Outcome-based, Student-centered Coach Education

Presented by Dr. Amy Giddings, Associate Clinical Professor of Sport Coaching and Leadership, Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)

Dr. Giddings’ presentation will focus on an approach to learning and program development that meets the needs of a diverse set of learners. Learning in an online environment is often new to students and coaches, and as a result, it is important for faculty to understand this and work with students to help them feel welcome and comfortable in the online environment. It is imperative to use technology that benefits the student experience. Coaches are often skeptical that they can learn coaching skills in an online environment. As faculty, it becomes important for us to show students how learning skills in an online environment provides significant benefits and can aid in their achievement of the learning outcomes. Additionally, program development is key to the success of any online program in coaching. Program development and growth through formal and informal assessment strategies and curricular innovation is critical, as is the outward facing development of the brand – in this case, the brand of Michigan State Sport Coaching and Leadership program.

About the speaker

Amy Giddings is presently an Associate Clinical Professor in Sport Management and the Program Director of Sport Coaching Leadership Programs at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned her Ph.D. in Sport Psychology in 2009 from Temple University. Dr. Giddings has held faculty appointments at Drexel University since 2006, where she has taught online courses in sport coaching, management, and research methods, has coordinated study-abroad programs in five different countries, and has advised 18 students to completion of their master’s thesis. Recently, she has developed a program to train approximately 2,000 high school coaches in the School District of Philadelphia, which has twice received annual funding of $20,000 (2016-17, 2017-18). She has also obtained external funding for three consecutive years (total of $85,000) to conduct the Philadelphia Coaches’ Conference. She has also held positions as a collegiate rowing coach and a director of campus health initiatives (Temple University – Tyler School of Art).