“Effective coaching depends on setting aside status and making the matter at hand – improved teaching – the only concern. … Belief relies on trust and trust, of course, involves a willing vulnerability, an exposure of self to criticism. It is an inherently intimate relationship not everyone is willing to embrace. So, coaching, properly understood and executed, is not the repellant surrender of identity I’d long associated with athletics, not the shouting, cretinous commands of bullnecked former football stars…. it seems to me as though coaching is teaching at its very best.” (James Rhem, Tomorrowa��s Professor)
This quotation catches the attention because it is something very near and dear to dental hygiene education. In this article, James Rhem reflects on a seasoned professional’s journey (surgeon) and his ability to open himself up for critique in an effort to improve his skill. This article reminds one of students and even ourselves, the faculty and staff at CADH and how we often do not wish to open ourselves up for critique. This is understandable as we live in a society that expects us to perform our best without showing any areas of weakness and imperfections.
The question is, in the real world, is being perfect all of the time reality? The answer seems simple, clearly not. So, it would then make sense that we incorporate this reality into our teaching and learning. More specifically, it is crucial that we first accept that as individuals we make mistakes and then learn from them so the same or similar mistakes are not made.
Earlier this year, a article was published in the Globe and Mail entitled When Doctora��s Make Bad Calls (Anderson, 2012), and it cites research that indicates doctors learn more when they pay attention to the time they made errors. What does this mean? Well, it indicates that we need to embrace areas for improvement, because without doing so, we cannot excel. In dental hygiene education, it is an indication that we foster in ourselves and our students the ability not only to accept our errors but also use them for self-development and enhancement.
Rhem, James, 2011, Tomorrowa��s Professor Available at: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~dept-ctl/tomprof/posting.php
Anderson, Erin February 25, 2012, When Doctora��s Make Bad CallsA� Available at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/new-health/health-news/when-doctors-make-bad-calls/article2349755/page5/