Handy hints on starting module two

I have always wanted to find a blog post that was giving away tips quite blatantly !

So I hope this post is of use to someone :)

Starting module two I have read and re-read the module handbook and have made separate notes on what we are required to submit at the end of term.

A portfolio containing: 

Practice based inquiry proposal 

Literature/archival review

Critical Reflection drawing on practise based processes

Feedback exchange form

Appendices: 

i) Award title rationale form

ii) Signed Employer Form

iii) Ethics Form

iv) Draft data collection/participant consent form

I have also looked at a few different books, but one has been very ‘easy’ to read.
‘Doing your research Project’

I have also started to do some spider diagrams to help me to decide on an inquiry topic.

Wishing everyone a great start to module two :)

 

New Year , New Term , New Module

A new year signifies to many people a new start, but actually a new start can come at any time of the year. Mine started in September when I started this degree course.
I haven’t made any New Years resolutions as such , but this is an important full year of my course and so I really want to do well and I feel ready to start the new module.

Module 2. I have already read the Module 2 handbook from September , so I will wait to see when a new one is uploaded in case of any changes. I plan on reading the handbook again and again until I start to to brainstorm some ideas for the direction I will go in this term.

I watched a great Video which is great for inspiring the mind for the challenges ahead. Anything is possible with the correct positive mind set.
Wishing everyone a successful and happy new year.


https://www.ted.com/talks/diana_nyad_never_ever_give_up/up-next?language=en

Waiting and preparation

Our Skype call on 27th November came at a perfect time for me. 

I joined the call feeling a need to reconnect. I didn’t feel like I was disconnected from the course - quite the opposite as I have been working on my essay and diagram mapping. However, I felt that after working so intensely in meeting the deadline for the draft, that I had paused. Eagerly awaiting the feedback, and hoping for clarity that my essay had taken the right direction. I felt I needed the Feedback so much that I was in limbo until I had received it. 

Helen pointed out that we shouldn’t stop when we are awaiting feedback but to continue to work and develop our essay. After all, the answers are not going to be given to us within the feedback! But I was looking forward to a positive nudge in the right direction. I think sometimes a lack of confidence can make feedback even more important, the feeling of knowing you are doing ‘ok’. 

I am learning quite a lot of things about myself during this process. While waiting for my feedback I thought the worst. I was worried my essay would be taken to pieces and I would need to start again. I was actually expecting that. However since the call I have received feedback and it was much better than I was expecting. There is still work to be done , but I feel I am along the right track. The confidence of knowing this enables me to push ahead now ready for final submission in 11 days !!

Another reason I wanted to join the Skype call was to get some tips about how I could prepare for the upcoming module 2 in January. It is tempting to submit module one essay and then have a break but if I do that I will only be playing catch up in a panic in January. 

Preparation is key ! Especially when you are fitting a degree around family life and a full time job!

I was given some great advice from students on the course. Many were module 3 students, so they were able to give me their first hand experiences. Invaluable !

One student suggested that the reading of module one handbook should be ongoing also throughout module two. That the understanding you have will simply grow by referring back to it. 

Another student, Jessica , suggested a book to read to help with preparing for module 2, which I will definitely be looking into :

Maykut, P. & Morehouse, R.(1994), Beginning Qualitative Research: A Philosophical and Practical Guide , UK, RoutledgeFalmer 

Once I have made my improvements to my essay and submitted it , I will really try to focus on module 2 straight away. 

I plan on reading the module 2 handbook as an initial starting point. 

Influences on my practise

The influences on my practice are not all known on a global scale. 

My earliest influence has to be my first dance teacher and principal of the dance school I went to. She had the power to walk into a room and everyone stood up a little bit taller , pointed their toe a little bit stronger and smiled a little bit harder. She commanded respect effortlessly. 

She was very strict but got the best results out of us all. 

My next influence would be a much younger newly qualified  teacher at the same school. She taught all of the styles I really found fun , such as tap and jazz. She had a much more friendly approach and I always remember the rings that she wore on her thumbs. I thought she was very cool!

I definitely feel like I have combined a bit of both of my brilliant teachers into my current practice. I would describe myself as friendly and firm but fair. Looking at that it is a definite mix of both of them! Funny how we subconsciously absorb elements of people that surround us!

Another big influence was my GCSE drama teacher. He was outstanding. So good at what he did. I remember him asking me if I was attending the awards ceremony for school. I wasn’t planning to attend at the time ( purely because my friend wasn’t ?!) and he said that would be a shame as there may be an award for me. I attended and received a special award for performances and hard work in drama. Quite an achievement as I was surrounded by some great talent ( one of which is now a highly successful actress after training at RADA). 

I remember him saying that I was the sort of person that would always receive awards and that I should believe in myself more. Those words have stuck with me. 

Throughout my performing life I feel I was influenced by many performers that I have worked with. Their grit , drive and determination was admirable. I have been in awe of other performers and really tried to learn from them. 

Two widely known influences of mine has been Lady Gaga and Madonna. 

I always marvelled at Madonna’s skills to combine singing and dancing. I learned a lot from her whilst putting together a Madonna tribute show. In her heyday she was an absolute athelete. So fit and toned and so talented. Combining singing whilst performing a dance routine with dancers at the same time is difficult. Your breathing totally changes. It’s another type of fitness. She will also be a legend in my eyes 

Lady Gaga hit the music scene and grabbed everyone’s attention. Including mine. She was so different to any other artist. Her vocals were incredible and she was a songwriter in her own right. Hugely talented lady who I have seen in concert. 

I later decided to start a tribute show to lady Gaga and studied lots of her videos to try and replicate her movements and vocal style. 

Each influence has represented a different part of my career and performing life. They were of imperative importance when creating a tribute show which went to he extreme of drawing from an artist and went to the extreme of copying an artists’ movements, voice and physical appearance. 

Collating of findings

The Skype session today couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time as a large part of the discussion was about how we collate our findings. 

We have researched , read books , journals , blogs etc but what do we now do with our research ?

We know what we need to do - turn it into an essay !! But how ? 

The timing of the Skype was perfect as just last night I was attempting to read another book on the suggested reading list ;but after not connecting with it and feeling I wasn’t absorbing any information I decided to take a step back and go back to my roots ! The trusty module one handbook. I wanted to see where I would be able to use some of the references I have found within my essay. 

I tend to write notes as I go along on my phone but I also have lots of individual papers with information on them. I am also a big fan of spider diagrams :) 

Initially I plan to go through my notes , and then go back to look at it all through again with each lens. 

A module three student offered a good piece of advice, of colour coding key words that you have come across a lot and then categorising them. 

We need to go back and take a look at what is of value and which references we will use.  I feel as long as we can justify then any would be suitable to use. 

An interesting part of our discussion today was by looking at our ideas from a different perspective. 

Adesola suggested that contrast is another facet that we should consider. 

Contrasting views can also be featured in our work, as long as we can link it all up. 

I feel this would make the essay an interesting read and will be looking into this more. 

A special mention to the great book ‘ The Creative Habit’ by Twyla Tharp. This book was informative and interesting and has really resonated with me. It was an easy read from the start. 

Unpicking my practice

I enjoyed the Module One Skype session tonight, 'Seeing your Practise and Self'.
I felt I was able to engage much more in this discussion compared with the last one. Perhaps as it was designed for module one and we were all at similar stages? Maybe I'm starting to progress and relax into the course... although do hope I can explain my thoughts a little clearer when it comes to the essay writing though!! I sometimes find myself lost for words and then I'm panicking about what others think!! Silly I know , as this is my journey.



We had a varied discussion looking at how we describe our practice. A particular area of interest to me, was if our practice was separate to us, or a part of us.
I feel that my practice is an extension of me, but a more confident version of me!

My interests, passion and hobby is singing, theatre and dance (in no particular order!). The lines are blurred as if my practice was something totally different , for example a midwife, my interests would still be the same. I am lucky that I have managed to turn what I love doing into a career. When you start training aged 3 years old it becomes such a huge part of your life for such a long time. It would always be difficult to separate the two when they have been as one for so long.

Growing up, I was very shy. I remember being at a holiday centre one Summer, and the entertainers coming around looking for children to come up onto the stage to take part in a competition. I was terrified ! I hid under the table and begged my parents to not force me to do it!!
Part of the reason that I went to dance classes was to help with my confidence, and it definitely worked.
For me, being onstage was a real adrenalin rush. It pushed me beyond my comfort zone, yet at the same time felt like the best place in the world. My confidence grew thanks to all of the dance shows and youth theatre shows and experiences I was exposed to through that.

As I succeeded as a working professional I began to feel like the stage was my home. I was always so focused during any performance and ultimately so happy. Being onstage was always such a great way to express myself.

Nowadays I find myself expressing emotions through my choreography work. I went through a bad experience at work and was looking to choreograph a new routine. I heard a piece of music that just resonated with me. Choreographing it was easy. The ideas flowed seamlessly. That doesn't always happen! But when you find real meaning to something and you let yourself go, it just clicks. Looking back it was so healing. If my practice wasn't a part of me surely that would not be possible?
To emotionally connect with your practice is when you often do your best creative work. Especially in the creative industries.

On the flip side emotions need to be harnessed, especially when teaching. A different professional approach is required. I have developed the ability to go and teach a class in a very uplifting, bubbly way even if I am feeling unwell, bereaved etc. With teaching work I feel that I 'put on my teaching head' !!!!  A bit like a character I have created, but its just myself, with the best parts of my personality selected to do the job!

I feel I adapt to different situations well, and I like to describe myself as a chameleon (Wikipedia):

chameleon

[kəˈmiːlɪən]

NOUN

1. a small slow-moving Old World lizard with a prehensile tail, long extensible tongue, protruding eyes that rotate independently, and a highly developed ability to change colour.

   • NORTH AMERICAN
     an anole (tree-dwelling lizard).
   • a person who changes their opinions or behaviour according to the situation.
     "voters have misgivings about his performance as a political chameleon"

(Image taken from:  https://allhdwallpapers.com )

My first Internet experience

Can you remember your first time using the internet ?

I have always been fascinated with the Internet, ever since my first encounter many years ago in the mid '90's!

Our chunky computer made the strangest noises as the dial up connection was made. I found yahoo chat rooms straight away and loved that I could chat with new generation pen pals around the world.

Technology quickly evolved , and as I got older it started to be a tool for emailing and effectively finding information for auditions and opportunities. 

Fast forward to 2019 and I can use my smart phone like a computer with constant internet access.

Internet access is a necessity for my business. 

When I first used the Internet it was as a hobby and now so much has changed that it's paramount to so many businesses.  

I have started to explore what has changed over the years with the development of technology :

• Type of usage 
• Frequency of usage 
• Interactivity 

Interactivity levels have surged thanks to Web 2.0. The link below is very useful :

http://www.oreilly.com/pub/a/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html

Social media is a huge part of every day lives for myself and many other people. How many times have you checked your social media today??

( I'm afraid to answer that question for myself !)

These developments in blogging and web-based communities have made it possible for me to do my distance based learning degree. Something I didn't realise would be possible for me to do. And for that I'm eternally grateful :)