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Unit of study_

PSYC4722: Fundamentals of Coaching Practice

Semester 1, 2021 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit teaches the fundamentals of coaching, and lays the foundations for sound contemporary practice. It outlines the emergence of contemporary coaching from its roots in the Human Potential Movement, sports coaching, management consulting, clinical and counseling psychology, through to the establishment of the positive psychology movement. Drawing on established approaches students will be trained in the core micro skills of coaching. Core issues relating to mental illness and mental health and ethical professional coaching practice are addressed. Each seminar has a lecture component and an experiential learning component. The experiential learning component requires students to evaluate each topic in relation to their own personal life/work experience and to participate in group discussion. Practical experience of self-coaching and co-coaching are central aspects of this unit. This unit will be taught in block intensive mode over five days.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PSYC4722
Academic unit Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
PSYC4721
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Michael Cavanagh, michael.cavanagh@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Sean O'Connor, sean.oconnor@sydney.edu.au
Michael Cavanagh, michael.cavanagh@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Reflective Report 2
Case reflection on your experience as a coach.
50% STUVAC
Due date: 07 Jun 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 17 Jun 2021
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment Reflective report 1
Case reflection on your experience as a coachee
30% Week 07
Due date: 19 Apr 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 29 Apr 2021
1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8
Online task Tutorial Quiz
Multiple choice, short answer and longer answer questions
20% Week 12
Due date: 26 May 2020 at 16:00

Closing date: 26 May 2020
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Reflective report 1 requires the student to produce a 1200 word reflection on their experience as a coachee.

Reflective report 1 requires the student to produce a 2500 word reflection on their experience as a coach in the light of the theories and models taught in the course..Reports should follow APA style.

The tutorial quiz is a 1.5 hour quiz involving short answer, multiple choice and extended answer questions.

 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.


For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Standard University Late penalties apply in this Unit of study.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Day One: Introduction to Fundamentals; Reflective and scientist practitioner models in coaching; Coaching micro-skills; Solution-focused coaching; Coaching skills practice Block teaching (7 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8
Day 2: What does it take to be a great coach?; Core coaching competency models; The coaching relationship; Establishing coaching agreements and contracting; Coaching skills practice. Block teaching (7 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 05 Day 3: Coaching assignment debrief; Mental Health & Psychopathology; Coaching skills practice; Block teaching (7 hr) LO1 LO3 LO7 LO8
Week 08 Day 4: Mental Health & Psychopathology; Referrals and self-care; Coaching skills practice. Block teaching (7 hr) LO1 LO3 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 09 Day 5: Coaching assignment debrief; Ethical issues in coaching; Supervision; Developmental planning. Block teaching (7 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

Due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance requirements for this unit of study have been amended. Where online tutorials/workshops/virtual laboratories have been scheduled, students should make every effort to attend and participate at the scheduled time. Penalties will not be applied if technical issues, etc. prevent attendance at a specific online class. In that case, students should discuss the problem with the coordinator, and attend another session, if available.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Required textbook: Grant, A. M., & Greene, J. (2004). Coach Yourself: Make real change in your life (2 ed.). London:
    Momentum Press.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate competence in core coaching skills
  • LO2. demonstrate understanding of ethical and professional practice
  • LO3. demonstrate understanding of the need for supervision and self-care
  • LO4. conduct client assessments using interview and self-report techniques
  • LO5. design and enact a professional practice development plan
  • LO6. demonstrate understanding of the core issues in workplace, executive and personal/life coaching
  • LO7. identify core issues in relation to mental health and coaching
  • LO8. apply the taught theories and techniques to a wide range of coaching client issues.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Increased practice opportunities will be added in response to student feedback.

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

  • No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
  • A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
  • Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
  • In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
  • First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory
  • As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.