If life is what happens to our plans, then dance is what happens to our steps.
ideas sometimes when you wait they come to you.

Preparation for starting with BAPP

Monday 9 October 2017

Module One - thoughts for all

We talked about how Module One asks you to re-think and re-feel the assumptions you have about yourself and what you do as a way to better position and recognise what your own practice is.

For instance, thinking about
modesty ‘v’ showing off
and
modesty ‘v’ generosity

When you write a cover letter to an interview modesty ‘v’ showing-off makes you feel the thing to do is ‘I would really like to work with your company’ so you don’t ‘show-off’. But thinking in terms of modesty ‘v’ generosity means you write ‘I am a trained actress … giving your credentials…’ because you are giving the people short-listing for the interview all the information they need about you. Thinking like this you might give different information then ‘showing-off’ but more information than your perception of modesty would have let you.

This stepping back and critically reflecting on your actions in terms of your practice is what Module One is asking you to do. NOT the change what you are doing but to use the tasks to look at what your practice is today.

Cycle Module One!! As ever do not think about only doing the tasks once through. Do them all and then do them again and again. Each time you engage with a deeper or different layer of your practice and task. Module one you are looking at what you already do and applying critical thinking/reflection to what it is you are doing.

The thoughts of people in the session:
Nicole is partly going to use the Module to explore her goals and better understand these goals mean to her:
‘To really get myself out there and thinking of yourself as a professional rather than a student. 
Finding my purpose in what I am doing and making myself an asset to the company.
See how I can adapt myself to communicate with different people of different ages.’

Matthew D. suggests Module One has 3 lens - communication of how you position yourself in the world, what you think you need to do and why you need to do it?
Reflection: reflect on what you do and why you do it, how what you do works and how it can be improved, how could you use that process in the future
Networking: the give and take of relationships within the aspects of your life/professional life.

To not overthink what you are doing Module one is about growing as a person and developing and then looking back on where you started from.

Arghierenia says Module 1 is about your practice, you are not being asked to do something new necessarily but to look at what you do through a different perspective by using critical thinking. There are three different lenses through which we will look at our professional practices; communication, reflection and networking. It’s useful to do the tasks a few times, as the module progresses as the way you do them will change and that will help your learning and understanding of them.

We also talked about criticism ‘v’ reflection. Reflection should not start from a deficit stand point. That is, it not about what you ‘can do better’. It is about if you can see different or varied perspectives.

We about doing the tasks as a cycle also you do not have to stick to the week suggested.

The course is like the seasoning to you the meal of your life, it is not about cooking a whole new meal!


The course is about how you pull information to you meaningfully. This is difficult at first because we are often used to ‘educational’ experiences where information is pushed at you and you have to receive and memorise it! However, we are suggesting in professional settings you have to have the confidence and independence to be proactive not sit and wait for someone to tell you what to do.
What do you think-feel comment below...

9 comments:

  1. I had rehearsals yesterday during the Skype session so unfortunately couldn't make it! However reading this is a big help! Thank you

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  2. I have been struggling so far with what to write in my blog. I've been jotting things down in my notepad and worrying about writing the wrong words down. However this is a learning point for me as there isn't a wrong or right it's a reflection. Reading this is a big help.

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    Replies
    1. There's no right or wrong indeed! :)
      We're all on the same boat and we can help each other through our comments on each other's posts :)

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  3. Thank you for this summary Adesola.
    I feel that up until yesterday morning I was unsure of whether I am doing the module "right" because I am not familiar with work based learning and was therefore expecting "information to be pushed on me" in one way or another. I am becoming more and more intrigued by the actual structure of the course and I am very excited to be exploring my practice through critical thinking and the 3 lenses of communication, reflection and networking. I can already see the benefits and it hasn't even been that long!

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  4. Hi, unfortunately I was not able to attend the Skype discussion meeting because I was working at that time. However, I am happy to read the above text and the other participants' thoughts. I am still wondering how to "treat" this module right because I am used to get information and knowledge through the traditional way of learning.(teacher-student). I agree with the idea of 3 lens, communication, reflection and networking and I find this intriguing for my forthcoming inquiry. I believe that this MA gives the opportunity to combine the previous knowledge/experience with new facts and data under the umbrella of the reflection and exchange of information. This process will lead us to a professional and personal development.
    In the past, I have been thinking a lot about the dichotomy between reflection and criticism. In my point of view, through reflection each person could grow, think and see other perspectives in life on various subjects; in contrast with criticism that does not offer the opportunity of critical thinking and personal growth.

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  5. The idea of seeing your experiences through the different lenses (as Matthew D mentioned above), even day to day at work/in your profession stretches a different part of thinking than I'm used to as of late. It seems we (I) can easily get caught up in going on auto-pilot in a way. Whether it be with a client in the studio, or acting, etc. We often train our brains to get the job done quickly and effectively, but start to overlook the joy of the process, and in my experience this has lead to things like writers block and burnout, as I quickly rush through the task. However, stepping back, and taking the time to slow down and think through the process, opens up the opportunity to "add more color to your palette" in a sense. Potentially entertaining ideas and constructive shaping that you may not have had otherwise, when just "getting the job/gig" done. Being encouraged to revisit the tasks again and again plays into this notion perfectly, where: instead of rushing to get "homework" done, we are able to take the time and reflect on what we are doing, and why we are doing it, from many different angles.

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  7. I am also used to the ideas and information being pushed on me as a way of learning, so am feeling a little out of my comfort zone. I too was feeling anxious about what to write in my blog, having never attempted one before. Feeling more positive now, and can see others are feeling the same. It is just about getting used to another way of thinking and learning.

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  8. http://nicolevalverdebapp.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/module-one-skype-session-discussion.html

    These are my opinions on this. Please comment and let me know what you think.

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