Coaching is a process that helps individuals achieve their goals by guiding them to discover solutions independently. Using thoughtful, open-ended questions, coaching fosters a sense of empowerment and accomplishment, making positive actions more sustainable. Whether learning to coach or being coached, both parties benefit gaining skills, insights, and the satisfaction of progress.
At university, you can benefit from coaching through the Peer Assisted Learning scheme.
Peer Assisted Learning is where a PAL Leader (a student in their second year or above) from your discipline, supports you in your first/ foundation year. PAL Leaders are here to give you top tips about settling into university life, to signpost you to resources and support, and to help with questions relating to your course.
You can take part in this scheme as a PAL Leader (a student in their second year or above) or as a student joining the scheme to learn more about your time at university. You can learn to adjust to university life quicker, gain support from your peers, cement your understanding of support available at the university and it can help you to meet new people in your course.
It is important to remember whilst you are studying, that it can be easy to take a step too far either as a coach or the person you are coaching. Here are some scenarios where misconduct might arise:
Sharing answers, solutions, or ideas that your peer is required to develop independently could constitute academic misconduct.
For example, if an assignment requires your peer to conduct original analysis, and you provide them with a pre-written analysis, it undermines their independent work.
If your coaching blurs the line between guiding and directly contributing to your peer's work, both of you may risk being accused of collusion.
For example, writing parts of their essay, even with their permission, could lead to allegations of plagiarism or collaboration outside permitted boundaries.
Encouraging or assisting a peer in presenting work that is not their own as if it were could also be a violation.
For example, if you brainstorm ideas together but your peer doesn't properly credit your contributions, it may raise concerns.
If you provide materials, data, or tools that your peer isn't allowed to use for their assignment, this could violate academic rules.