ABSTRACT

Title of Dissertation: A CASE STUDY OF ONLINE PEER COACHING OF CONSULTANT COMMUNICATION SKILL

DEVELOPMENT

Lorraine L. Wizda, Doctor of Philosophy, 2010

Dissertation directed by: Professor Sylvia Rosenfield

School Psychology Program

The purpose of the this study was to explore how peer coaches support the

development of collaborative communication skills in an online format for consultants

in training (CITs). The program examined was Instructional Consultation which pairs

a consultant with a teacher to work collaboratively to resolve the teacher's concern

regarding a student. The focus is on improving instruction and modifying

environmental variables. The study was approached using case study

methodology. Research questions were: (a) how do online peer coaches support

the development of collaborative communication skills in CITs and (b) what skills were

selected most frequently by the CITs as focus skills?

Transcripts of the email exchanges between the coaches and CITs which include

self-reflection by the CIT and structured feedback from the coach are the data used.

results show that the coaches use targeted feedback, examples, practical suggestions, and

modeling collaborative language to support the development of CIT skills. Not all of the

CITs consistently identified a focus skill (a skill they request specific feedback on from

the coach). Collaborative communication skills were selected more frequently in

the early stages of the process while more content related concerns were selected

toward the end of the process. The findings provide a better understanding of how

collaborative communication skills are supported in an online format and provide

direction for future research.