Creating "The Tide Pool" learning environment demands a particular kind of instructor—one who transcends the traditional role of a lecturer and embodies the qualities of a coach and a gardener. Students consistently highlight this transformational aspect of my role. Many express that I act "more as a coach rather than a teacher: guiding us and encouraging us along the way to problem solve; giving us leeway to create our own solutions before compromising on the occasional guidance". They describe me as a "facilitator" who enables them to think, rather than simply providing answers. This distinction is critical to the success of "The Tide Pool."
Based on my journey and the feedback I've received, I believe the characteristics of an instructor who can effectively create a good "Tide Pool" include:
- Passion and Dedication: My students consistently remark on my passion for teaching. They see that I am "dedicated to helping" them, and genuinely "invested in the journey and ideas" as much as they are. This level of commitment is palpable and deeply motivates students. It's not just about teaching, but caring for their growth.
- Deep Expertise and Industry Experience: As a practicing management consultant and startup advisor, I bring real-world content and proprietary tools directly into the curriculum. Students appreciate this, noting "insights taught from books" and my "relevant expertise to guide us through our projects and studies". This practical grounding ensures the relevance and authenticity of the challenges and solutions explored.
- Clarity and Structured Guidance: While the course embraces ambiguity, I ensure clarity in my requirements and explanations. I provide "scaffolding" in the form of templates and clear boundaries, which, paradoxically, "frees them up to explore and experiment" rather than confining them. This structure minimizes uncertainties and ambiguities, helping students build confidence in applying complex concepts.
- Accessibility and Responsiveness: Being readily available for students is paramount, especially in a demanding, real-world project course. I dedicate specific sessions to team-centric consultations and make myself highly accessible via Telegram, providing timely responses to their questions and interventions for unforeseen issues. Students deeply appreciate this "dedicated coaching and support".
- Constructive, Challenging Feedback: My feedback is described as "very clear with her requirements and gives feedback very regularly (almost every week)" and "constructive and timely". Students acknowledge that I often "shoot down" their initial slide decks during consultations, which can feel "shitty" after hours of work. However, they also recognize that this "in-depth probing" challenges them "to think deeper about the root of the problem" and "propelled them to solve the issue independently". This critical, honest feedback, even if tough, is essential for developing true depth of thinking.
- Open-mindedness and Adaptability: My own approach to teaching this course has been a continuous "process of experimentation, fine-tuning our approach to ensure a positive experience for all stakeholders involved". I am always seeking to improve, sharing my methodologies with other faculty members and, crucially, learning from their diverse perspectives in return. This cross-pollination of ideas is vital for continuous improvement and innovation in teaching.
- Empathy and Support: Despite the rigor, students feel supported. They describe me as "very motherly and cares for students" and someone who "always crack[s] a joke or two whenever we're down". I actively manage student anxiety, especially during difficult client interactions, by stepping in to mediate. This emotional support, alongside academic rigor, ensures students feel confident and assured throughout the process.
- Advocate for "Think Again": Crucially, the instructor must embody the very mindset they wish to instill. My personal conviction, heavily influenced by Adam Grant’s Think Again, drives me to challenge students to question assumptions and seek truth based on evidence, fostering a scientific approach to problem-solving. This isn't just about what I teach, but how I teach and what values I model.
In essence, the "Tide Pool" instructor is not a knowledge dispenser but a skilled facilitator, a rigorous coach, and an empathetic guide who cultivates a resilient, critical, and adaptive mindset in students, preparing them not just for a career, but for life's winding road.