I was so nervous to do my final presentation. I think my nerves were in part because I'm a terrible public speaker but also because I didn't quite feel ready to complete module 3. That might sound strange but so much has changed for me over the last few months that I just felt like I needed to hold onto BAPP for a bit longer!
I have now retired as a performer and although this transition has been really emotional I also feel happier than I have in a long time. I think it's because for the last few years I have known that I need to make a decision about my career and now I have, I don't have it hanging over me anymore.
I am now starting my new chapter and filling in a mountain of forms for my next course (fingers crossed).
I hope everyone has enjoyed their BAPP experience. It was so enjoyable to see everyone else present their work. It really interested me that we have all been on the same course and yet our inquiries were so different. It also amazed me that although our inquiry questions were so different, some similar threads ran through so many of our pieces of work.
I hope that all fellow BAPPers feel proud of what we have all achieved. I am still waiting for that sense of relief but I think it may take until the results come in for me to really feel relieved!
Here's the link to my prezi if anyone wants a little look;
http://prezi.com/i6qx0y7j30nl/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Friday, 17 January 2014
The home stretch
The last few weeks have involved some huge changes in my life. At the start of module three handing in my inquiry and artefact seemed like a huge mountain to climb and yet I managed it. Handing in my module three work came at a time when I was also completing my last contract as a professional dancer and marked a huge change in my life. I have also moved!
Since the 7th of January I have been so busy that I have hardly taken any time to reflect on my work. Sitting down to go through everything and put together my presentation really feels quite alien. I hope that my presentation will be able to cover the following points;
I am looking forward to seeing all my fellow BAPPers on Wednesday 22nd, it will be wonderful to see where everyone's inquiries have taken them and what everyone is planning to do next.
I have quite mixed emotions at the moment as on one hand it is nearly time for completion and a new challenge but on the other hand I have enjoyed learning through the BAPP course so much that I don't quite feel ready to finish, I still have so much to learn!
Since the 7th of January I have been so busy that I have hardly taken any time to reflect on my work. Sitting down to go through everything and put together my presentation really feels quite alien. I hope that my presentation will be able to cover the following points;
- My three main inquiry points
- My findings
- My conclusions
- My artefact and the relevance of my artefact
- My future thoughts and ideas based on both my inquiry and artefact
I am looking forward to seeing all my fellow BAPPers on Wednesday 22nd, it will be wonderful to see where everyone's inquiries have taken them and what everyone is planning to do next.
I have quite mixed emotions at the moment as on one hand it is nearly time for completion and a new challenge but on the other hand I have enjoyed learning through the BAPP course so much that I don't quite feel ready to finish, I still have so much to learn!
Thursday, 26 December 2013
Artefact
My artefact has taken the form of a book. It is a light hearted look at my work-life balance throughout my career.
I have found writing my story quite cathartic at this point of my career as I am just about to retire from performing and take a new path. It has been quite enjoyable to write and also to go through all my photographs to find the ones to include.
I aimed to get my book printed in a complete book format, however the turn around for print and return was just too tight. I have a second option which will hopefully look just as appealing.
My artefact will be completed by the weekend in order to proof read and print.
Here is a little preview of one of my pictures, it is taken at my graduation from Stella Mann college in 2004;
I have found writing my story quite cathartic at this point of my career as I am just about to retire from performing and take a new path. It has been quite enjoyable to write and also to go through all my photographs to find the ones to include.
I aimed to get my book printed in a complete book format, however the turn around for print and return was just too tight. I have a second option which will hopefully look just as appealing.
My artefact will be completed by the weekend in order to proof read and print.
Here is a little preview of one of my pictures, it is taken at my graduation from Stella Mann college in 2004;
Friday, 20 December 2013
Stop and breathe!
I wrote a particularly gloomy into my learning journal two days ago that I think is worth sharing;
'Top Tip
Block your playtime in your diary and keep it sacred just like it was at school. Start with fifteen minutes twice a day, every day, at a time that fits your schedule. '
Burton Kate, 2010, Live Life love Work,Chichester, Capstone Publishing LTD.
'This is pretty hard to do at the moment, although this is only 30 minutes. I'm starting to feel disillusioned and loosing sleep. I'm hoping to get home over the weekend and have a family day out as my brain needs some time out. I don't have my work rota for the weekend or Christmas so I can't make any plans. I'm going to try and write myself a 'to do' list for uni work and for my life!
Friday's rehearsals have been cancelled so I have an extra day but with all the rehearsals next week I'm going to end up doing uni work on Christmas day!'
After speaking to Paula today I realise have put myself into a bit of a tail spin! I need to remember that this is all part of the process and I still have two weeks which is plenty of time to get finished. I have all the pieces of the puzzle and I just need to piece them together.
I hope everyone else is able to 'Keep calm and study hard'.
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Just a quick update
I just wanted to upload a quick update as to how I am getting on.
My inquiry is looking more like a readable document than a set of ideas which is how it was initially looking!
Introduction - I am currently 273 word over the count but I am sure I can cut some waffle out somewhere!
Evaluation - I am about a thousand words short at the moment but I am in the process of refining my literature so I know that will more than cover it.
Analysis - After completely changing tact on this I am really struggling. I have about two thousand words to add but I feel like I am finally on the right track with this
Critical Reflection - I haven't started this one yet!
Professional Artefact - I have nearly finished my artefact I just need to add some pictures. I have changed tact slightly with this one as the printers I was going to use didn't have a quick enough turn around for me. However my book is nearly their it will just be presented slightly differently. I feel disappointed but I know it's what I have written that counts.
Presentation - I am putting this off until after January 7th!
I am feeling the pressure mounting but I know I will be ready on time. It's hard balancing the work load alongside all the other things in my life at the moment and I am really having to prioritise my work load. Over the last few weeks I have been rehearsing in the daytime and doing shows in the evening, trying to move back home (I only have a small car so this is a weekly effort of playing 'car boot tetris') looking and applying for work for January and completing my inquiry. I'm sure I will get there in the end!
My inquiry is looking more like a readable document than a set of ideas which is how it was initially looking!
Introduction - I am currently 273 word over the count but I am sure I can cut some waffle out somewhere!
Evaluation - I am about a thousand words short at the moment but I am in the process of refining my literature so I know that will more than cover it.
Analysis - After completely changing tact on this I am really struggling. I have about two thousand words to add but I feel like I am finally on the right track with this
Critical Reflection - I haven't started this one yet!
Professional Artefact - I have nearly finished my artefact I just need to add some pictures. I have changed tact slightly with this one as the printers I was going to use didn't have a quick enough turn around for me. However my book is nearly their it will just be presented slightly differently. I feel disappointed but I know it's what I have written that counts.
Presentation - I am putting this off until after January 7th!
I am feeling the pressure mounting but I know I will be ready on time. It's hard balancing the work load alongside all the other things in my life at the moment and I am really having to prioritise my work load. Over the last few weeks I have been rehearsing in the daytime and doing shows in the evening, trying to move back home (I only have a small car so this is a weekly effort of playing 'car boot tetris') looking and applying for work for January and completing my inquiry. I'm sure I will get there in the end!
Web 2.0
I wanted to post a quick blog about my use of web 2.0 during this module as I have really relied on many types of websites for my research and inquiry.
When I started out on the BAPP course I found it really hard to get used to the technological side of things but each new website I endeavoured to understand has brought a new tool for my studies as well as my professional practice.For example,
When I first started this course I found it hard to get to grips with 'blogger' and now it is part of my everyday life. Outside of my studies I now use 'linkedin' professionally and also youtube.
For my Inquiry I have depended on;
- Blogger - I use this regularly to update my blog, re read past blogs to add as references and keep up to date with my fellow BAPP students.
- Youtube - I have used Youtube to research videos and clips, not necessarily for my inquiry but for the work that has gone into it such as blogs.
- Facebook - I used facebook to find fellow professionals in my community of practice that would be willing to complete my survey and I use the SIG page that has been set up.
- Google Drive - I have used google drive throughout the BAPP course. Most recently for my inquiry I have used it for my literature reviews.
- Delicious - I regularly use delicious to keep all my sources and literature in one place. It has been a truly valuable resource because with out it I would have struggled to find information I have used for my inquiry.
Reader Six
After getting feedback for my drafts and having a Skype tutorial with Paula I felt that I had cleared up a lot of issues that had cropped up whilst writing up my work. The biggest problems for me have been writing my literature review and analysis which I know a few other people (through SIG and blogs) have also struggled with.
This week I really want to tackle the analysis and I realise I have approached this in the wrong way and I have actually over complicated it.
So far I have written up all my survey data both in word and excel. From this basis I then started to 'write up' my analysis and here is where the problem started. I have been trying to get my analysis written up into a formal document where actually the data speaks for itself. My new plan based on the conversation with Paula is to go back and re work the data I had initially written up.
The first step for me after speaking to Paula was to go back to reader six and re read the information on analysis;
Qualiative data - relies on the words people use
Quantative data - can be translated into numerical data
On this basis my survey contains both quantative and qualitative data. All quantative data I have put into excel and the qualitative data is written up into word. My interviews are purely qualitative and will provide some good quotes to add to my work.
The reader also had some good information on being an 'insider researcher'. It suggested that I need to 'recognise and understand my own involvement' and aim to be as objective as possible.
This week I really want to tackle the analysis and I realise I have approached this in the wrong way and I have actually over complicated it.
So far I have written up all my survey data both in word and excel. From this basis I then started to 'write up' my analysis and here is where the problem started. I have been trying to get my analysis written up into a formal document where actually the data speaks for itself. My new plan based on the conversation with Paula is to go back and re work the data I had initially written up.
The first step for me after speaking to Paula was to go back to reader six and re read the information on analysis;
Qualiative data - relies on the words people use
Quantative data - can be translated into numerical data
On this basis my survey contains both quantative and qualitative data. All quantative data I have put into excel and the qualitative data is written up into word. My interviews are purely qualitative and will provide some good quotes to add to my work.
The reader also had some good information on being an 'insider researcher'. It suggested that I need to 'recognise and understand my own involvement' and aim to be as objective as possible.
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