The Benefits of Academic Coaching

Academic coaching is not simply a way to get help with homework. The work of an academic coach, as with any coach, is to help build the skill of their players and make them more effective. Assignments and projects do not always come with explanations about ways to take them on. Students can become confused about expectations or overwhelmed by the size or complexity of an assignment. Exams cover days, weeks even months of information covered in a course. One might ask, with so many different revision techniques and YouTube videos on the internet, why do I need a coach?

Coaching is not necessarily a response to a bad grade or learning a procedure. An academic coach can support a student and assess ways to make their abilities stronger and more effective in accomplishing their goals. Coaching is an agreement with short and long-term goals that lead to specific outcomes and are part of a larger academic plan.

A student working with a coach can focus on gaining knowledge about a subject and develop strategies to help them overcome the challenges they face. Guided practice in learning strategies for reading, writing, and revision builds confidence that lasts. Developing skills and habits that lead to improved knowledge can also lead to better exam scores, access to scholarships and better relationships with adults.

Students who engage with a coach feel more support and a greater sense of focus. They become more independent as they develop stronger time management and organisational skills, seek feedback, ask better questions and break down and completing projects.

Accomplishing one's goals takes time. Planning, prioritising, learning, and applying strategies will require a commitment. Working with a coach for at least a term will allow both the coach and the student to identify, apply and adjust approaches to learning.

Can success be guaranteed? A student looking to improve is willing to seek and implement feedback will certainly make gains. The amount of success will come down to trust and teamwork. Success requires that the coach and the student communicate regularly and honestly to ensure progress.

A series of individualised sessions can be developed to meet a student where they are and take them to where they want to go. The setting can be in person or virtual. Sessions can take place during the term or over term breaks. The time spent with a coach will motivate the student keeping everyone’s stress in check as the student will not have to face a project or prepare for a course exam alone. Planning and regular check-ins create a system of accountability that is the right level of motivation where a student knows they have the support to take on new challenges and can get help to work through projects or revision plans.

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