WHAT IS STUDENT CONSULTING?
“We refer to [vocal coaches] as our ‘outside ears.' The voice is so mysterious and fragile [...] What we hear as we are singing is not what the audience hears.” — Soprano Renée Fleming
Student Consulting (or Student Coaching) is a formal structure for students to offer feedback on teachers' practice. Student Consultants might observe classes and conduct debriefs, conduct project tunings, or join in the planning of curriculum.
Our Student Consulting program was inspired by the work of Alison Cook-Sather of Bryn Mawr College, which relies on the radical idea that when you create alternative spaces where students and teachers can transcend their traditional roles and relationships, rich, authentic relationships and pedagogy-shifting dialogue will follow.
This site provides supporting background information and literature, a concise and resource-rich Student Consulting implementation guide, and a means of sharing your school's student consulting work so that we can all improve.