Teaching transformation through time

As I walk through the pink doors into the NuVu Innovation School, a NuVu teacher, which is called a coach, is wandering around. Students are chattering away and yet through the thickness of the noise, the coach still hears their name being called. The coach comes over to the student pointing at their computer screen. The student was having issues with putting together a presentation, so the coach swiftly drags the images into their proper positions. The coach asks the student if they need any more help. The student shakes their head and says, “Thanks, Rosa.” Rosa walks away, her brown hair bouncing behind her, ready to help another student.

Believe it or not, Rosa Weinberg wasn’t always such an understanding coach. When she first started coaching, Rosa believes she was extremely forceful. She was out of an architecture master’s program and she was used to an environment of critics.`

“[My professors] wouldn’t necessarily tell you why they are giving you a particular kind of feedback.”

Because of this, Rosa would come up to students and give them the type of feedback that she was used to receiving. This left students confused because they didn’t really understand what they were doing and why they were doing it. On top of this, Rosa wanted to ensure her students were seen as successful by parents and NuVu administration.

“I felt a lot of pressure to have my students have good projects.” All of these expectations that Rosa was putting on her students created tension in their relationship.

At the beginning of her time at NuVu, Rosa wanted to teach full time. “I wanted to take on “One studio after another. Saeed [head of NuVu] told me it would be too difficult and only Andrew had enough energy to teach that much.”

Still, she tried her best and for a while, she was teaching studios left and right. At one point all of this coaching left Rosa exhausted, so she had to find a way to teach and relax.

 After six years, Rosa no longer teaches studios one after another. She has learned that taking breaks and rest time is important. She takes an art course outside of work for a few weeks each year to let her mind focus on something else. Rosa also leaves NuVu early on Tuesday and Thursday to let herself relax and get away from the students. Most importantly, she works on her own projects that are completely unrelated to NuVu. All of these rest and break times allow Rosa to focus on teaching more effectively during school.

On a cold Tuesday morning, Rosa walks around her studio, stopping at each table giving the students feedback. A few students look befuddled. When they ask “why” they need to iterate on their idea a step further, she explains that it will give the students more options. The students proceed to look at their prototype, twisting it around and talking to each other. When they decide what they are going to do, they start sketching out ideas.

After Rosa helps these students, she walks to the center of the room and starts working on her computer. She is coordinating with her co-coaches to decide what the next activity will be. It’s decided.

Rosa walks up to the front of the class and makes an announcement.

“Up next we will be doing our intro activity”.

When a student asks what the point of this activity is, Rosa smiles.

“This is to get your hands dirty and not have to think too much.”

She then tells students to break into groups and think about their ideas. While walking around Rosa hears her name and comes over to help the student. She leans over their desk and picks up their prototype. She looks at it and then sits down, takes out her notepad, and starts giving feedback. While talking with the student she writes down the feedback that she is giving them so that she can hand them the sheet when she is done.

She leaves her hunched over position at the student’s desk and she walks around proudly surveying the studio. Everyone is intensely working. Sketching, prototyping and socializing together. Sitting here, seeing Rosa now, walking around and joking with her students. Connecting with them, I could never imagine her being the coach she says she was in the past.