Module One Begins!

So here we are at the very start of the MAPP journey. There is a lot to think about, take in and start to process but I'm looking forward to the challenge. It's been a fair few years since I undertook any kind of "education" for myself, but after ten years of teaching, choreographing etc I do really feel I'm ready to take some time to come back to my practice and find what's important.

 Where better to start then with a reflection on this. I'm starting to think about areas of my professional life that I have not taken the time, or had chance, to reflect upon. I'm really looking forward to investigating these moments and seeing how they have led me to where I am today. It's not very often I get to do this and as I read through the handbook and course material I'm very quickly recognising that this is something I should take the time to do.

 I'm really interested in looking further into the ideas surrounding knowledge and how I learn. I am hoping that through this journey I find new ways of working, not only gathering knowledge, but in how I impart it to those who I teach.

 I believe I will begin by looking at one area of my career to date and then reflecting upon how I got there and developed the knowledge I now have and where that led me next. I hope in doing this I begin to see perhaps patterns that emerge or maybe not, who knows. For now it is all a bit of a mystery that as I work will become clearer, I hope.

 Good luck to everyone who is embarking on the same journey. I look forward to reading about how you will be taking on the challenge and the rest of our journeys over this particular module. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reflection and Learning

This is a post I wrote last week that I thought I had published (whoops) so here it is now with another to follow soon. I've been thinking a lot about learning and my reflection this week. I found a lot to think about whilst reading through J.A Moon's book about reflective and experiential learning. She states that " We all reflect and all learning is based on experience." This is a particular quote that has stuck with me, as whilst  I know we all reflect it is not something I take the chance to do on a regular basis. It has been nice to start to do this as part of the MA and the developments for me that will come from this are vast. I have already begun to see a different awareness in how I am communicating, what I am teaching and the learning both myself and the students undertake. Throughout the classes I have taught this week I have been trying to get my students to reflect and find their own way of moving as well as giving material I have taught them their ow
Read more

How do you see Technique?

As I continue to think and look at how I may approach my research project (still a very daunting task) I've spent a lot of time looking at the different ways in which technique is approached and seen within a class. I have always considered technique to be very important to my dance training and creating a foundation as a dancer. However, the more I read and research lately I see differing opinions on how important technique is. I find my self establishing more and more questions daily and sometimes find it hard to gather my thoughts together. I don't think its necessarily a bad thing as I know my initial questions will continue to lead to more and I hope better questions, so I continue to ask them. On that note I wonder about other peoples thoughts. As read other peoples blogs I see that a lot of people stand on a non-positivist approach as we all know that dance is so subjective and I think it is important for me to ask these questions that I ask myself to others in my fiel
Read more

A lovely message.

I've found some courage (with a little help) to make observations about myself and actually write about it, not just keep it to myself. I've always considered my role as a teacher to be about giving the young people the tools they need in order to progress and if I can impart anything else to them then this is a bonus. I've recently had a few students who have moved onto, university or different training, which is only a natural progression.  When they leave they often bring thank you cards, which of course is lovely, but what is written is really quite heartfelt. I received a card this week that stated the following: "Thank you! Your knowledge, vision and wisdom have changed my entire world. I am who I am today, much to your efforts as the leader. Farewell mentor." These word immediately made me think back over the years I have taught and worked with young people and actually that they thank me for being a part of who they have grown into. I'm complete
Read more