When University Students Peer Coach Professional Skills Do they Also Counsel, Mentor, and Tutor?

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate what really happens when university students do peer coaching of professional skills. Student peer coaches and student coachees participated in this course-based research of peer coaching professional skills at MacEwan University. After each peer coaching, session data was gathered through completion of coachee reports. In the initial study the highest number of requests, in descending order, for coaching the professional skills was: writing, presentations, library research, technology, team work, and case study analysis. As well, coachees made requests for help in other areas that were not identified as a professional skill, which is the purpose of this study, i.e. does counselling, mentoring, or tutoring also take place?