FOCUS
On the path to 'becoming'
Awareness of their own mental models can help coaches stretch and grow
By Joellen Killion
Categories: Career pathways, Change management, Coaching, Implementation, Learning designsDecember 2019
Vol. 40, No. 6
Coaches make hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions that affect the daily work of teaching and learning. These decisions are not arbitrary; they are guided by the mental models coaches hold. Mental models comprise our assumptions, beliefs, and generalizations, and they shape how we see the world and act in it. The concept of mental models, popularized by Donald Schon in his study of how professionals learn (Schon, 1987) and Peter Senge in his work on organizational learning (Senge, 1990), has been described in multiple academic fields since the late 19th century. Coaches’ mental models are powerful factors in determining how they see and understand their clients’ classrooms, the school context and culture, and the work that needs to be done. This is one reason
Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue.
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.
Joellen Killion ([email protected]) is a senior advisor to Learning Forward.
References
Gilbert, D. (2014 March). The psychology of your future self. TED2014. Available at www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_you_are_always_changing.
Popova, M. (2014a). The backfire effect: Why we have such a hard time changing our minds. Available at www.brainpickings.org/2014/05/13/backfire-effect-mcraney.
Popova, M. (2014b). Being vs. becoming: John Steinbeck on creative integrity, the art of changing your mind, the humanistic duty of the artist. Available at www.brainpickings.org/2014/12/15/john-steinbeck-integrity-lettuceberg.
Rao, S. (2006). Are you ready to succeed? Unconventional strategies to achieving personal mastery in business and life. New York, NY: Hyperion. Audiobook.
Schon, D. (1987). Educating the reflective practitioner. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Senge, P. (1990). The fifth discipline: The art & practice of the learning organization. New York, NY: Doubleday.
Joellen Killion is a senior advisor to Learning Forward and a sought-after speaker and facilitator who is an expert in linking professional learning and student learning. She has extensive experience in planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of high-quality, standards-based professional learning at the school, system, and state/provincial levels. She is the author of many books including Assessing Impact, Coaching Matters, Taking the Lead, and The Feedback Process. Her latest evaluation articles for The Learning Professional are “7 reasons to evaluate professional learning” and “Is your professional learning working? 8 steps to find out.”
Categories: Career pathways, Change management, Coaching, Implementation, Learning designs
CURRENT ISSUE
Recent Issues
APPLYING THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING
April 2026
Cognitive science illuminates how people learn. This issue shows how...
LEARNING WITH AI
February 2026
Generative AI can be a powerful tool for professional learning design and...
WHAT STUDENTS NEED NOW
December 2025
For all students to thrive, we need to understand who they are and what...
LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR LEADERS
October 2025
Leaders need opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with peers just as...
