Self-Paced Experience
Interview with Logan Anderson
Logan Anderson is an elementary school teacher with the Toronto District School Board. She has worked in education with a focus on early reading intervention and special support programming for over 13 years. Logan recently completed the self-paced version of The Anatomy and here’s what she had to say in an interview with Quinn.
Quinn: I’m curious to know, what excited you most about the opportunity originally?
Logan: I think what excited me was the chance to engage in learning that would ultimately help me reach a greater number of students and provide them the support to meet their goals.
Quinn: What kept you motivated during the experience?
Logan: The way the course was organized! I loved the format and platform. There were short videos and audio files that made it easy to engage with at any time. Also, I consider myself a lifelong learner and this course is a welcome addition on any resume for future professional endeavours.
Quinn: What did you find most challenging about it?
Logan: I was challenged by the practice. If I was to take the course again, I would want to have a group of students or individuals lined up to support through coaching to allow greater opportunities to practise the developing skills throughout the course.
Quinn: What did you value most?
Logan: As a parent to two young children, I valued the flexibility. While taking the course, if I had 10 or 15 minutes to spare, I could quickly log on and listen to a few videos or complete a couple of activities in my own time. I took time to sit with the new learning until I felt ready to move on.
Quinn: What were the three biggest takeaways?
Logan: The definition of coaching has been my biggest mindset shift throughout the course. I have a greater understanding of coaching as a journey alongside someone and how to support them through the use of guiding questions. Since completing the course, I have used the Fulfilment Wheel and Order of Importance exercises for myself and my husband. These are useful tools that encourage a starting point for coaching and areas of development. The Start with Heart framework is a well-developed and practical resource for a beginner like me and I have referenced the questions often.
Quinn: How have you applied coaching since you took the course?
Logan: Within the course I learned that coaching is a lifestyle. I try to apply coaching techniques in every conversation I have these days.
Quinn: What is your vision for coaching in your life now?
Logan: For me, I think being a coach for someone is a very significant role. I see myself being a better listener and providing greater guidance. In the past, I would have called myself more of a fixer than a guide.
Quinn: Looking back, what would you do differently?
Logan: Within The Anatomy there are opportunities to practise and complete exercises to gain better perspective and deepen your understanding of coaching, I would go back and revisit those activities often and create a holistic vision of the Graydin coaching model.
Quinn: What advice would you give someone about to start?
Logan: The self-paced experience was an asset in my life. I thrived being able to give each component of new learning the time it needed, however I would encourage new participants to set an end date goal for completing each section within a set amount of time.
