Coach
Coaching with Big Idea Project
The Big Idea Project is a co-curricular program for High School Students that uses experience and curriculum to facilitate:
- Student transformation
- Social-emotional growth
- Workforce readiness
- Leadership development
We utilize the expertise of coaches as one of the many ‘tools’ in the student’s learning process.
How the project works
A Big Idea
Teams of 3-4 identify a social problem they care about and come up with a way to help solve it
Business Coach
Together with a business coach, teams create a plan for taking action
Action
Students have the semester to work their plan and make their Big Idea come to life
Presentation
At the end of the semester, teams create a storytelling video and present their results
Real World Relevance
Students create a real world portfolio to use with future employers and schools. Winning teams can receive college scholarships.
The role of a coach
A coach works with one team (or 3-4 students) over the course of one semester (3.5 months).
- Be an advisor and coach. You do not drive the relationship and must not do the work for students. Instead, help them learn to think and see differently.
- Be a resource. If students need connections to people or organizations and they’ve proven to you to be trustworthy to follow through, then connect them.
- Teach them what’s expected in professional settings. Give them a taste of work outside of high school. Give them tips and maybe even offer ‘tough love’ when they need a push.
What makes a good coach?
- Experience leading teams—working with youth helps but is not required
- Positivity, encouragement and perspective in the good and hard times
- A commitment to regular communication with students and to making all in-person meetings
Coaching benefits you too!
Our community of coaches is a highly engaged group of seasoned leaders who care about providing real world learning to students.
As a coach you will:
- Build relationships with other coaches at BIP events
- See firsthand what issues students face in our schools
- Refine your coaching and leadership skills
- Learn about the needs of our emerging workforce
Coach FAQs
How long does each coaching gig last?
Coaches work with students for one semester (about 3.5 months). When you sign up to coach, you commit to attending six in-class sessions at the school (one hour each), attending your team’s presentation event at the end of the project, communicating weekly with your team using BIP’s online project platform, and participating in the coach orientation and training (online sessions available).
What is the role of a BIP coach?
Big Idea Project coaches provide perspective, advice and connections to teams. Often, the best help a coach can give is real-world advice and perspective that comes from well-crafted questions.
When you sign up to coach, you commit to attending six in-class sessions at the school (one hour each), attending your team’s presentation event at the end of the project, communicating weekly with your team using BIP’s online project platform, and participating in the coach orientation and training (online sessions available).
What will I teach as a coach?
Above all, it’s about teaching empathy. Big Idea Project coaches practice Generous Leadership® and know it is the key to building future leaders of impact. As a coach you have an opportunity to guide students in an experience that not only helps them grow in skill but helps lead to a paradigm shift characterized by empathy.