Thrive

Create the conditions for you to thrive. As this module closes you move along the convey-a-belt to the next modules. Sadly that is how the education system works. But you do not have to adopt the linear structure as a kind of truth to who you are or what you are. Some learning in the last modules might kick-in in a couple of months. Some things might change in meaning to you. Some things might loose meaning: it’s a dance.  However you think you did or what ever you wished you’d done is not behind you irretrievable because the belt has moved on, it’s a part of the rich tapestry of now.

The point is not to decide if you or something or someone is ‘good’ or not, correct or not. The point is to be a vital part of your own process, to notice and create the conditions in which you thrive and meet your full potential. I have found that there is so much fear involved in attempting to express your ideas within a structure where it will be assessed by others. There is so much hope that what you mean will be understood and what you want to achieve will be granted but the fear clogs up the ability to dance. It sets you on a single straight line afraid to step off or over for fear of missing a step. But I really believe that learning, ideas, the lived experience is not a line it is organic, a rhizome. Rather than predict its shape - predicting what it will be, focus on creating the nutrition for it to thrive. In other words now is the time to have a good laugh and welcome the you that just experienced last year.

Have a good end of the year / new year.

Adesola

Good habits

It is week !!!! (holidays), but you are probably in writing-up final draft time. As the module ends it is a good idea to reflect on how you organised your time, what good practice you want to adopt and what things did not work for you.

I have just finished writing-up a project, myself. I have thought about what I liked about how I did it. I am going to (try to) keep my habit of waking up early to do two good hours each morning before everything starts. I find I get more work done in the first two hours after a good nights sleep than in four hours later in the day. I want to keep the habit. Some people have talked about coffee shops and places they go to work. Are you going to keep going there just to keep in the practice of having time set aside for reflection or study.

I also had to read a lot I want to keep that too since I don’t exactly ‘read for pleasure’ in the conventional sense. So I want to keep up the habit of making myself read by keeping a time during the week when I sit down and read for a block of time. Things I want to let go of is the mess my computer files are in. 

Remember you are inquiring in life long habits for professional practice so think about what works for you to keep don’t just do things because the module made you and then you drop the good practice.

I have planned four days off over Christmas: that’s really exciting; hope you make time to just relax and reflect too.

Adesola

Week 12

Hi, today is the last day of the term, so you will be in the writing-up stage of the module. As you are working remember not to be blinded by any personal realisations or epiphanies. We really wanted you to reflectively experience the familiar of your professional life differently. We hoped you would find you started to think differently, more widely or more deeply about things. We hoped you would become aware of ideas and find problems with notions you had not noticed before. BUT that was the process; that was the point of the tasks. NOW you need to step back and take an overview of the whole module. Focus on the goals of the assignment (i.e. to write a critical reflection, in terms of what a critical reflection is, or plan a project -  PLAN it, or report on research you did ) do not write something to prove the new idea you have found or something that tells the story of finding it.

Make sure what you are doing is going to meet the assessment criteria: that is how it will be marked whether you prove the point or not. The University is look for you show you are at BA(HONS) level a certificate that is recognised beyond you specialty. So just proving you know something about your specialty that nobody else seems to have realised is not meaningful beyond you and your area of the world. Of course your Professional practice is central to you work and this degree but you also need to demonstrate skills that are generic to being at BA (HON) level such as critical thinking, spelling and presentation, use of language and academic writing, structuring presentation of ideas etc...

When ever someone says spelling to me I panic – DO NOT PANIC just be aware that people find it important and do your best. Some one said something to the other day that really put this in perspective. It was that over time the record of your work is less a reflection on you and more a reflection on the University. The University needs to show that their students meet the levels expected. You will grow and do more work but the university is accepting this moment and has the stand behind the decision, therefore your work is also a representation of the institution where you study.  

Writing-up work

Just a short blog to say:
As you write-up your work remain calm and list the things you want to do. Then get through them one by one.
You are writing about your profession, which is more than likely your passion too, don't get caught up in the emotion of talking about things you care about. Right now try to create a space and realise you are fulfilling a requirement not explaining your life's work in 'x' number of words. Figure out what the requirement is asking and address that directly.

Adesola
:)