Learning using Khan Academy

Learning using Khan Academy

Jeff Mitchell

Learning is a key theme of this blog. To date I have focused on coaching and coach development. In this article I want to show how learning concepts can be applied to learning any topic – in this case algebra and computer programming. I will do this by discussing Khan Academy.

Evaluating your learning

Using your learning edge

Part 9 – Evaluating your learning

Jeff Mitchell – Community Sport Advisor – Sport Auckland

A learning plan is designed to help increase your knowledge, leading to an increase in your effectiveness as a coach. Rather than being a static document, your learning plan should be regularly reviewed and updated. In this issue we will look at the role of evaluation and how to review your learning plan.

Researching

Using your learning edge

Part 8 – Researching

Jeff Mitchell – Community Sport Advisor – Sport Auckland

You will often come across situations when you are coaching that your previous experience has not prepared you for. The situation may be novel or outside of your current level of expertise. When you are operating at your learning edge you will often find yourself in the territory of the unknown. To help yourself to learn from these situations, and to then deal with them better in the future, you will often need to go away and conduct some research. In this article we will examine how you can use research to increase your knowledge and understanding, helping you to become a more effective coach.

Identifying your learning

Using your learning edge

Part 7 – Identifying your learning

Jeff Mitchell – Community Sport Advisor – Sport Auckland

Learning can occur in a range of settings: from observation, delivery, reading and research, through discussions, from competition, and even from analysing your mistakes. With each of these settings it is important that you are able to identify what you have learned and how you can use it. In this article we will look at how you can reflect on your coaching to identify what you have learned and how to then record this information so that you can incorporate it into your coaching practice.

Watch and learn

Using your learning edge

Part 6 – Watch and learn

Jeff Mitchell – Community Sport Advisor – Sport Auckland

 You need a range of tools if you are to be continuously learning. Observation, where you watch and analyse another coach delivering, is another tool that you can use to learn about your craft and about yourself. In our Taking charge of your coach development series we looked at the role of observation. We did this by looking at how video observation and the observation of other coaches can help you to develop your coaching ability. In this article we will look deeper at the process of learning when using observation and how it can fit into your learning plan.

Learning regardless of the result

Using your learning edge

Part 5 – Learning regardless of the result

Jeff Mitchell – Community Sport Advisor – Sport Auckland

Competition is exciting, and everyone wants to win. Win or lose, every match presents you with opportunities to learn and grow. In this article we will look at how you can learn regardless of the result. We will examine what you can learn from competition and a process for learning, win or lose.

Embracing mistakes

Using your learning edge

Part 4 – Embracing mistakes

Jeff Mitchell – Community Sport Advisor – Sport Auckland

Working at your learning edge is messy. As you are working outside of your comfort zone you will probably be making a lot of mistakes. The key to learning from mistakes is how you respond to them. Having the right mindset and following a process for learning from your mistakes will enable you to grow from them, pushing your learning edge further out and increasing your ability to coach effectively. In this article we examine mistakes and their role in the learning process.

Using your learning plan

Using your learning edge

Part 3 – Using your learning plan

Jeff Mitchell – Community Sport Advisor – Sport Auckland

So far in this series we have looked at the role of learning and how to work at your learning edge – the area where the greatest learning takes place. In this article we will look at how to put together a learning plan to ensure that you spend as much time in your learning edge as possible.

Recommended coaching books

While there is no substitute for experience, it is important as a coach to keep increasing your knowledge of the craft. Books are still a good resource for doing this. They are a source of information, provide you with alternative viewpoints, and can challenge you to examine how you currently operate. In this section I will be providing a number of books that cover a range of coaching topics.

Learning and coaching

Using your learning edge

Part 1 – Learning and coaching

Jeff Mitchell – Community Sport Advisor – Sport Auckland

Coaching is the process of helping athletes to grow and develop in order to reach their potential. To do this well requires a focus on learning – of both the coach and the athlete. In our new series of articles we are going to examine the learning process and how you can use it to increase your coaching effectiveness.