Tara-Jane

On Sunday 29th September I had my second group Skype meeting with my class friends and lecturers.   This Skype call was focused on learning and knowing.  I believe to learn is to already acknowledge my own prior experience. It was very interesting to hear other people’s thoughts and opinions on the importance of learning and their own learning cycle.  I feel like I learn by doing, to do is to learn (being active in the moment). This is something I have touched on whilst blogging on David Kolbs learning cycle throughout module 1 and 2 which he calls “a concrete experience”. By reflecting on experiences is learning. In my everyday life as a professional and as a student I feel like there are many ways I am learning. I learn a lot about myself by approaching certain experiences in life whether it’s within an educational setting or outside of studies.  We talked a lot of the process of learning and what we think knowing and learning is.  For me, you learn whilst tea...

This is my first blog being a Module three student. I begin to stress on how lost I feel right now in my studies, but with the induction Skype blog last week I felt a lot more at ease. Unfortunately, due to work commitments, I was only on the Skype call for 30 mins which is half of the session but thank you to my class friend Marianella I was able to catch up via the recording I was sent. The induction was very helpful as it allowed the MAPP dance community to come together and share ideas with new students on module 1 up to present students in module 3. Adesola guided us through the importance of communication with our peers and class friends through Skype sessions and blogs and also the importance of UniHub. Adesola  helpfully shared her screen and lead us through UniHub where we could find our module handbooks and other important information regarding the course e.g  library resources and class timetables and calendars. One thi...

I recently read a book by Earl Babbie (2010) called The practice of social research  which touched on qualitative and quantitive reasesrch and ethical issues.  As I work through my module 2 assignment “inquiry project” I start to look at my research methods and approaches and how to be considerate within my research methods. One of the research methods I will be using is observation and questionnaires. As I continue to look at ethics and what it means to me, I think about the words  ‘considerate’ and ‘confidential’. I’m unsure whether I should lower my standards or opinion for working with people with and with out disabilities. I believe I shouldn’t change the way I teach or change my character. I think about interview approaches and questions I can ask with the thought of being ethical. I am ethical within my professional practise everyday but always push my students to the best of there ability with also thinking about ethical approaches and issues.  Should I be lo...

As I’m starting my second module at the Middlesex University I begin to think about my research methods for my inquiry. My inquiry is an investigation into whether dancers with disabilities are able to express themselves through dance and if so are they given equal opportunities within the arts.  This is an inquiry I have briefly touched on within my undergraduate but I feel like my research and inquiry can be investigated a lot deeper. I want to know more and hear your thoughts and opinions.  Why do we dance in the first place ? There are research methods I would like to use which include a Questionnaire method, and the use of interviews and observations. I start to think about my quality of data and reflect on performances and online videos i have recently seen. It is very important that I understand the nature of my inquiry and by  reflecting back on the performance I seen in 2017 with Mark Brew I begin to collect data for my portfolio.  Right or wrong appro...

I feel like it’s been a while since I last wrote on my blog so I begin by mentioning that my second module will start on Monday 28th Jan 2019. This Monday ahhhh!!! I’m still waiting patiently for my feedback and grades from my advisor from my module 1 but I am starting to worry as i haven’t heard anything as of yet. I wonder how I got on and what I need to work on ? I suppose I will recieve some response this weekend or maybe Monday morning..... Our last Skype session Sunday 2nd December 2018 with the MDX dance community was all about communication, how do we communicate within the classroom or with our students or teachers. How do I communicate with my students who have special  needs? How do I alter my communication skills within a classroom with toddlers to adults. What do I say differently how do I act ? Do I change my voice tone or body language. This Skype session really helped me to reflect on my previous teaching experiences and methods as well as acknowledging how I commun...

Tonight’s Skype session 4th November 8pm (London time) with my class mates involved “embodiment” and different ways of learning.  Personally I feel like my writing process so far has been difficult; as discussed I express myself through dance and as a performer and dancer I feel reflective writing is a difficult process. I feel by reading several literatures it helps me discover my own experiences and understand my own knowledge.  ‘Art as Experience’ by John Dewey gives different understandings of having an experience and I feel when I read someone else’s questions and answers I am able to then reflect and write on my own knowledge and experience.  By listening to someone’s point of view it helps me remember and understand my own work. Literature I have read has provided different expects and connections on knowledge and different approaches which also helps with my own reflective writing. David Kolbs learning cycle has helped me understand my own teaching and learning st...

So this week I have been going back and forth with my cv looking in depth at my experience as a choreographer/teacher and student. As the deadline for submitting our AOLs fast approaches I start to panick as I’m overwhelmed with all my achievements and experiences over the past 6 years. Since 2012 I have had a huge interest in community dance and inclusive practise. I’ve always enjoyed community dance and seen and experienced the benefits it has for everybody in the community from young people to adults and non disabled or disabled people. After my experience and knowledge growing within community dance I started to broaden my thoughts and practition into inclusive dance. Inclusive dance has been a huge topic when I critically reflect on my teaching and studying knowledge. As I’m looking through my cv I’m reflecting on my time as a student, remembering the reason I chosen professional dance as a MA and the reason why I love and enjoy my job. I start to reflect and critically think abou...