Coaching Resources

Hello DoT COACHES!!!

We want to make sure that all coaches have the information you need to conduct DoT Coaching Observations. Please read this and check out the links so you know where all of your tools are!

How do I know if or when I should do a DoT Coaching Observation?

This will be determined at your school. Check in with your supervisor/PD/Lab Lead at your school to see if there is a plan in place. If you are excited to do these and want to get going, take initiative and let them know! Remember – you can practice your observation and coaching skills any time you are working with staff, so you don’t have to wait for an official DoT Coaching Observation!

Page 1 of the Domains of Thriving Coaching Observation Flow Chart

How do I prep for a Domains of Thriving Coaching Observation?

We have several resources you can access while you prep, and they are all linked through the Lab website, DoT Coaching page: https://outwardboundlab.wixsite.com/home/coaching (pw: coach2020)

1. Want a quick refresher of the whole process? We have created a Coaching Observation Outline and a Coaching Observation Flow – they have similar content but are arranged differently and you will likely find one that works best for you.

2. Want to go back and review the DoT Coaching Training slides or the videos from coaching training? They are linked on the website as well! (We recorded one training, so you might not see the one you participated in, but they all had the same content.)

3. TO FORCE YOURSELF TO START PREPARING, schedule a Prep Meeting with the instructor(s) you are going to observe.

What do I do with the report I write?

First, make sure you share it with the staff you observed! Use it as a guide for your post-observation conversation and provide them with a copy of the written report. Each school will be collecting coaching reports, so if the system your school is using hasn’t been shared with you, ask your program leadership where you should send/store it.

What if observing two or three rubrics feels overwhelming or I don’t think I can do it well?

You are more than welcome, and even encouraged, to start by just focusing the observation on one rubric.

Do I need to observe just one instructor at a time?

No. We use roleplays with one instructor in the training, but the more natural thing that tends to happen is that you do the observation for the whole instructor pair or trio. They can choose the rubric(s) to focus on together and the report and post-conversation can include feedback for all of them.

What do I do if I have additional questions about DoT Coaching Observations? First, if your question is about the process or structure of a DoT Coaching Observation, make sure you’ve checked out the resources on the website. Your answer may be there! Next, there is one person at your school or location who is managing the coaching process. Check in with them and they will likely be able to help. You are also welcome to reach out to us if you have questions that aren’t school specific (tfish@outwardbound.org and kdalbey@outwardbound.org).

We look forward to hearing how the process goes for you this spring and summer! Remember the formal training was the 10%, and you will continue to learn a lot about this process as you head out and use it!!!