
You can always start by showing him the differences in education 40 years ago to now. Best examples are related to technology. When i began to teach having a cell phone in the classroom was completely a no no. Recently i started using a program called voicethread that allowed my students to post pics or comments, make videos, and or even draw on work that i had placed on the site. Introduce him to the new teaching techniques that may have a connection to his style of teaching.
