Implementing a coaching model for the development of online teachers

This paper details a six-step model for coaching online teachers that has been successfully implemented at an Australian university. Drawing on three fields of literature–online teaching, community of practice theory and coaching programs–the model involves (1) on-boarding and goal-setting, (2) coaching conversations about online teaching strategies, (3) implementing those strategies in the classroom, (4) collecting and triangulating data about their implementation, (5) sharing feedback and data with teachers, and (6) reflection. The success of the model to date and lessons learned from its implementation, will be of interest to the emerging field of academic professional development.