Good Teaching is More than Simply a Good Idea

How much does it cost when faculty prepare and teach less effectively than they could??In this article series, we will consider this question from two vantage points, depending on your particular role:

1. As a faculty member preparing to work with a coach with the intention of enhancing your teaching practice.
2. As the director of a center that focuses on teaching and learning at your university, a role where you support many faculty members (and possibly graduate students) at various stages of their career in their myriad teaching roles.?

The difference in the financial impact of having or not having a coach will be evident when we run the numbers.?In making your calculations, here’s one factor to consider:

• Excessive or redundant preparation time does not equal quality teaching. Even though faculty members may work 50, 60, or 70+ hours per week at times, when faculty are inefficient with their teaching preparation, the inefficiently-spent time is costly because it is time that is NOT spent on other high-impact endeavors.?These endeavors could include meeting with students, writing articles, seeking grants, attending classes related to research methodology, tending to their own health concerns, mentoring junior faculty, extending the reach of the university into the community, e.g., giving talks, serving on boards, or supporting various local initiatives.?

Figuring quite conservatively, a faculty member who is coached to be more organized, have more streamlined practices, and employ more efficacious processes in course prep, classroom management, and grading could retrieve a minimum of five hours per week.?These five hours per WEEK could be invested in research, manuscript preparation or mentoring, among other endeavors.?In an average teaching year, i.e., two 15-week semesters or three 10-week quarters, that would be – at a minimum – 150 hours reclaimed, which could then be redirected.?What financial difference would this make over the life of someone’s academic career??Thousands??Tens of thousands??Hundreds of thousands??More??Run the numbers.?Coaching is an investment with a significant financial ROI.?

Note:?Learning to be more effective and efficient has myriad other benefits beyond the financial. However, because this publication series is about making the ask of the people who hold the purse strings, we are focusing on the financial Return on Investment because that is what is most likely to get their attention and their support for putting dollars toward your coaching.?

Watch this space for more articles on this topic and/or take a look at one or more of these publications which you may access free:?https://meggin.com/coaching/#makingtheask ?

About Meggin McIntosh

Helping people reframe their limiting beliefs is a big part of the joyful work I do as a coach. Sometimes I offer group coaching in addition to working with individual clients. It's amazing to watch people generate reframes for a belief that has held them back in the past.

I am thankful every day.