Coaching: An Introduction



Overview

Helping anyone interested in using coaching, whether professionally, as a life skill, or to achieve better results in their work with others. Thought-provoking and practical, we explore the theory and skills of good coaching.

Whether you are just curious about coaching, have a little understanding of what it involves, would like to develop some core skills in it to use in your work, or think it might be useful in parenting, or as a life skill, this is the course for you. In a supportive environment, we shall explore the core skills, the mindset necessary to be an effective coach, understand the boundaries of coaching, and what you need to do to protect yourself and your 'client'. 

Regardless of their starting point, participants will have plenty of opportunities to put their learning into practice and should emerge with solid skills, the ability to self-assess and improve, and the confidence to apply coaching in ways that they have not previously tried.

Some students may wish to go on to our Advanced Coaching course, but this introduction stands alone and should leave you ready to work in your chosen way.

Programme details

Course begins: 30 Sept 2024

Week 1: Defining coaching and its outcomes.

Week 2: Coaching as a teaching and learning tool; the role of reflective practice.

Week 3: Core skills for coaching.

Week 4: Coaching 'models'.

Week 5: Observation and feedback.

Week 6: Protecting the client and ourselves.

Week 7: Different coaching contexts and third party relationships.

Week 8: Using 'assessments' to find substantial development needs.

Week 9: Psychological insights and coaching.

Week 10: How coaches develop; review; future plans.

Digital Certification

To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £535.00
Take this course for CATS points £30.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Graham Wilson

My PhD in behavioural science led to an initial career in organisation and leadership development, however, for the last decade I’ve taught psychology, counselling, and photography at Oxford and elsewhere. A BACP Registered Counsellor, I recently retired as Coordinator of HE Counselling Courses at Guildford College. As a Ronin Institute Research Scholar, I investigate applications of imagery to provoke community-level behavioural change. In Oxfordshire, I lead government-funded therapeutic photography programmes.

Course aims

To introduce the essentials of coaching, and practice the core skills, in a supportive environment, so that participants will feel confident using these in their work, day-to-day life, as a parent or volunteer.

Course objectives:

  • To understand coaching as an educational tool helping others to achieve change in their lives.
  • To have the knowledge and skills to apply coaching in a variety of contexts.
  • To appreciate our own skill level and develop plans to enhance it.

Teaching methods

Large and small group discussion - variously led by the tutor and participants; self-reflection; triads; pre- and post-session tutor-led input via VLE (Moodle); online and offline peer dialogue.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • be capable of explaining core concepts of coaching to a lay person;
  • be able to assess the ethical considerations of a coaching scenario and how they would avoid/address them; and
  • have a balanced perspective of their own coaching development and plans to develop themselves further.

Assessment methods

Students will prepare three short (500 words each) summaries during the course; the coaching vernacular, an ethical case-study, and personal reflections on their coaching journey.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

 

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support