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;

• 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

Somewhere along the line I hope to really get to grips with Power point! I keep reminding myself that every new programme I have used throughout the course has thrown up a new set of ideas and problems but has also quickly become part of my professional practice.

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!

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;

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'.

 

 



 

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=keep+calm+and+study+hard&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=dHK0UvvkCeeQ7AbV5IGABA&ved=0CDMQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643&dpr=1#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=FB0phoEhamjX0M%3A%3Bv1kgmQKa63N3KM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-QqFvxVysZJY%252FT0gaenItQGI%252FAAAAAAAAAmU%252F7ig_mmebX0I%252Fs400%252F-1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fbeijoteamanha.blogspot.com%252F2012%252F07%252Fkeep-calm-and-study-hard.html%3B342%3B400

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!

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.

Where am I?

So this week has been a good one! I am finally feeling better and I am also feeling positive about the time I have ahead of me.

Inquiry
I have really good feedback from Paula about the drafts I sent in last week.  We are planning a Skype discussion and I feel that will really help me get on.  When I was writing out my drafts I felt like was wavering quite a lot and had lost my direction, the feedback from Paula has put me back on task and I hope on the road to our submission deadline!  I can't quite believe that it is the 8th December already!

Artefact
My artefact has been the main focus of the last week and I have got on really well.  I have found where I can get my book printed, however there is a seven to eleven working day turn around! This means that my book has to go in by Friday to ensure that it is back on time to be posted in! AAAAAAHHHHH!!!

My Life (The January Plan!)
I am no further along with the job hunt as it seems everyone is focusing on Christmas! (How dare they) I am not allowing myself to get stressed by this as it is out of my control. January will come around and I may have a period of unemployment or temping but I will be able to deal with this.  Panicking is not the answer.  I have one job application in at the moment and hopefully I will hear from them one way or another in mid December.  I have lots of options work wise at the moment but my main focus has to be on my Bapp work.