What is Learning Coaching?

Coaching Over Teaching!

There is no parent in this world who is indifferent to their child's education. Education plays a crucial role in shaping a child's future path. However, many parents seem satisfied with simply finding a tutoring center that excels in teaching subjects their children struggle with and enrolling them there. Parents must understand that coaching, which encourages children to learn and explore independently, is more important than teaching, the more traditional method of delivering knowledge. Similarly, teachers should focus on coaching to bring out the best in students, helping them discover what they truly want to learn. Children who develop critical thinking skills through coaching can grow into talents needed in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Let’s delve into the concept of coaching through the example of someone who went from being at the bottom of his class to becoming the Associate Dean at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education.

[Paul Kim, Associate Dean of Stanford Graduate School of Education, Surce : Naver]

 

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Paul Kim: From Last Place to Stanford's Associate Dean

Paul Kim despised studying during his school years, consistently ranking last in his class throughout elementary, middle, and high school. Yet, this very student, who rejected Korea’s traditional education system, moved to the United States and rose to become the Associate Dean of Stanford's Graduate School of Education. What was the key to his success?

 

Paul Kim attributes it to the relentless pursuit of answers to his curiosities, which he defines as effort. Though he didn't study much as a child, he demonstrated persistence by seeking answers to whatever piqued his interest. For example, in 1985, he became curious about computer coding after seeing friends learn it. Driven by this curiosity, he taught himself coding, an experience that later enabled him to become a leading authority in education technology.

 

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The Music Professor Who Taught Coaching

When Paul Kim initially moved to the U.S., his poor English skills were a significant hurdle. To avoid courses that required extensive English proficiency, he enrolled in a music class, assuming it would involve minimal verbal requirements. Contrary to his expectations, the class required students to listen to compositions by Beethoven, Bach, and Schubert and write essays in English. Struggling, Paul Kim handed in an assignment that simply read, "Music is good." Realizing his struggles, the professor called him aside to assess his English proficiency.

 

Understanding the situation, the professor asked Paul Kim to write his essay in Korean instead. When Kim submitted a richly expressive essay in Korean, the professor requested that he translate it into English word by word using a dictionary. With the professor’s support, Kim managed to submit the translated essay and was awarded an A+. The professor explained, "This class is about how you feel and express music. It’s not about how well you speak English." This experience boosted Paul Kim's confidence and inspired him to dedicate himself to his studies. By guiding him to focus on what truly mattered in the class, the professor significantly influenced Kim's educational journey.

 

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Coaching as the Future of Educational Technology

Today, higher education, which once required attending universities or graduate schools, is accessible to anyone at a fraction of the cost. Numerous platforms now offer learning opportunities tailored to individual needs. While teaching can be achieved through various channels if one is motivated to learn, coaching provides guidance for future learning directions and suggests diverse approaches tailored to each individual. Hence, the education of the future will inevitably center around coaching. Instead of students who can merely memorize and solve calculus formulas, the world needs students who can think about where those formulas might be applied.

 

The music professor's coaching, which guided the direction of Paul Kim’s learning, transformed him from a student who was always at the bottom of his class into a respected scholar. The traditional teaching approach, which merely delivers information, has its limitations in nurturing the talents needed for the future. Learning coaching, which encourages children to think and reflect independently, is the kind of education they truly need.

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