Inquiry 2d

• What in my daily practice gets me really enthusiastic to find out more about? Who do I admire who also works with what makes me enthusiastic?

My main professional career now revolves mostly around teaching musical theatre to primary aged children. Although I strongly believe in the idea of life long learning it is not the dance, music and drama in my daily practice that I get really enthusiastic to learn more about. But the psychology of the children I teach. And how a better understanding of how the children work as learners would help me teach them more productively.

At this stage of my career I don't really have anyone to discuss and share these thoughts with. I have started doing some research on this topic. Once I am a bit better acquainted with the subject I intend to use my new found communication technology skills to find others interested in the field to further extend my knowledge.

I am at present acquiring a copy of the journal linked below to continue my reading.

http://www.springer.com/education+&+language/journal/11218



• What gets me angry or makes me sad? Who do I admire who shares my feelings or has found a way to work around the sadness or anger?

Nothing gets me more angry professionally than other so called professionals ignorance when it comes to the value of The Arts in Education.

I think that it is very sad that some people's narrow mindedness can lead to whole groups of children missing out on this part of there education.

At present I work in primary school settings where they very rarely have dedicated dance or drama teachers and as subjects they get skimmed over and left by the way side!!!

I have an Aunt who I have always found inspirational. She is a primary school teacher who has worked her way through the ranks and is now a successful head teacher. Although not a dancer or actress she has always enjoyed and seen merit in these areas and has consistently stood her ground in including these when putting together her lessons and curriculum.

Her school is certainly challenging with English being the 5th most common spoken language and many of the children coming from poor or under privileged backgrounds. Yet her school has achieved a privileged Arts Mark and is increasingly successful. She puts a lot of this down to the inclusion of the Arts and I have to say I agree with her.

http://www.artsmark.org.uk

I hope that when I eventually qualify to teach full time in state schools that I can aspire to be the great influence that she has been.



• What do I love about what I do? Who do I admire who also seems to love this or is an example of what I love?

I love to perform and give others the opportunity to. One of the best bits of what I do is managing to inspire children to have a go. Nine times out of ten getting them engaged and to give it a try is half the battle as most children fall in love with performing in one way or another once they give it a go.

I think that groups like Diversity have done wonders making dance more appealing, acceptable and down right cool. They are fresh, modern and appeal to a large market.

The members are great role models and inspirational to young children. The lead dancer Ashley Banjo gives as much credit to his academic studies as he does his dance, proving that the two can go hand in hand.

They push boundaries and constantly try new things, like there collaboration with the English National Ballet.




• What do I feel I don't understand? Who do I admire that does seem to understand it or who has found a way of making not understanding it interesting or beautiful, or has asked the same questions as me?

There are several things professionally that I don't yet fully understand. This course has really opened my eyes to the idea of being a life long learner. Of looking at things differently and turning them into positive, knowledge gaining experiences.

I would love to be able to see these opportunities more for myself rather that relying on tutors to present topics to explore. I'm hoping that with time I will be able to manage my own learning.

Paula Nottingham our course leader as I'm sure you are all already aware is so keen and passionate on this topic. She is so open to learning and the fact that there is always something more to learn. She seems to see a learning opportunity in so many different situations and scenarios.

If you haven't already give her blog a read. It is so varied and interesting...

http://paulanottingham.blogspot.co.uk

Reflective Thoery Task 2c

Here is my link for my Critical Reflection on Reflective Practice.

It has been posted to Google Docs, my choice of public Wiki.

I look forward to your feed back :)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HY-0yoyJwZIAl0tw7aXM48eiK2-qjJrRg0-2612Qcgg/edit

Journal Writing Experience - 2b

  A reflective Journal...

What is reflective practice? Moon defines reflective practice as "a set of abilities and skills, to indicate the taking of a critical stance, an orientation to problem solving or state of mind". In a much simpler form I like to think of it as 'consciously thinking and analysing what one has done or is doing or of what one may do next!

The use of a Reflective Journal is a great autonomous way of identifying and learning about oneself allowing us to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Trying out the different ways to approach writing my journal suggested in the handbook were a great eye opener and a brilliant confidence boost to move on and explore other methods and techniques.

• Description - I found this a great way to bring back my actions and experiences. Sometimes after a long busy and varied day certain activities fade into the background. But going over everything that happened to me and where and when helped me get an outline and piece together everything that had gone on.

• Initial Reflection - Although not in depth enough to give any real insight or meaning this tool helped me flag up things that I wanted to give closer inspection to.

• List - A fantastic way to think aloud, key words, thoughts and feelings flow freely ready for closer inspection and analysis. I found words sprang to mind seemingly for no reason but I listed them anyway only to go on to give them more thought and realise they were key in the experience that I had had.

• Evaluation - I found this the hardest way so far, I felt I was only evaluating what was already obvious to me...Made me realise that in this sense I definitely needed to think outside the box.

• Graphs, charts and diagrams - I think I can safely say this is not the journal writing experience for me, I found it frustrating and time consuming! I stuck with it and tried playing around with a few things but I have to say it tugged on an artistic and mathematical side that just didn't want to come out to play!!!

• What if? - How fantastic, such a great way to look at things, I found this really positive. I’ve definitely been putting this tool to good use. Its not only made me realise just how bad a situation could have been but its made me look at what potential there was and how to bring this through with me to enhance future experiences and learning.

• Another View - I found this quite depressing at first, through someone else’s eyes I was very hard and negative on myself. But looking at the view from an inanimate object without feelings of pre conceived ideas I found that I was able to give myself a great positive critique another great tool I will be using in the future.

Another technique I've come across and would like to share with you all as it works really well for me...

• The unsent letter - Write your experiences and thoughts to someone in letter form, its not meant to be sent but added to your journal. I found that doing this I asked a lot more valuable questions and in turn had to reflect and answer them.

The whole Journal writing experience has already certainly been a journey for me. It’s led to hours of self realisation and some self doubt. It’s made me feel high and low all in a matter of minutes. I think it is a much more valuable exercise than I first gave it credit. I realise that it is a process that will forever be developing and there will always be more to gain from it. I think it is something I will carry on doing long after this course is over.

I'd like to end with a quote from Biggs "a reflection in a mirror is an exact replica of what is in front of it. Reflection in professional practice, however, gives back not what is, but what might be, an improvement of the original"

Information overload!!!

Ok my journal is really starting to be an eye opener and I'm really starting to notice the things I'm learning about myself on paper actually happening in the real world of me!!!

A very common theme throughout my journal so far is my thirst for information. I'm having real trouble knowing when to stop.

I was meant to conclude my further reading on the processes of reflection and learning earlier this week so I could complete all the tasks and be ready to move on to the next part of the module. But I keep coming across new and interesting things to read.

When is it enough? This is a real problem for me!!!

How do you all know when to stop???

There is so much information out there that it can be exciting and overwhelming all at the same time.

Somebody help me :)

Further Reading....

A nice little visualpiece i found whilst further investigating John Dewey, thought i'd share :)

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aacu.org%2Fmeetings%2Fppts%2Fknefelkamppresentation.ppt&ei=HEOaUI-sDeq00QXhmoGIDQ&usg=AFQjCNEPax5F921NKSVBXcXTUrhgAwebQg

The down side of reflection...

All this reflective thought has obviously got me thinking and definitely opened my eyes to a few things about my life.

On one hand this is great because for instance i've already realised that I seem to live my life with the whole 'my cup is half empty' attitude and just how negative this is personally and professionally and am actually managing to turn that cup into one thats half full and rising.

But on the other hand what happens when you start to notice things that need to change and realise that there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. For instance I knew that every aspect of my life was full and busy, but It has only been since putting pen to paper in my journal that I've realised just how ridiculous my schedule is!!!

After lots of reflecting on this I see no way to change it and now find it a whole lot more frustrating than I ever did in the past.

So to conclude yes reflection can be a very valuable tool but also sometimes ignorance can be bliss!