Networking Theories

After looking through the different theories of networking and actually really enjoying looking into it, however feeling that they may not be all be applicable to my work place right now, but I do however have my own thoughts and ideas that I am going to share with you.

Cooperation
When I first read about this (two lines in!) I instantly thought "I'm not going to understand this" after reading that it had been developed predominantly by mathematicians. However, the idea that "one player succeeds at another's expense" does make sense to me, however not in my particular world of work right now, however I can see how this could possibly work in an audition situation as tough as this may sound! Would anyone else agree? I also had ago at the online game provided in the link! (which I did probably spend too much time doing!) however if you haven't yet had ago I would as it is quite a good visual to use and did actually make the whole thing a little clearer http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/playground/pd.html
So yes cooperation is something that I probably would not find helpful in my career at this time, however is something that I have enjoyed reading into - and a bit like the picture below I do see cooperation a bit like completing a jigsaw. It will not become a picture until all the pieces cooperate and work together.

Affiliation

"Larson, Csikszentmihalyi and Graef (1982) found that adolescents spent about 75% of their waking time with other people" Crisp and Turner. This I find to be extremely relevant personally. Working in a school you rarely do get a moments peace! - Which I personally love, and I defiantly feel that I have "A network of support that will help up when we are in need" (Crisp and Turner 2007 p.266) Now I wouldn't say that I struggle to make a decision on my own, but I do like to have that re assurance from fellow colleagues especially being so new into my career I feel that it is always better to ask an opinion and for advice as they of course have more experience than I do and I do think that everyone at some point does need that reassurance and affiliation whether it be from a professional or from a friend for that support network. On the contrary like it does say in the reader there is that balance and some people do need that space and that alone time and it is something that is so unpredictable as it is so personal. Does anyone else find that affiliation is something that they find they can relate too. I do also feel that as people of the Arts we are quite expressive and do like someone to express these opinions too, however I am extremely open to others points of view on this.

Theory of connectivity and Connectivism

These two theories are something that I would like to research into more, but would like to hear other people's views and opinions on them so far.

Finally after researching into this - It has made me realise how much I do relay on my collegues for support, which I suppose isn't always a bad thing, but has made me realise that maybe sometimes I just need to go with my gut instinct, and finally from you, I'd like to hear what this reading has made you reflect upon? Has it made you realise anything? looking forward to hearing different ideas.

One big community

Recently as I have been preparing to write my critical reflection and reading through the material in Reader 3. I have been thinking a lot more about networking. In particularly "Communities of Practice"


As I have been reading through, it is becoming more and more clear that we as a group are a "Community of Practice" We all share similar interests that are linked with the Arts in some way, whether it be through education, performance or creativity. We get our heads together and fly around ideas to help each other learn and to gain more experience in our field. I particularly like the three points that Wenger identifies;

• What it is about - It's a joint enterprise as understood and continually renegotiated by it's members.

• How it functions - Mutual engagement that bind members together into a social entity

• What capability it has produced - The shared repertoire of communal resources.

I feel that this pretty much sums up or Skype chats that we have along with reading and commenting on other peoples blogs.


Another thing that I feel this links really well with (For any of you dance teachers on here you will probably know it well) the Facebook group "Dance Teacher Hub" https://www.facebook.com/DanceTeacherHub/?fref=ts


This is an amazing way of linking in with other Dance teachers - sharing ideas and help solving others problems that they may have from using your knowledge and experience that you already have.


It is also a fantastic place to post last minute cover jobs e.g. a teacher calls in sick and you're struggling to find a cover teacher - post it on the hub and the beauty of Web 2.0 and the internet that we discussed back in Reader 1 means that your post can be seen and shared by thousands of others who hopefully have the same interest and will be able to help you out in one way or another.


I have found it really helpful to read about others experiences on the hub whether it be dealing with difficult students/parents or trying to solved issues with room higher, and in a way I could argue has broadened my knowledge a little deeper.


Has anyone had any experience with "Dance teacher Hub" or pages similar which I know there are many. Would love to hear.

Inquiring

As I embarked on this task, I actually found it extremely difficult! - I have done many drafts before actually bringing myself to write a blog post.

So as I began to read and digest the questions that it seemed that right now they are not all relevant or appropriate for myself. "What do you feel you don't understand?" as I am newly embarking on my career I do not yet know what I don't understand as everyday is a new adventure and learning curve making it very difficult for me to pin point certain things. So then I asked the self my question "How am I improving and learning?" well its linking back to what we have been discussing about reflecting and journaling. The more that I document what I am doing and look at what went well and what didn't the more I can improve and understand my practice fully and will therefore be able to understand and know what I don't understand.

Music has always been a massive part of me and I have an extremely eclectic taste in music and have been encourage from a very young age from both my parents and teachers to listen to a wide variety of music, and it is something that I am extremely enthusiastic about and is where I always start the base for my choreography. For example I have just choreographed to a piece of music by the sterophonics called "Into the World"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2qh47P2g2w
Immediately when I listened to this piece of music I heard and imagined the use of cannon throughout this piece. Listening to different styles of music inspires me in so many different ways. I tend to imagine and see how different patterns can work with choreography.

As I read the second question - I wasn't sure which perspective I wanted to view it from. A teacher, a choreographer, or as a dancer (which not forgetting is what I wanted to do when I was younger) So I decided to have a look at all three aspects from different angles. As a teacher it makes me angry when I see talented students who do not have drive and passion and have a come day go day attitude. I think this is because as a child I was always taught to put 110% in everything that I did and my teachers were a massive inspiration for me back then as a student and now as a teacher. Anyway back to the point. I find it really disheartening when I don't see that drive in others and I guess others of you that are teachers will feel the same? (would love your thoughts) however I do think that it is something that I will learn over time to deal with as I gain more experience.

And I will finish this post with my main dance inspiration and my favourite clip of his. Fred Astaire is a person as a choreographer and a dancer that I find a true inspiration. Despite him being an academic Fred decided to pursue his career in his love of performance and dance and went with his heart not what others wanted for him. I love the way he looks so relaxed and at ease while he is performing and dancing and his movements are effortless and free flowing, I will leave you with a link to the clip of my favourite chorography/performance of his. Can you guess?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w40ushYAaYA  

It's good to talk! - Networking

So this evening (13/04/16) a group of modules 1's  had a discussion with Paula as we are all about to embark on Reader 3 and our Critical Reflection! (time please slow down!) However despite the technology fairies not being on our side this evening we did manage to have quite a good discussion.

Now Lois - May made a really good point about never really understanding the value of networking professionally until she started her job - and I totally get that myself. her blog is a really good read http://lois-mayhunt.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/task-3a-current-networks.html

It's true though with the availability of text/email/Facebook etc. it's sometimes easy to forget who we speak too professionally and who we speak too as friends. Have you ever sent a text or email to the wrong person? I know I have! and I also know that I read in the magazine Cosmopolitan of a girl who sent an email out with pictures of her job which was meant to just be for colleagues in the office however it ended up going out to a client instead! - It's so easily done!

So my initial thoughts and feelings on networking as I embark on reader 3. I think it's an excellent way of being able to connect with other professionals for help and advice but we also network socially too and it's finding that balance and knowing the difference between who we speak too in a professional manner and who we class as social networking and is something that I am going to look into further - Now at the end of the skype last night I threw in the quote "It's not what you know - it's who you know" I feel this is extremely apt when speaking about networking. A topic that was discussed last night was; do you think that if you go for a job and you find out that another candidate knows people on the panel, do you think that gives them an advantage? Will the employer go with what they already know? Would love to hear others thoughts and opinions on this!   

Reflective Theories - A whole new discovery

I have always been told to reflect upon my actions, whether that be by my parents or my teachers. Basically, looking at what I have done and taking responsibility for the outcome of my actions. Whether it be through my education and training or through general day to day life.

It is only recently through embarking on this course that I have come across refection in my professional work, and I am sure that I am not alone in saying that I had never even realised there were different theories and practitioners on reflection! As I have mentioned in previous blog posts, when first given the task of a reflective journal, I was a little sceptical about taking the time out of my already busy schedule to see how I can make myself better.

However, taking the time to read about different practitioners and theories about how and why reflective practice can be so useful throughout the professional industry, not just for us artistic and creative people, but for academics as well, which I had never even considered. I have found it fascinating and outstanding just how much reflective practice is used and in the types of careers as well i.e. nursing.

For us to be able to reflect, it is vital that we understand what we are reflecting upon and about. Graham Mcfee says "One must understand what is being defined in order that one judge for oneself the accuracy" (Mcfee, 1992:18)

I quite like this way of thinking as how can you possibly reflect upon what you have done and improve on it if you don't understand what you are reflecting upon in the first place.

The "Learning Cycle" is something that I have found quite interesting as a teacher. You can use it not only to help yourself personally but I can use it to asses a group of students and alter or change what I am doing to suit the group of students I have. For example, if I get a group of new students I will automatically ask them what they have done previously what "experience" they already have. Therefore allowing me to teach an appropriate lesson for that specific group of students .

Developed by David Klob, the "Learning Cycle" was designed to help us to understand as individuals what experience we have already had and having the ability to be able to reflect, see what we can do and what we know. Along with finding out what we need to gain more experience in. The cycle is a tool for reflection on how we learn.

As a teacher I have found reading more in to the different ways people focus and understand and the idea of "multiple lenses" (Howard Gardner) and this is a subject area that I am defiantly keen to look into and do some more research on.

As I write my final thoughts and "reflect" on what I have learnt from my reading. I could have rambled on for ever about different theories and the different practitioners as I have found it all extremely insightful and interesting, and that I am deffinatly going to take on different angles and aspects to reflection.

Finally (I promise!) I'd be interested on how you have taken on bored reflection and theories and which practitioners stood out for you and why?

 

Reflective Writing - Giving it ago

As I write this blog I am in the midst of my Easter holidays. Even though I am technically meant to be resting and having a break, I do find it the perfect time to start planning choreography for next term and looking for new music etc. - Plus still giving me things to reflect about in my journal and have ago at some reflective writing.

Now I have already had ago at this, but I had not actually found a way that I liked - so decided to keep going till I had found a way that I did like and that worked for me.

Now the way that I have actually found the most useful is the use of diagrams ( I love a good spider diagram) however I have also found that I do also like to do an initial reflection before hand. I will explain my reasoning's in due course.

So ways that really did not work for me personally:

What if? - Now I know it says in the in the hand book to use your imagination with this however I do feel for me that the "What if?" ended up becoming too negative and left me feeling deflated and not actually looking at any of the positives from the day - which I didn't find very useful at all. Has anyone else found this?

Description - With this I found my self just waffling on about what had happened and going on and on and on and not actually knowing where to stop (a bit like now)

An idea that I want to explore and take further:

Another View - I found this so much fun. Taking it from the perspective of someone/something else. I've had ago at both, so I have taken it from the view of a student - to reflect on one particular lesson and I have taken it from the view of the music player that I use - to reflect on the day as a whole. I found it a way of actually of not focussing on the negatives all the time which is something I tend to do and something that I should try get out of the habit of. I may share an exert of it with you in a future blog, however I would like to know if anyone else has tried reflective writing from this perspective and did you find it useful?

However - my favourite way as I have stated previously is the use of diagrams with an initial reflection before had.

I found it really clear and a quick and dare I say easy way of getting my thoughts down from my head as this is something that I do personally find quite difficult, I do come across not being able to get my ideas down quick enough. I also found it a clear way of getting both reflection from my professional work down and just day to do as I just naturally put all work related on one side and personal on the other. I also began to realise that using words and spreading things out helped me see the day as a whole and not just as a negative which is a massive positive for me.

Now I tried to keep the initial reflection short and sweet and to the point which I think I actually managed to keep, and used this to stimulate my diagram.

Below is a picture of my diagram form today;

I think one way that I may try is to use colour co ordination - so positives one colour, things to work on a different colour. I will report back on this and see how I find it.

And finally from me how is everyone finding reflective journaling? I am starting to discover and understand why it is such a useful tool especially after reading the chapter from "David Boud"