Football teams watch film. It’s how they get better. They play a game (or even practice), they tape it, they review it, they reflect on what happened and what needs to change, and then, they go out and practice the changes. It’s a fairly simple and straightforward process. However, as individuals, we rarely apply this principle to our schoolwork or performance.
Reflection is one of the most important steps when it comes to making changes and getting better. Through our work with students, we force them into an interaction in which they must evaluate and reflect on their performance. We engage in a conversation that otherwise would not happen. By pushing students to reflect, they will be able to create the change they’re looking for.
So what types of things can college students reflect on? Consider things that are going well, things that aren’t going so well, what needs to change, and how we can get better. We can help students analyze their week, the way they spent their time, the way they studied or prepared, and the way in which they executed their plan.
This is a process that college students aren’t necessarily forced to do. Working with a coach will give college students the opportunity to critically evaluate themselves and put together a plan to make improvements, get better, and reach their goals. The goal for students is to effectively evaluate themselves, implement change, and make progress each week.