Academic Coaching Course

Lesson 1 • Defining Academic Coaching

Clarifies what academic coaching is, its scope, and its boundaries. Anchors all subsequent practice in a shared professional definition.

Lesson 2 • Theoretical Frameworks Underpinning Coaching

Introduces growth mindset, self-determination theory, and metacognition as coaching foundations. Connects theory directly to student behavior change.

Lesson 3 • Diversity and Inclusion in Coaching

Addresses cultural competence, identity awareness, and equitable practice. Ensures coaches serve diverse student populations effectively.

Lesson 4 • Coaching Ethics and Professional Standards

Covers confidentiality, informed consent, and professional conduct codes. Prepares coaches to navigate ethical dilemmas responsibly.

Lesson 1 • The Intake and Initial Assessment

Covers intake interviews, needs assessment tools, and baseline data collection. The intake session sets the coaching agenda and establishes student priorities.

Lesson 2 • Coaching Documentation and Notes

Establishes best practices for session notes, progress tracking, and record-keeping. Documentation supports continuity, accountability, and professional standards.

Lesson 3 • Session Structure and Flow

Introduces the GROW model and other session frameworks for consistent session delivery. A repeatable structure ensures every session produces student insight and action.

Lesson 4 • Closing and Transitioning Coaching Relationships

Covers planned endings, goal review, and transition to independence. Proper closure consolidates gains and prepares students for self-directed success.

Lesson 1 • Nonverbal and Paraverbal Communication

Examines tone, pacing, silence, and body language in coaching sessions. Nonverbal alignment reinforces verbal messages and builds trust.

Lesson 2 • Powerful Questioning Strategies

Teaches open-ended, scaling, and clarifying questions that deepen student reflection. Questions drive the coaching conversation forward purposefully.

Lesson 3 • Active Listening Techniques

Trains coaches to listen at multiple levels—content, emotion, and meaning. Active listening is the prerequisite skill for all effective questioning.

Lesson 4 • Giving and Receiving Feedback

Covers strengths-based, specific, and timely feedback delivery. Connects feedback skills to student motivation and behavioral change.

Lesson 1 • SMART and Beyond Goal Frameworks

Teaches SMART goals and introduces WOOP and OKR frameworks for academic contexts. Multiple frameworks give coaches flexibility for diverse student needs.

Lesson 2 • Overcoming Goal Obstacles

Identifies common barriers—procrastination, perfectionism, fear of failure—and coaching responses. Prepares coaches to address obstacles before they derail progress.

Lesson 3 • Breaking Goals into Actionable Steps

Covers task decomposition, milestone setting, and backward planning. Translates long-term goals into weekly and daily student actions.

Lesson 4 • Understanding Student Motivation

Explores intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation and values clarification. Motivation assessment informs goal relevance and student commitment.

Lesson 1 • Test Preparation and Exam Strategies

Covers test anxiety management, strategic review, and exam-day performance. Integrates study strategy coaching with performance psychology.

Lesson 2 • Evidence-Based Study Strategies

Covers retrieval practice, spaced repetition, interleaving, and elaborative interrogation. Replaces ineffective habits with research-supported techniques.

Lesson 3 • Writing Process Coaching

Guides coaches to support prewriting, drafting, revision, and writer's block. Writing coaching focuses on process, not editing the student's work.

Lesson 4 • Time Management and Scheduling

Teaches time auditing, scheduling systems, and energy management. Time management is the most requested academic coaching topic and foundational to all others.

Lesson 1 • Coaching Student Athletes and High Achievers

Examines performance pressure, identity balance, and burnout prevention for high-demand students. Coaching high achievers requires different challenge and support calibration.

Lesson 2 • Coaching Neurodivergent Students

Introduces ADHD, dyslexia, and autism spectrum coaching adaptations. Coaches apply strengths-based, flexible approaches without diagnosing or treating.

Lesson 3 • Coaching International Students

Covers language adjustment, cultural academic norms, and cross-cultural communication. International students face academic and cultural transitions simultaneously.

Lesson 4 • Coaching First-Generation Students

Addresses hidden curriculum, imposter syndrome, and family navigation challenges. First-gen students face unique systemic barriers requiring targeted coaching responses.

Lesson 1 • Tracking Student Progress Over Time

Covers longitudinal data collection, trend analysis, and progress visualization. Ongoing tracking enables timely coaching adjustments and early intervention.

Lesson 2 • Reporting Outcomes to Stakeholders

Covers data storytelling, program reports, and communicating ROI to administrators. Effective reporting secures program resources and institutional support.

Lesson 3 • Defining Coaching Outcomes and Metrics

Establishes academic, behavioral, and affective outcome categories for coaching. Clear metrics make coaching impact visible and defensible to stakeholders.

Lesson 4 • Reflective Practice and Self-Evaluation

Trains coaches to use session recordings, peer review, and reflective journals. Self-evaluation is the primary driver of continuous coaching improvement.

Lesson 1 • Training and Supervising Peer Coaches

Covers peer coach selection, training curriculum, and ongoing supervision. Peer coaching programs extend reach while developing student leadership.

Lesson 2 • Designing a Coaching Program Model

Covers service delivery models, session frequency, and program scope decisions. Program design choices directly determine reach, depth, and sustainability.

Lesson 3 • Program Sustainability and Funding

Examines budget planning, grant writing, and institutional funding strategies. Sustainability planning prevents program collapse after initial enthusiasm fades.

Lesson 4 • Continuous Program Improvement

Applies program evaluation cycles, stakeholder feedback, and iterative redesign. Continuous improvement keeps the program responsive to evolving student needs.