1.
©
Instructional
Connections,
LLC.
All
Rights
Reserved.
A
Brief
Overview
of
the
Academic
Coaching
Model
Who
is
Instructional
Connections,
LLC?
Instructional
Connections
(IC)
is
an
independent,
integrated
service
provider
of
high
quality
instructional
support
services
to
colleges
and
universities
that
offer
online
courses
and
degree
programs.
IC
specializes
in
providing
"Academic
Coaches"
to
institutions
that
offer
high
growth
online
programs
and
courses
with
a
highly
effective,
scalable
and
affordable
instructional
model.
What
does
Instructional
Connections
do?
Instructional
Connections
provides
ongoing
instructional
support
to
our
university
partners
using
Academic
Coaches.
This
support
includes,
but
is
not
limited
to
the
following:
• Recruiting,
screening,
performing
background
checks,
pre-­‐qualify
and
present
candidates
for
approval
to
university
based
on
educational
and
work
experience
requirements.
• Train
candidates
in
regulatory
compliance,
online
learning
best
practices,
the
Academic
Coaching
Model
and
Learning
Management
System
used
by
our
university
partners
and
orient
them
into
a
program.
• Work
with
program
administrators
and
faculty
to
assign
Academic
Coaches
to
programs
and
courses,
based
on
university
needs
and
enrollments.
• Manage
and
supervise
the
Academic
Coaches
in
support
of
university
faculty.
• Help
our
university
partners
manage
and
scale
online
classrooms
so
that
distance
education
is
affordable
and
of
the
highest
quality.
What
is
an
Academic
Coach?
Each
Academic
Coach
is
a
highly
qualified,
experienced
practitioner
in
their
field
of
study
and
has
earned
a
graduate
or
doctoral
degree
from
an
accredited
university.
These
individuals
possess
a
strong
educational,
instructional,
and
leadership
background,
bringing
value
to
the
overall
student
learning
experience.
They
help
students
make
connections
with
their
learning,
increase
depth
and
complexity
in
the
discussion
forum,
and
encourage
students
as
they
progress
through
the
program.
Academic
Coaches
can
grade
assignments,
manage
discussion
threads,
handle
announcements,
and
manage
the
day-­‐to-­‐day
issues
as
directed
by
the
faculty.
This
enables
the
faculty
of
record
to
focus
on
delivery
of
course
curriculum.
The
exact
qualifications
and
requirements
of
an
Academic
Coach
are
tailored
according
to
individual
program
and
course
needs.
How
do
the
Academic
Coach,
Coordinating
Academic
Coach,
and
Lead
Academic
Coach
function
in
the
University’s
Program?
An
Academic
Coach
focuses
on
enhancing
student
success
and
retention
by
minimizing
student
isolation,
increasing
and
promoting
opportunities
for
collaboration,
communication,
and
accountability.
The
Academic
Coaches
understand
the
need
for
fostering
positive,
meaningful
affective
and
professional
relationships
with
students.
Students
in
return
feel
connected
to
the
program
because
they
are
connected
to
their
Academic
Coach.
The
coaches
work
collaboratively
to
reinforce
the
faculty’s
academic
goals
and
learning
objectives.
The
Coordinating
Academic
Coach
serves
as
point
of
primary
interaction
with
the
Professor.
Some
of
the
points
of
interaction:
• Clarification of Professor's course policies
• Coordination of multiple coaches' work
• Check on inter-rater reliability in rubric grading
• Review of student performance in both discussions and assessments
The
Coordinating
Academic
Coach
is
responsible
for
insuring
that
interactions
between
Academic
Coaches
and
the
Professor
occurs
and
for
recording
decisions
or
action
items
that
may
emerge.
Assignment
of
a
Coordinating
Academic
Coach
is
based
on
the
number
of
students
and
Academic
Coaches
in
a
course.
The
Coordinating
Academic
Coach
reports
to
the
Lead
Academic
Coach.

2.
©
Instructional
Connections,
LLC.
All
Rights
Reserved.
The
Vertical
Lead
Academic
Coach
position
is
pivotal
to
the
delivery
of
courses
and
serves
as
a
"working
manager."
The
Lead
Academic
Coach
most
frequently
interacts
with
the
academic
leadership
of
a
program
but
also
is
available
to
faculty
members.
If
there
is
not
a
designated
Coordinating
Academic
Coach
for
a
course,
the
Lead
Academic
Coach
assumes
the
role
and
responsibilities
of
a
Coordinating
Academic
Coach
for
that
course.
How
are
Academic
Coaches
recruited,
hired,
trained
and
assigned?
The
university’s
program
coordinators
and
faculty
establish
the
qualifications
for
the
Academic
Coaches
in
each
course.
Based
on
the
identified
qualifications,
IC
begins
recruiting
nationally
for
the
position;
however,
IC
can
focus
regionally
or
within
tight
niche
populations
of
applicants,
depending
on
the
needs
of
each
program
and
course.
Each
applicant
is
reviewed
to
match
the
qualifications
to
the
program
and/or
course.
Once
an
applicant
is
deemed
a
match
to
the
program
and/or
course
requirement,
a
background
check
is
performed
on
the
candidate.
Concurrently,
the
candidate
is
enrolled
into
“Academic
Coach
Pre-­‐Employment
Screening”.
The
candidate
commits
4-­‐6
hours
to
completing
this
online
screening
process
over
one
week.
The
screening
includes
introduction
to
the
learning
management
system
(LMS),
basic
principles
of
online
education,
and
detailed
information
regarding
the
role
and
expectations
of
an
Academic
Coach.
Upon
successful
competition
of
the
screening
(active
participation,
completing
assignments
and
working
through
all
six
modules),
the
candidate
is
advanced
to
the
contracting
phase.
The
contract
is
dependent
on
the
success
of
the
background
check
and
passing
the
screening.
Once
the
on-­‐boarding
phase
is
complete,
the
individual
is
added
to
the
pool
of
screened
and
qualified
Academic
Coaches
ready
for
an
assignment.
The
Vertical
Lead
Academic
Coach
reviews
the
qualifications
of
all
Academic
Coaches
and
makes
recommendations
to
the
Program
Administrator
and/or
Faculty
for
assignment
to
a
course
based
on
the
Academic
Coach
Request
submitted
by
the
faculty
and/or
program
chair.
The
Program
Administrator
and/or
Faculty
will
approve
or
decline
the
candidate(s).
If
a
candidate
is
declined,
feedback
may
be
provided
to
the
Vertical
Lead
Academic
Coach
and
IC
Recruiting
Staff
as
to
the
reasons
for
denial
to
fine-­‐tune
the
recruitment
efforts.
When
an
Academic
Coach
is
approved
for
a
program
and/or
course,
the
Vertical
Lead
and/or
Coordinating
Academic
Coach
guide
the
new
Academic
Coach
through
an
orientation
of
the
university,
program
and
course.
In
addition,
the
Academic
Coach
begins
the
orientation
process
that
details
the
roles
and
responsibilities,
how
to
navigate
the
LMS,
and
provides
ongoing
resources
for
the
Academic
Coach
throughout
the
duration
of
the
course.
What
steps
are
taken
to
ensure
and
verify
the
Faculty
of
Record
retains
control
of
the
course
and
program?
The
Faculty
of
Record
provides
clear
expectations
for
the
Academic
Coach
to
respond
to
students,
grade
assignments,
and
preferred
method
to
communicate
with
faculty.
This
is
primarily
handled
through
a
Pre-­‐Course
Conference
Call
in
which
the
Academic
Coaches
and
Faculty
review
the
course,
syllabus,
assignments,
and
outcomes.
This
is
maintained
throughout
the
course
during
the
Weekly
Conference
Calls
with
Faculty
and
Academic
Coach.
During
the
weekly
calls,
the
Faculty
and
Academic
Coaches
discuss
any
student
issues,
upcoming
assignments,
changes
in
the
course,
and
the
Faculty
expectations.
What
measures
does
IC
have
in
place
to
ensure
quality
services
are
provided?
Instructional
Connection’s
quality
assurance
program
is
consistent
with
University’s
commitment
to
provide
a
high
quality
educational
experience.
Academic
Coaches
follow
all
guidance
and
direction
from
assigned
faculty
members.
At
the
end
of
each
course,
IC
obtains
faculty
feedback
on
the
Academic
Coaches
assigned
to
the
faculty’s
course.
In
addition,
Lead
Academic
Coaches
evaluate
Academic
Coach
activities
during
each
course
including
the
Academic
Coach’s
responsiveness
to
feedback.
If
IC
is
notified
of
a
concern
from
either
faculty
or
administrators
about
an
Academic
Coach’s
performance,
IC’s
administrative
personnel
will
investigate
and
take
action
as
appropriate,
up
to
and
including
removal
of
the
Academic
Coach
from
the
course
and/or
program.
John
Forrester
|
Vice
President
of
Strategic
Partnerships
Mailing
Address:
P.O.
Box
223696,
Dallas,
Texas
75222-­‐3696
Office:
972-­‐468-­‐9741
|
Mobile:
214-­‐663-­‐0091
|
Fax:
877-­‐663-­‐3439
|
Email:
john.forrester@iconnect-­‐na.com
Please
visit
our
webiste
at
:
http://www.instructionalconnections.com