Quick survey

How many of you have ISTD qualifications. Could you comment below if you have (and say what they are if you want to but no pressure on that.)
Thanks Adesola

Literature & NOT getting the answer (One & Three)

On Tuesday we had Skype discussions with a Module Three focus. We talked about a number of things. Those attending will be posting significant moments or ideas on their blogs so have a read around the community. 

Overall, we discussed interviews and similar data collection tools. Some people are doing surveys. However, I would say due to the small numbers of respondent and the spaces for people to explain their ideas that people reported they are making in their surveys - they are really more like web-based interviews. The questions and topics are not ones where the number of people thinking X is important. This is because you are trying to find out more about something (X) - Not trying to find what to think. And why would you just automatically think the same as the largest number of people anyway!! So, we confirmed that hearing what people thought was important to nearly everyone’s inquiry in Module Three: it is not about numbers (quantitative data) it is about the quality and depth of understanding (qualitative data).

But then people were worried about getting the 'right' data. The interviews (data) are not the answer. You are not going to people to piece together an answer for your inquiry. You have to question and analyse the data - you are using to ask why does someone say that, how they said, is it what the literature said, what perspective does what they are saying come from. 

And where are 'you' in all this. You can't be invisible, non-bias, it’s your inquiry every choice you have made is 'bias'. it is not about disappearing and leaving it up to your participants to sort out for you through their answers. It is about being aware and reflective on your own presence in the research. How were you during the interview, did the weather affect you and how you spoke? Why did people say what they said and what response did you have and why that response? What did they challenge in your own assumptions. If it was exactly what you expected why?? 

In the PM chat we said it is like pieces of a puzzle (or adding spices to a pot) each bit of the inquiry - you, participants, literature, reflective journal - all add and mix together so you can discuss the topic with more knowledge at the end of the module than you could at the start.

We also pointed out that the literature is not to find someone to tell you the 'truth' or the 'history' of something. It is a 'truth' or a 'history' and there will be different versions. You are looking at the literature to find out what other people think. This is to use the literature to inform and question your own thinking. 

Points we made at the end of the discussion were:

• Its about interpretation
• Not looking for the answer in the interviews - looking for new why questions? 
• its like a jigsaw puzzle
• You can/have to be part of the picture 
• Don't restrict yourself with the literature explore further afield - don't just have one source  
• Us the literature to inform what you ask or look for in the data collection process.
• All you are doing now is part of the inquiry - it’s not clean and simple "I go out and ask questions and get the answer". It is messy full of questions and changes and thinking/feeling - because you are trying to find out something new to you. 

Skypes with a Module One focus were on Monday. We asked Module three in the Tuesday discussions to write something useful or significant about Module One in the comments below on this post. If you are a Module Three and were not at the discussion you can still writing something in the comments below too – a gift to Module Ones…

Practice as Knowledge and RPL up-date Skype

Last week we had a Skype for those doing RPL
Firstly: for those who are taking the RPL route (this effects students in Module One and Two who have not entered the programme with a Level 6 Certificate such as a Trinity Diploma), we have been working on what the RPL route paperwork looks like for the new school of ACI. It is going to be slimlined to a form type document. Your Advisor will be in contact with you once this is confirmed and we have Skype tutorials as per the calendar to go through what is needed to fill them out.

During the Skype we talked about the idea that experience is learning. This is a principle across the whole course so it was interesting to talk about what that idea means: that knowledge begins with 'doing' . This changes the whole divide between 'vocational' and 'academic' or 'theory' and 'practice'. In BAPP (and MAPP  the MA route in Professional Practice) the course are challenging the idea that vocational or practice are not routes for knowing. In fact we are saying that they are equal or not really different. They are different ways to do the same thing - understand and idea. Blurring the divide between practice and academic is why in Module Three we ask you to explain your inquiry experience in the form of a "professional artefact" (a practice-based artefact) and in the form of an essay (an academic based artefact). This circles back to when you enter the course either with RPL or Trinity another vocational diploma: doing is knowing. Ken Robinson talks about the history of  this divide between vocational and academic study in his renowned talk Changing Paradigms. What do you Feel? Have you noticed I nearly always ask what do you feel not what do you think in order to say true to the body being the starting point for understanding and knowledge. 

Links

Hi all, 

Here are some links to useful places in Unihub and Tutorials on UniHub. I would suggest log in and then use these links. 

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/c.php?g=322117&p=2156545

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/c.php?g=322117&p=2154674

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/distancelearners/welcome

We had the Student Voice meeting on Tuesday - heres a pic of Helen, Eleanor, Matthew and me afterwards!! 

Skype discussion with a Module Three focus

Tuesday 27th February, we have skype discussions - Module Three focus
12:30pm (time in London)
or
7pm (time London)

Please comment below to indicate which one you will attend. Anyone from any Module can attend. If you are in Module Three make an effort to attend. If you are in  Module Two or One consider how useful to talk to people and hear about Module Three. Please also indicate what you will be bringing to the discussion.

Adesola

Skype discussion - Module One focus

We have skype discussions - Module One focus
12:30pm
or
5pm

Please comment below to indicate which one you will attend. Anyone from any Module can attend. If you are in Module One make an effort to attend. If you are in  Module Two or Three consider how useful it would be to review some of the thinking you did in Module one now you are in another Module and have had time to build on your ideas &/or had space to reflect on them. Please also indicate what you will be bringing to the discussion.

Adesola

This Saturday February 24th - symposium to share and discuss practice

Key Note Speakers: Rosemary Lee and Richard Walsh Key Note Movement Workshop: Jackie Guy Workshops, performance, film and discussion with... Namron, Sandra Golding, Pawlet Brooks, Louise Kateraga,                                                                                                                     Mary Grigg, Chikukwango Cuxima-Zwa, Akosua Boakye,                                                                                                               Dominique Rivoal, Jacqueline McCormick, Anton Califano,                                                                                                                 Adesola Akinleye, Helen Kindred, Stephanie Scheubeck, Eline Kieft, Nina Atkinson & Vivian Barbosa. and ISTD Open Day also the launch celebration of the new book edited Narratives in Black British Dance: embodied practices. Where: Middlesex University, London Hendon, Grove Theatre When: 9:00 for 9:30 start to 6pm Feb 24th 2018 Tickets for the day: £5 (students), £10 (individual), £20 (institution) Book on-line here This Symposium follows on from August 2016 event Watch video  Questions: a.akinleye@mdx.ac.uk & h.kindred@mdx.ac.uk

Module Two Focus Discussion group

We have a Module Two focus discussion group on Thursday 22nd February
12:30 (time in London) Adesola will call you - make sure she has your Skype contact/connection
or
5pm (time in London) Adesola will call you - make sure she has your Skype contact/connection

Please comment below here on this post to indicate which one you will join and what thoughts, ideas you want to discuss with a Module two focus.

Adesola

1st Tuesday skype

This Tuesday 20th February we have our Tuesday discussion group.
There are two:
12:30 (time in London) - Helen will call you, so make sure you have exchanged skype connection with her.


The 5pm discussion will be about RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) it is intended for those doing RPL but of course anyone is welcome (time in London) - Adesola will call you, so make sure you have exchanged skype connection with her.

Read carefully: sign-up to the call by commenting below. Both Helen and I will be looking at the comments to this post to make a list of who to include and call for the discussion. When you leave your comment also mention what you might be bringing to the discussion so we can think about it as a group before the call.

Adesola

CADD conference - first day

This weekend I have been at the Collegium for African Diaspora Dance (CADD) Conference https://www.cadd-online.org . This is the third Conference they are held every two years. This year is called Dance Black Joy: Global Affirmations and Defiance. Last year I presented a dance here. This year I have presented on research I am currently doing Movements, Narratives and Meanings and also on the book I wrote/edited that is just been published last week on-line and will be available in two week as a paperback.

The conference is always a reaffirming inspiring event. There are so many amazing people sharing amazing ideas here. It is held at Duke University in North Carolina.

The events I have attended have all been saying the same thing to me.

The importance of community, family, arts activism – what are you saying with that movement, with that way of teaching, being? and respect for those who teach us, those who have trailblazed the way we are taking – cleared space for us to be on the journey we are on.

Yesterday I started the day with a ballet class with Dr. Joselli Deans she was at Dance Theatre of Harlem when I was there. In class were also Theara Ward  (former soloist at DTH) and Dr. Kimberley Jorden. It was so nice to all be in class together again. As the conference is about Joy it was a joyful moment for me.  

At the start of the conference we Celebrated the legacy of Dr. Charles “Baba Chuck” Davis 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/15/arts/dance/chuck-davis-dead.html

Baba Chuck had opened the first two Conferences and so we honoured his work and life to open this one. Have a look at the link. His work involved community dance. He is a part of our dance history. There was a panel of people discussing his legacy.  They were asked to summarise something to teach in his name. They said

As a teacher see the potential of the student/dancer /xxx in front of you even when they don’t see their own potential.

Dance is healing – he said the study of medicine is about the cure, dance is the prevention.

Become the rhythm be courageous and unafraid.

Today Dr. Brenda Dixon-Gottschild is giving a key note

I will share about other events I went to in another post.