Hello dance teachers!
Below is a link to a short survey of just three questions. I would be extremely grateful for your time.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/999GTLZ
Thank you
Sunday 19 November 2017
Tutorial with Adesola
I just recently had a tutorial with Adesola and this was very beneficial to me, so I am going to post what we discussed for other peoples benefit too!
Just recently someone recommended a person to interview, is this too late?
As the draft is due in for a weeks time, Adesola said that I would have to make sure it was fully analysed, and that taking the interview after the course was completed would still benefit me when learning about dance practitioners, so I have decided to not interview another person, but to arrange a an informal chat after the course has finished.
Is it crucial to include an audio visual for the critical reflection?
From reading the module handbook and reader 7, I noticed that there was a section regarding audio visual in the critical reflection. Adesola said that it was just an idea that we can use to show what we have found during our research?
Artefact
The aftefact is a method of explaining what you did for your inquiry that people in your current area of practice will understand, just as the critical reflection is an artefact for the university. It is something that would be normal in my working environment. As I work in a Primary School, and teach Dance and Fitness in the evenings, I am going to create an audio visual, as it is easy to access for viewers and not time consuming to watch, as in the environment where I work, everybody is busy and time is a virtue. Also, it enables critical and analytical thinking, which has been a huge part of this process.
Other areas of discussion:
The critical reflection should include 3-4 themes. For example, in my inquiry I should refer to the trends in educational strategies, and how they effect dance. Three factors that I must constantly refer to are; what I notice, what the interviewee said, and what I've found.
I hope this has helped!
Just recently someone recommended a person to interview, is this too late?
As the draft is due in for a weeks time, Adesola said that I would have to make sure it was fully analysed, and that taking the interview after the course was completed would still benefit me when learning about dance practitioners, so I have decided to not interview another person, but to arrange a an informal chat after the course has finished.
Is it crucial to include an audio visual for the critical reflection?
From reading the module handbook and reader 7, I noticed that there was a section regarding audio visual in the critical reflection. Adesola said that it was just an idea that we can use to show what we have found during our research?
Artefact
The aftefact is a method of explaining what you did for your inquiry that people in your current area of practice will understand, just as the critical reflection is an artefact for the university. It is something that would be normal in my working environment. As I work in a Primary School, and teach Dance and Fitness in the evenings, I am going to create an audio visual, as it is easy to access for viewers and not time consuming to watch, as in the environment where I work, everybody is busy and time is a virtue. Also, it enables critical and analytical thinking, which has been a huge part of this process.
Other areas of discussion:
The critical reflection should include 3-4 themes. For example, in my inquiry I should refer to the trends in educational strategies, and how they effect dance. Three factors that I must constantly refer to are; what I notice, what the interviewee said, and what I've found.
I hope this has helped!
Tuesday 7 November 2017
Skype call with Gonzalo and Eleanor (6.11.17)
Yesterday evening myself, Gonzalo and Eleanor arranged a skype call to check in on how we were getting along with our drafts. Although we are researching into different areas of inquiry, we were able to have a discussion about different tools of inquiry, and what worked well in our interviews, as well as ideas for the artefact. For me, at this stage I think that I am going to create something visual, as I have not yet created a visual piece of work on this course, apart from Web 2.0 platforms such as Linkd in, Flickr etc. It was also nice to speak to each other about our every day lives, and our current areas of practice. Eleanor had recently had an OFSTED inspection at the school she teaches at, which was beneficial to talk about, as the school I am currently working at is expecting an OFSTED visit very soon. Gonzalo is busy with ballet rehearsals in Riga, so we were able to talk about scheduling etc. This course over the past two modules has enabled me to progress independently, however it was still beneficial to catch up with other students, and realise that in fact everyone is on the same page.
Thursday 5 October 2017
Summary and feedback response form
Prior to starting back on module 3, we were sent a summary and feedback response form, to help us to refresh on memories on the inquiry after the summer break. With in depth feedback given promptly after it was sent, I found this to be an extremely beneficial tool.
My inquiry focuses on pedagogy and how it has developed from the practitioners perspective, and it shall also look into safe dance practice, which will include ethics, policies and how practitioners deliver it. In terms of feedback, I am now going to begin to define pedagogy more clearer as I progress through module 3, as it is a very broad topic. To do this, I shall refine my research down to pedagogy in a dance setting and how it has developed over the last 15 years.
In addition to this, I also need to clarify who I mean by the term 'practitioner', and dancers and teachers would refer to themselves as this. For the purpose of this inquiry, I aim focusing purely on the teachers perspective. For this inquiry and throughout module 3, I am going build an understanding on ethical assumptions, and what questions arise. Through doing this, I shall have a broad understanding of my topic, as opposed to knowing what is expected.
My inquiry focuses on pedagogy and how it has developed from the practitioners perspective, and it shall also look into safe dance practice, which will include ethics, policies and how practitioners deliver it. In terms of feedback, I am now going to begin to define pedagogy more clearer as I progress through module 3, as it is a very broad topic. To do this, I shall refine my research down to pedagogy in a dance setting and how it has developed over the last 15 years.
In addition to this, I also need to clarify who I mean by the term 'practitioner', and dancers and teachers would refer to themselves as this. For the purpose of this inquiry, I aim focusing purely on the teachers perspective. For this inquiry and throughout module 3, I am going build an understanding on ethical assumptions, and what questions arise. Through doing this, I shall have a broad understanding of my topic, as opposed to knowing what is expected.
Skype session 03.10.17
Today's session included students from all three modules, and it touched on a whole range of topics, such as 'authenticity', and what we would perceive this to mean, audition experience and how this had affected us, the idea of ethics when working in an education environment, and different cultures. This session really helped me, as it was a free discussion and everyone had a chance to share their opinion on the variety of topics. As my inquiry includes elements of the idea of safe practice, I had the opportunity to ask other students how they incorporate this into their practice, which was great because their answers were what I had hoped them to be. They informed me of consideration to equal opportunities, consent, and we spoke about policies and if they were made aware of them before working in a particular setting. For example, mainstream schools have behavioural, and safe guarding policies to name a few.
This session really allowed me to discuss, and hear the opinions of others, and how they are similar or different to mine, and the reasoning behind it. As an individual, I aim to be open minded, which is why I enjoy discussions. It helps me to learn from others.
This session really allowed me to discuss, and hear the opinions of others, and how they are similar or different to mine, and the reasoning behind it. As an individual, I aim to be open minded, which is why I enjoy discussions. It helps me to learn from others.
Sunday 17 September 2017
Skype session (continuing students) 17.09.17
Yesterday was the first Skype session back after the summer break, and I found it to be extremely supportive. After a long break off, I felt slightly apprehensive as I was worried in case I had forgotten things, or in case there had been something I had not done. However, everyone was in the same boat, and it turned out I was exactly where I needed to be. In addition to this, I have just completed a student response form, which has allowed me to go over what my proposal entailed in order for me to progress with my inquiry for this module.
During the Skype session, we spoke about scheduling. A lot of the students were too extremely busy with work etc, so we all spoke about having set days and times in the week to which we would dedicate to our studies. For example, my set days are going to be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, and Sundays.
As I was the only student in the Skype session that was starting module 3, I gave advice to the other students which I think they found beneficial. I stated to read everything and anything, and not to just skim read texts in hope of finding your answer in black and white. Because there would be so much valuable information that would be missed, and that information may be crucial in research.
I now plan to get myself settled into the sway of studying again, and I shall do that by reading, to see if there is any new information that I have missed over the summer break.
During the Skype session, we spoke about scheduling. A lot of the students were too extremely busy with work etc, so we all spoke about having set days and times in the week to which we would dedicate to our studies. For example, my set days are going to be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, and Sundays.
As I was the only student in the Skype session that was starting module 3, I gave advice to the other students which I think they found beneficial. I stated to read everything and anything, and not to just skim read texts in hope of finding your answer in black and white. Because there would be so much valuable information that would be missed, and that information may be crucial in research.
I now plan to get myself settled into the sway of studying again, and I shall do that by reading, to see if there is any new information that I have missed over the summer break.
Sunday 10 September 2017
First post back!
WOW! What a busy summer, and how times flies. Final module has approached, so its back to regular blog updates, literature reviews, tasks, comments, and of course, the inquiry. Since the proposal inquiry was sent, I have been extremely busy and a lot has changed. Firstly, I have a new full time job as a Learning Support Assistant at a local primary school, so I have been busy with assisting to get the classroom ready, lots of training courses, such as Phonics, and Autism, and meeting the 33 reception children who started their first day of school on Monday. I decided to be an assistant, because I do wish to go onto my teacher training after I have completed this course, and this job will give me so much experience and give me solid foundations in what a primary school teachers job entails first hand. I have also passed my Level 2 Exercise to Music qualification, so I am now ready to teach a whole range of fitness classes at local health clubs and gyms. Tomorrow also is the launch day of a new dance school opening which I am teaching at, so I have been busy planning with the other teachers, timetables, uniform, bookings, choreography, prices etc. I also have been teaching a Baby Ballet class too! But of course I have has some rest over the summer too, with a lovely Birthday trip to Barcelona, but for now, its time to get back into university work, ready to graduate after this final module, which I am extremely excited about.
I look forward to read about what everyone else has been getting up to over the summer break!
I look forward to read about what everyone else has been getting up to over the summer break!
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