Skip to main content

Task 3d: Critical Questions and Issues That Emerge

Do some very specific ideas emerge about your networking and sources? Does your engagement to date seem appropriate?
Initially when I saw the tasks in part 3 on networking, I naively thought 'great I know how to do this, it's easy.' I was, and have been for a few years now networking in my career but I never knew there were so many possible routes to do so. I always thought networking was 'just talking to people in my career.' Through these tasks I have now been able to develop my skills in networking and realise that there are a variety of ways I can network. Including social media, things like this blog, youtube, facebook etc. 

Are your ideas, position or concerns shared by others within and/or beyond your professional area of work?
With regards to the BAPP arts course I find this to be completely true. When we have had various Skype/Breeze chats it really comes through that we all have the same questions and through these chats we can help each other through them. Also with the blogs, I find them very useful to help myself along with certain tasks and ideas. However not only through this course do I find this to be true. In my line of work, it is great to share with people/colleagues your concerns as either they will be in the same predicament or they will help you find a way to solve it. 

Does sharing ideas and communicating with others shift your thinking, planning or practice?
Completely. I always share my ideas with others either by showing them or talking through them. I believe it is the best way to progress your ideas and as I have mentioned before everyone has a different mind so they are able to look at it from another perspective to give your idea more depth. I am very influenced by others around me and I like to constantly adapt my ways of teaching so I always observe others when I can and put their ideas into practice. I also like to help others and when I have an idea, I will explain this to whoever I am working with at the time. However, I find the important point with this is they may not use your idea, nor you with theirs but always to keep it in mind for another opportunity that may come up. 

Does critical reflection help you decide what really matters and the actions to take?
Before the course I had never really taken critical thinking into my practice. Now I have researched it and know more about how to use it I find it is very helpful in my line of work. It allows me to take a step back and reflect on what it or isn't working and by thinking it through thoroughly I can now use it to develop my practice a lot further than I was before. Usually I'll admit I could sometimes start to panic, and not see a way forward if something wasn't working (a mind blank so to speak) but by using this practice of critical thinking it has enabled me to analyse more in depth and helps me stay focused instead of 'panicking.' 

To what extent do concepts and theories assist you in thinking about your professional networking in different ways?
I had never looked into the theories behind networking until this course. Therefore because of this I was very limited to how I was initially networking. After going through Reader 3 and doing even more research into the examples given and more, I understand the concepts behind networking so much better than before, and how to put them to good use within my practice. By using the various theories to network I am able to reach a greater range through networking than I was previous to the course. 

Are you left thinking differently prior to this part of the module? 
Absolutely. As previously mentioned, I had my own thoughts on networkings to begin with and I thought I was doing great! After initially jotting down my network map I could see I had a few connections. However now I can branch out and extend my professional network by many means so I can constantly progress. This module as a whole has allowed me to progress already from what I knew previously. Looking at all the theories in communicating, reflecting and networking they have really expanded my options and therefore my knowledge of professional practice has reached a new level. 

Now I am off to comment on other blogs, as always please feel free to do so on mine! :)



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Task 3c: Sources Of Information

The next task is focused on where we get our information from. As I have been looking through others blogs I have noticed that everyone uses a variety of sources to find the information they need. In this blog I will be telling you my sources of information and how helpful I find them to help me progress in my career.  When I first looked up sources of information I found that most can be put into 3 categories: Primary Information Secondary Information Tertiary Information These are quite self explanitory but I will break them down for you. A Primary source is firsthand information about an event, for example our journals that we have all been writing. They are sources which have not been edited by a second party yet. Therefore a Secondary source is an analysation of a primary source, these include reviews, text books and even most of our blogs would be a secondary source as we analyse various pieces of information. Tertiary sources are often used to gain fact...

Summertime... I just sit back and un...Do lots of research!

So as I haven't posted since handing in my final Module 2 bits and bobs, I thought it was about time I updated you guys as to what I've been doing on here.  Firstly, as i had a pretty hectic year I decided to give myself a break for a couple of  weeks. Just to relax and set my brain back to 0 once more.  More recently I have been reading and writing lots and lots of notes down ready for the next and final module. I am currently going through a few different books based on community dance, but if anyone has any recommendations that would be fab! I have spoken to a few of my colleagues as well and they are all rummaging through their book shelves for me too which is lovely!  I am thoroughly enjoying this and learning so many new things ready for me to put into practice when September starts and the new terms begin.  I'll keep you updated with ideas and my tryouts to see what works and what doesn't (hoping they all do!) Anyways tha...

First Week Back!

Hi all,  So summer is officially over, and I think the weather is definitely reminding us of that!  During the summer I had a lot of free time, so I was researching and planning for the year ahead, as well as going along to so many interviews for new job opportunities to help develop my career.  As this was the first week back at university it was time to put my plans to practice. I must admit I have struggled having such a huge gap between modules but I am now feeling ready and replenished to give Module 3 my all!  Let's get going! I am now working in 2 different stage schools, one is definitely more community based. Alongside this I am still working for the same dance company where I teach all ages from 3-100 years old (and that is no exaggeration). They have also offered me office work within their company which is amazing as I can learn what goes on 'behind the scenes' when running your own company. I have also signed up to 2 diffe...